Herbicide Resistance in Datura innoxia: Cross-Resistance of Sulfonylurea-Resistant Cell Lines to Imidazolinones

Cells resistant to the sulfonylurea herbicides chlorsulfuron and sulfometuron methyl were isolated from a predominantly haploid cell suspension culture of Datura innoxia P. Mill. Exponentially growing cell colonies (aggregates of about 40 cells) were mutagenized with ethyl methane sulfonate, subcultured for 10 days to allow growth recovery and plated on a medium containing either chlorsulfuron or sulfometuron methyl at a concentration (10⁻⁸ molar) which killed wild type cells. Surviving clones were picked up after 3 to 4 weeks, further proliferated as callus or cell suspension cultures, and tested for their resistance to both the sulfonylureas and imidazolinones, a chemically different class of herbicides. The variants were stable and showed high (100- to 1000-fold) resistance to the sulfonylureas. While some also exhibited cross resistance to imidazolinones, others showed no cross-resistance at all or, as in one case, greater sensitivity than wild type cells to the imidazolinones. Both classes of herbicides tested inhibited acetolactate synthase activity isolated from wild type cells. The acetolactate synthase of the resistant variants, however, was found to be resistant to the sulfonylureas and also to the imidazolinone(s) in those cells showing cross-resistance to the latter. The lack of cross-resistance observed in some cases provides evidence that the two groups of herbicides have slightly different sites on the acetolactate synthase molecule.     

Complementation by intraspecific protoplast fusion of auxotrophic cell lines of Datura innoxia P. Mill.

It was determined using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing native DNA or RNA that sugar non-specific nuclease active at pH 5.2 was expressed in tobacco callus. The nuclease had a relative molecular mass of about 34.6 kDaltons and degraded substrates in the following order of decreasing rate: denaturated DNA>poly dA>UV-irradiated native DNA>native DNA>alkylated native DNA>apurinated native DNA>poly dGpoly dC. The nuclease activity changed during callus growth and plant regeneration, but no developmental changes in electrophoretic patterns were detected. The increase in specific DNAse activity of nuclease was maximal in the exponential phase of callus growth on both growth and regeneration media, except for activity in the cytokinin-independent cell strain grown on growth medium. The specific DNAse activity of nuclease decreased during the bud formation period, while total DNAse activity calculated per mg of dry weight was slightly higher in vegetative buds (9.1U) than in undifferentiated tissue of callus (8.5U). Specific DNAse activity was, on the average, several hundred-fold lower in the vegetative tissues of flowering tobacco plants than in calluses in the exponential phase of growth.     

Genetic evidence for the hybrid nature of somatic hybrids from Datura innoxia Mill.

The hybrid nature of tetraploid somatic hybrids of two genetically different chlorophyll-deficient mutants from Datura innoxia Mill. was demonstrated with the aid of anther culture. Green and chlorophyll-deficient androgenetic lines could be regenerated from the pollen grains.     

Changes in the Total Alkaloid Content of Datura innoxia Mill. Subjected to Salt Stress

Datura plants were grown on a clayed support and subjected tosalinity stress (153.8 mol m^–3 NaCl) at the 6-leaf stage.Salt treatment increased total alkaloid content in young leaves.The results indicated that at the organ level tropane alkaloidaccumulation was related to plant growth. Key words: Datura innoxia, salt stress, tropane alkaloids     

Streptomycin Resistance of a Cell Line from Haploid Datura innoxia Mill. is Transferred from Cell to Plantlet and Back In Vitro

Out of the five cell lines isolated by their ability to proliferateon a selection medium containing streptomycin and derived froma haploid callus culture from Datura innoxia microspores, onewas characterized. The trait of resistance was found to be stablein the absence of selection pressure. Plantlets were regeneratedin the presence, as well as absence, of the antibiotic. Stabilityof the selected trait was also confirmed in callus culturesinitiated from a plantlet. Key words: Datura, Streptomycin resistance, Mutants     

Investigations on the cell cycle of haploid and diploid tissue cultures of Datura innoxia Mill. and its synchronization

Using a ¹⁴C/³H double-labelling technique, the influence of kinetic on the length of the cell cycle of meristematic cells in haploid and diploid callus cultures of Datura innoxia was determined. The total length of the cell cycle of haploid cells as compared to that of diploid cells was reduced by 2.3 h (-kinetin) or 1.4 h (+kinetin). Furthermore, the addition of kinetin to the nutrient solution also reduces cell cycle duration at both ploidy levels. For synchronization of the cell cycle, a fluorodesoxyuridine/thymidine system was successfully employed. Apparently, the reduction of total cell cycle duration of cycling cells due to treatment with kinetin occurred at the expense of the G₁phase. Nevertheless, kinetin seems to exert an influence on the transition of cells from the G₂ into the M phase as well.Abbreviations FUdR fluorodeoxyuridine - HU hydroxyurea - IAA nidole acetic acid     

Effects of Riyadh cement industry pollutions on some physiological and morphological factors of Datura innoxia Mill. plant

Cement factory emissions into air cause serious air pollution and affect the plant and animal life in the environment. Herein, we report the effects of cement industry emissions (O₃, SO₂ and NO₂) in air, as pollutants, at Riyadh City on Datura innoxia Mill. plant. Morphological characters including plant height, leaves area and number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root systems of D. innoxia showed a significant reduction from their normal control plants as a response to exposure to pollutant emissions. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents recorded reductions in values compared to control plant, and the lowest values of chlorophyll A, B, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total pigments were 0.431, 0.169, 0.60, 0.343 and 0.943 mg/g respectively at a distance of 1–5 m from the cement factory in fruiting stage. These changes in values may be attributed to a probable deceleration of the biosynthetic process rather than degradation of pigments. Further D. innoxia showed a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in non-reducing and total sugars, protein and total lipid contents compared with the control plant. The root system recorded the lowest values of reducing sugars (0.350 mg/g f. wt.), non-reducing sugars (0.116 mg/g f. wt.), total sugars (0.466 mg/g f. wt.), protein content (0.931 mg/g f. wt.) and total lipids content (0.669 mg/g f. wt.) in fruiting stage at a distance of 1–5 m from the cement factory. The peroxidase activity of shoot and root systems of the studied plant was also significantly higher than those of control plant. Thus a highest value of (29.616 units/g f. wt.) peroxidase activity was recorded in vegetative stage of shoot system at a distance 1–5 m from the cement factory. Results of the study indicated that cement industry emission strongly influence the physiology and morphology of date palm D. innoxia which contribute date fruits, a staple food in the Arab world.     

The isolation of auxotrophs from Datura innoxia Mill. cell cultures following recovery of arsenate-treated cells on feeder plates

Wild-type (Ph1) and adenine-requiring (Ad1) cell lines of Datura innoxia Mill. were used in experiments to evaluate arsenate as a growth-lethal compound and its use as a counterselection agent. These experiments led to the devising of methods for the recovery of Ph1 and Ad1 cells after arsenate treatment when plated at low density on feeder plates. The modified counterselection technique was then used to isolate three new auxotrophs from mutagenized suspensions of Ph1 cells, two of which were partially characterized. One, C18, requires casein hydrolysate for growth and lacks an active nitrate reductase; the other, JM3, will grow only when the medium contains threonine.Abbreviation CFU colony-forming unit     

A covert contaminant of cultured plant cells: elimination of a Hyphomicrobium sp. from cultures of Datura innoxia (Mill.)

We have discovered a bacterial contaminant in some cell cultures of Datura innoxia (Mill.). The bacterium was tentatively identified as a species of Hyphomicrobium on the basis of its morphology and life cycle, and was isolated and grown in pure culture on a defined medium. The contaminant was not macroscopically observable in plant cell cultures. It caused neither a reduction of plant cell growth nor a noticeable increase in culture turbidity. Furthermore, it was not readily detectable by many standard assays for culture contamination: it would not grow alone in plant culture medium or yeast extract potato dextrose medium, and grew only very slowly on nutrient agar or beef-peptone medium. Repeated treatments with a combination of streptomycin (100 g/ml) and carbenicillin (100 g/ml) eliminated the contaminant from D. innoxia cell cultures without harming the plant cells.     

Polyamines in Relation to Cell Division and Xylogenesis in Cultured Explants of Helianthus tuberosus: Lack of Evidence for Growth-Regulatory Action

Phillips, R., Press, M. C. and Eason, A. 1987. Polyamines inrelation to cell division and xylogenesis in cultured explantsof Helianthus tuberosus: lack of evidence for growth-regulatoryaction.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 164–172. The polyamines spermidine, diaminopropane, and cadaverine werefound to accumulate in cultured tuber explants of H. tuberosus(Jerusalem artichoke). Rapid increases in all amines occurredduring the initial 24 h corresponding to the period of activationand the onset of mitosis. Levels then declined during the followingphases of rapid cell proliferation and xylem differentiation.The type and distribution of polyamines was not markedly affectedby changes in medium or culture conditions, and the inhibitorMGBG did not alter cell division rates or polyamine contentmarkedly although xylem differentiation was substantially depressed.Exogenously supplied spermidine and putrescine did not substantiallyalter the cellular responses of explants cultured in the presenceof auxin. In the absence of supplied auxin, spermidine at 1?0mol m^–3 produced an increase in cell division, althoughthis was small in comparison with auxin-stimulated responses.The implications of these findings on the possibility that polyaminesact as growth regulators in plants is discussed. Key words: Polyamines, Jerusalem artichoke, cultured explants, cell division, xylem differentiation     

Analysis of the Potential Use of Androgenic Datura innoxia for the Development of Cell Cultures Producing High Amounts of Tropane Alkaloids

Normal and androgenic diploid Datura innoxia plants were selfedand the progeny was analysed for its leaf alkaloid content.Since the androgenic lines had originally produced very differentamounts of the tropane alkaloids, scopolamine and hyoscyamine,we were interested in determining whether this trait is transmittedby self-fertilization. The alkaloid content of the progeny wasfound to correlate well with that of the parental plants. Also,calli were initiated from leaf discs derived from plants withdifferent capacities for alkaloid biosynthesis. These were furthersubcultured for 2 years. Again, the same correlations in hyoscyamineand scopolamine content were observed. This indicates that itis possible to initiate callus with a high alkaloid contentstarting from actively alkaloid-producing androgenic Daturainnoxia plants. Key words: Datura innoxia, tropane alkaloids, androgenic plants, callus culture     

Phytotoxic Activity of Tenuazonic Acid Isolated from Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler Causing Leaf Blight of Datura innoxia Mill. and its Effect on Host Metabolism

Tenuazonic acid isolated from Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler causing leaf blight of Datura innoxia Mill. showed significant phytotoxic activity when tested on monocot and dicotyledonous plants. The toxin induced chlorosis and necrosis on leaves of D. in noxia, D. stramonium, D. metel , belladonna, cowpea, wheat, rye, cabbage, cauliflower and maize at 200μg/ml and wilting of seedlings of D. innoxia at 100μg/ml concentration. It also caused complete inhibition of root and shoot elongation of germinating seeds of D. innoxia , wheat, rye, green gram and lettuce at 100μg/ml concentration. It was a nonspecific phytoxin and appeared to have significant role during pathogenesis.
Tenuazonic acid did not cause any significant change in the rate of respiration and in sugar, carbohydrate, total phenol and nitrogen contents of D. innoxia leaves. But its treatment on host plant induced 64 % reduction of chlorophyll content in leaves after 72 hours and 40 % reduction in protein content after 24 hours.     

Evidence for Glucocorticoid Target Cells in the Rat Optic Nerve. Physicochemical Characterization of Cytosol Binding Sites

Abstract: Cytosolic dexamethasone (DEX) binding sites were studied in the Wallerian-degenerating rat optic nerve (ON), a tissue that is rich in neuroglial cells but devoid of neuronal perikarya and processes. For comparison, hippocampal (HI) and anterior pituitary (AP) cytosols were studied in parallel. Binding sites in these three tissues were found to be quite similar in almost all respects. The sites have a high affinity for DEX ( K _D= 2.5–3.5 n M ), are present at a high concentration ( B _max= 360–365 fmol/mg cytosol protein), and possess a binding specificity typical of glucocorticoid receptors in other organs. Most experiments supported the assumption of a single DEX-binding species in each tissue. Saturation analyses consistently yielded linear Scatchard plots over the range of DEX concentrations tested. Density gradient centrifugation in each case revealed a single peak with a sedimentation coefficient of 7–8S at low ionic strength and 4–4.5S in the presence of 0.3 M KCl. Isoelectric focusing similarly localized most of the binding in each cytosol to a single large peak with an isoelectric point of approximately 6.0. Dissociation rate determinations, on the other hand, suggested the possibility of two different binding sites in each tissue. These studies show that glucocorticoid binders present in cells of the ON possess the same characteristics as the cytoplasmic receptors found in HI, AP, and other recognized glucocorticoid target tissues.     

Autolytic Enzyme System of Streptococcus faecalis III. Localization of the Autolysin at the Sites of Cell Wall Synthesis

Cell walls from exponential-phase cultures of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 autolyzed in dilute buffers. Walls were isolated from cultures grown in the presence of (14)C-lysine for about 10 generations and then on (12)C-lysine for 0.1 to 0.8 of a generation (prelabeled). These walls released (14)C to the soluble fraction more slowly than they lost turbidity during the initial stages of autolysis. Walls isolated from cultures grown in the presence of (14)C-lysine for only the last 0.1 to 0.4 of a generation (postlabeled) released (14)C to the supernatant fluid more rapidly than they lost turbidity. Autolysin in both pre- and postlabeled walls was inactivated, and such walls were then incubated in the presence of unlabeled walls containing active autolysin. The inactivated walls lost their (14)C label only very slowly until autolysis of the unlabeled walls was virtually complete and release of soluble autolysin was expected. When this experiment was done in the presence of trypsin, a fourfold increase in the autolysis rate resulted, but the same pattern of (14)C release was observed. A parallel release of (14)C and loss of turbidity from pre- or postlabeled walls was observed upon trypsin "activation" and by addition of isolated soluble autolysin to inactivated walls. We conclude that the wall-bound autolysin acts first on the more recently synthesized portion of the wall. Trypsin appears to speed wall autolysis by activating additional latent autolysin in situ at sites in the older portion of the wall.     

Lack of Expression of Gp-130 Makes Pancreatic Beta Cell Lines Unresponsive to the IL-6 Family of Cytokines

Cytokine receptors from the IL-6 receptor family are comprised of ligand specific α chains and a common signalling chain, gp-130, which is also required for high affinity binding. A cDNA library generated from the β-TC3 SV40 T-antigen transformed insulinoma cell line was screened for members of this receptor family potentially relevant to both beta cell development and autoimmunity. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers to a consensus region of these receptors were used and the IL-11 receptor (α chain was identified. Despite confirmation of IL-11 receptor mRNA expression, iodinated bioactive IL-11 did not bind specifically to β-TC3 cells and gp-130-dependent cytokines did not elicit signalling events in beta cell lines. This was explained by absence of gp-130 protein or mRNA in the beta cell lines tested and in primary islets. We conclude from these resuits that the previously recognised effects of IL-6 family member cytokines on pancreatic islets must be indirect via other non-beta cells within the islet, rather than due to direct effects on beta cells themselves.     

几种不同细胞系之间P68 RNA解旋酶表型差异的研究

对分别来自4种不同细胞系的细胞,在生长期间胞内P68 RNA解旋酶的动态变化进行了蛋白质和mRNA的比较研究。结果发现随着细胞培养时间的延长,各系细胞中P68 RNA解旋酶均呈现出有规律的改变,并且这种规律具有明显的细胞系特征:肿瘤细胞系之间表现出P68 RNA解旋酶蛋白条带单一的一致性;非肿瘤细胞系P68 RNA解旋酶蛋白出现多条带变化,并表现出明显的适应性;肿瘤细胞系与非肿瘤细胞系之间P68 RNA解旋酶的表型存在着明显的差异,这种差异从分子水平上揭示出P68 RNA解旋酶与细胞生长密切相关,并可能与细胞癌化有关。对产生这种差异的可能原因及其生物学意义进行了讨论。     

Living Target of Ce(III) Action on Horseradish Cells: Proteins on/in Cell Membrane

Positive and negative effects of rare earth elements (REEs) in life have been reported in many papers, but the cellular mechanisms have not been answered, especially the action sites of REEs on plasma membrane are unknown. Proteins on/in the plasma membrane perform main functions of the plasma membrane. Cerium (Ce) is the richest REEs in crust. Thus, the interaction between Ce(III) and the proteins on/in the plasma membrane, the morphology of protoplast, and the contents of nutrient elements in protoplast of horseradish were investigated using the optimized combination of the fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. It was found that Ce(III) at the low concentrations (10, 30???M) could interact with proteins on/in the plasma membrane of horseradish, leading to the improvement in the structure of membrane proteins and the plasma membrane, which accelerated the intra-/extra-cellular substance exchange and further promoted the development of cells. When horseradish was treated with Ce(III) at the high concentrations (60, 80???M), Ce(III) also could interact with the proteins on/in the plasma membrane of horseradish, leading to the destruction in the structure of membrane proteins and the plasma membrane. These effects decelerated the intra-/extra-cellular substance exchange and further inhibited the development of cells. Thus, the interaction between Ce(III) and proteins on/in the plasma membrane in plants was an important reason of the positive and negative effects of Ce(III) on plants. The results would provide some references for understanding the cellular effect mechanisms of REEs on plants.