Antifungal and antibacterial activities of Taxus wallichiana Zucc

Current study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antifungal and antibacterial potential of methanol extract and subsequent fractions obtained after partitioning in organic solvents with variable polarity of the aerial parts of the tree Taxus wallichiana Zucc. Traditionally, this plant is often used in folk medicines in Pakistan for treating microbial infections. In order to rationalize the traditional use, methanol extracts of leaf, bark, and heartwood of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. were tested against six bacteria and six fungal strains using the Hole diffusion and macro-dilution methods. All extracts and fractions displayed significant antimicrobial effect. Only three fungal strains, Trichophyton longifusus, Microspoum canis, and Fusarium solani were susceptible to the extracts and fractions with MICs ranging from 0.08 to 200 mg/mL. In case of bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi were susceptible to the extracts and fractions with MICs ranging from 0.08 to 200 mg/mL. Comparison results were carried out using imipinem, miconazole and amphotericin B as standard antibiotics.     

Biflavones of Taxus wallichiana Zucc

Three biflavones have been isolated from the leaves of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. distributed in Himalaya Mountains in Xizang. Based on IR, UV, MS, and chemical method, they were identified as sciadopitysin (Ⅰ), ginkgetin (Ⅱ) and sequoiaflavone (Ⅲ), respectively.     

南方红豆杉产IAA内生芽胞杆菌的分离、鉴定及产脂肽类化合物研究

通过组织研磨法对南方红豆杉(Taxus wallichiana var. mairei)新鲜组织进行内生细菌的分离，利用16S rRNA测序技术对分离的内生细菌进行鉴定分析，使用高效液相色谱-高分辨飞行质谱测定菌液提取物IAA含量，利用HPLC-TOF-MS对提取物脂肽类化合物进行分离、鉴定，结合数据库筛选菌株产脂肽类化合物种类及含量差异。结果表明，从南方红豆杉根茎叶中共分离鉴定出内生细菌31株，筛选出产IAA菌株20株，其中编号为KLBMPTC10的芽胞杆菌属菌株产IAA含量高达210.3955 μg·L^-1。在对产IAA菌株所产脂肽类化合物的研究中发现，菌株KLBMPTC10是所有产IAA内生细菌中脂肽类化合物含量最丰富的，其产Iturin A2相对含量为26.06%，明显优于其他产IAA菌株。芽胞杆菌属菌株KLBMPTC10同时具备高产IAA和脂肽类化合物的能力，可作为研究菌株进一步开发。     

不同地理种源云南红豆杉的遗传多样性与紫杉醇含量相关性分析

应用AFLP和HPLC方法研究了云南红豆杉（Taxus wallichiana var．wdlwhiana）的遗传多样性与紫杉醇含量之间的关系。AFLP指纹图谱显示7个居群谱带明显分为两种式样。PopGenel．31和Arlequin3．1软件分析结果表明：云南红豆杉居群内遗传比较稳定,居群间遗传分化极其显著（L=0．67）。测定当年生小枝叶紫杉醇含量结果表明：紫杉醇含量在居群间和居群内个体差异都较大。天然林中潞西居群的紫杉醇平均含量为0．0185％;腾冲和永德居群的紫杉醇含量比较低,分别为0．0049％和0．0087％;禄丰栽培居群紫杉醇含量比较高,平均为0．0225％。在居群水平上,遗传多样性和紫杉醇含量有一定程度的关联,但在个体水平上明显无对应关系。     

MS/MS profiling of taxoids from the needles of Taxus wallichiana

Ammonium cationisation has been used for taxoid profiling of partially purified methanolic extracts of needles of Taxus wallichiana growing in different regions of the Himalayas (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, UP Hills, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh) by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The MS/MS spectra of the [M + NH4]+ or [M + H]+ ions gave structurally diagnostic fragment ions which revealed information about the taxane skeleton as well as the number and nature of the substituents. The rearranged 11(15-->1)-abeo-taxanes showed a characteristic elimination of the hydroxyisopropyl group with an acetoxy/benzoyloxy group from C-9. The identification of the taxoids was achieved by comparison of the MS/MS spectra with those of authentic taxoids or was based on biogenetic grounds. The results were corroborated by liquid chromatography-MS analysis. Out of the 50 taxoids identified, 21 belonged to the rearranged class. The presence of paclitaxel in the samples from four regions was confirmed: the study also revealed the occurrence of several basic taxoids in these samples. MS/MS profiling by electrospray ionisation was shown to be a fast and reliable technique for the analysis of taxoid samples.     

中国红豆杉羟化酶基因TcCYP725A22的克隆与功能研究

基于中国红豆杉( Taxus wallichiana var. chinensis (Pilger)Florin)转录组序列,从中扩增到1个新的P450羟化酶基因 TcCYP725A22 ,并对其进行了克隆、表达及功能分析。生物信息学分析结果显示:该基因编码区长1500 bp,共编码499个氨基酸;编码蛋白无信号肽,包含1个跨膜区,具有催化活性中心结构域。进一步将该基因在酿酒酵母WAT11 中进行异源表达功能研究,蛋白质免疫印迹(Western blot)实验结果表明,目的蛋白TcCYP725A22可在WAT11中成功表达;液相色谱-质谱联用(LC-MS)分析结果显示,羟化酶TcCYP725A22对底物紫杉素表现出催化活性。依据质谱结果及反应底物紫杉素的分子结构,判断其催化产物可能为添加了2个羟基的紫杉烷新衍生物。     

中国红豆杉羟化酶基因TcCYP725A22的克隆与功能研究

基于中国红豆杉（Taxus wallichiana var.chinensis（Pilger） Florin）转录组序列,从中扩增到1个新的P450羟化酶基因TcCYP725A22,并对其进行了克隆、表达及功能分析。生物信息学分析结果显示：该基因编码区长1500 bp,共编码499个氨基酸;编码蛋白无信号肽,包含1个跨膜区,具有催化活性中心结构域。进一步将该基因在酿酒酵母WAT11中进行异源表达功能研究,蛋白质免疫印迹（Western blot）实验结果表明,目的蛋白TcCYP725A22可在WAT11中成功表达;液相色谱-质谱联用（LC-MS）分析结果显示,羟化酶TcCYP725A22对底物紫杉素表现出催化活性。依据质谱结果及反应底物紫杉素的分子结构,判断其催化产物可能为添加了2个羟基的紫杉烷新衍生物。     

Chloroplast population genetics reveals low levels of genetic variation and conformation to the central–marginal hypothesis in Taxus wallichiana var. mairei,an endangered conifer endemic to China

The central–marginal hypothesis predicts that geographically peripheral populations should exhibit reduced genetic diversity and increased genetic differentiation than central populations due to smaller effective population size and stronger geographical isolation. We evaluated these predictions in the endangered conifer Taxus wallichiana var. mairei. Eight plastid simple sequence repeats (cpSSRs) were used to investigate plastid genetic variation in 22 populations of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, encompassing nearly its entire distribution range. Low levels of plastid genetic variation and differentiation were detected in the populations, and the findings were attributed to low mutation rates, small population sizes, habitat fragmentation and isolation, and effective pollen or seed dispersal. Hunan and Hubei were identified as major refugia based on the number of private haplotypes and species distribution modeling. Trends in plastid genetic diversity and genetic differentiation from central to peripheral populations supported the predictions of the central–marginal hypothesis. In scenarios wherein the future climate becomes warmer, we predict that some peripheral populations will disappear and southern and southeastern regions will become significantly less habitable. Factors that include the levels of precipitation during the driest month, annual precipitation level, and annual temperature range will be decisive in shaping the future distribution of these populations. This study provides a theoretical basis for the conservation of T. wallichiana var. mairei.     

不同产地南方红豆杉各家系幼苗生长、光合生理与株高生长节律的差异分析

为充分了解不同产地南方红豆杉也Taxus wallichiana var. mairei ( Lemée et H. Lév.) L. K. Fu et Nan Li页各家系幼苗生长、光合生理及株高生长节律的差异,以产自江西分宜( FY)、浙江龙泉( LQ)、福建建瓯( JO)和福建明溪( MX)的20个家系的2年生容器苗为研究对象,对幼苗的株高和地径以及叶片的净光合速率和叶绿素含量进行比较,并对各家系的株高生长进行Logistic拟合回归分析以及拟合曲线参数和株高生长节律参数的计算和分析;在此基础上,分析了不同指标间的相关性并对供试的20个家系进行聚类分析。结果显示：不同产地间南方红豆杉的株高、地径、叶绿素含量和净光合速率均无显著差异,但这些指标在不同家系间均有极显著差异(P<0.01);各家系的株高、地径、净光合速率( Pn)以及叶绿素a( Chla)、叶绿素b( Chlb)和总叶绿素( Chl)含量的最大值较最小值分别高52.99%、29.63%、115.65%、39.81%、30.95%和37.24%。4个产地的株高生长均呈明显的“S型”曲线;各家系的最大生长速率( MGR)、线性生长速率( LGR)、线性生长总量( TLG)和线性生长持续时间( LGD)的最大值较最小值分别高60.00%、61.54%、63.73%和22.73%;从线性生长始期(t1)和线性生长终期(t2)来看,各家系的速生期为5月中旬或下旬至8月上旬。幼苗的株高与MGR、TLG、LGR、地径、Pn、Chlb和Chl等指标均极显著正相关,并与Chla显著正相关,而地径与MGR、TLG、LGR、Pn和Chlb等指标显著正相关,但株高和地径与LGD均无显著相关性。聚类分析结果表明：在欧氏距离10处,供试的20个家系被分成4个类型,其中,第Ⅳ类的6个家系的幼苗生长最佳且生长潜力最高。研究结果表明：不同产地南方红豆杉各家系的遗传变异丰富,且株高和地径生长主要受生长速率的影响;总体来看,家系LQ09、LQ11、FY21、FY26、MX12和MX18的幼苗生长潜力较高,可作为南方红豆杉的优良家系进行推广。     

南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌的分离鉴定

从南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensisvar.mairei)植株分离到内生真菌63株,其中24株经鉴定分属于19个种(属).真子囊菌纲的2个属2株,半知菌纲的14个属22株.真子囊菌纲的无毛毛壳属(Achaetomiumsp.)的1株为新发现种.半知菌纲的葡萄孢属(Botrytissp.)1株和无孢菌群(Mycelia sterlia)2株的培养液,经浓缩萃取,薄层层析检测,Rf值分别为0.404、0.404、0.401,与紫杉醇对照品Rf值一致,为南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌.     

Effects of amino acids, nitrate, and ammonium on the growth and taxol production in cell cultures of Taxus yunnanensis

The effects of concentration of amino acids, nitrate, and ammonium on the growth and taxol production in cultures of cell line TY-21 of Taxus yunnanensis were investigated. Addition of 20 different amino acids each at 15–20 mg l^–1 to B5 medium significantly improved callus growth but inhibited taxol formation in the cultures. The optimum nitrate concentration was 20–30 mM for both growth and taxol production. Ammonium greatly suppressed growth but strongly promoted taxol formation in the cells when it was the sole inorganic nitrogen in the medium. Culturing the suspension cells in nitrate-containing medium for 15 days and then in a medium in which ammonium was the sole inorganic nitrogen for 7 days increased taxol yield by 104%, reaching up to 28.1 mg l^–1.     

Action mechanisms of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the oocyte maturation and developmental competence: Potential advantages and disadvantages

Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. Currently, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely performed to treat infertility. However, a high percentage of IVF cycles fails, due to the poor developmental potential of the retrieved oocyte to generate viable embryos. Fatty acid content of the follicular microenvironment can affect oocyte maturation and the subsequent developmental competence. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are mainly used by follicle components as primary energy sources whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a wide range of roles. A large body of evidence supports the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs in prevention, treatment, and amelioration of some pathophysiological conditions including heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and psychological disorders. Nevertheless, current findings regarding the effects of n-3 PUFAs on reproductive outcomes in general and on oocyte quality more specifically are inconsistent. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of potential molecular mechanisms by which n-3 PUFAs affect oocyte maturation and developmental competence, particularly in the setting of IVF and thereby aims to elucidate the reasons behind current discrepancies around this topic.     

Comparative Characterization of the Microbial Community in Two Species of Sponges from Sea of Japan Using Fatty Acid Markers

The fatty acid composition of total lipids in two species of sponges (Halichondria panicea and Clathria pennata) inhabiting the same biotope in the Sea of Japan was examined. More than 80 fatty acids (FAs) were found for each species of sponges. Of them, 61 fatty acids were identified for H. panicea and 54 for C. pennata. The relative content of most FAs was less than 1%. The contribution of symbiotic microorganisms to the total fatty acids was higher in H. panicea than in C. pennata. Bacterial symbionts and microeukaryotes were found among the microorganisms associated with the sponges. The contribution of prokaryotic organisms was equal (7.8%) for both species of sponges, but the fatty acids were characteristic of different taxonomic groups of bacteria. The proportion of microeukaryotic fatty acids in the total lipids of H. panicea (19.6%) was two times that of C. pennata (10.1%).     

Signature fatty acids in the polar lipids of acid-producing Thiobacillus spp.: Methoxy, cyclopropyl, alpha-hydroxy-cyclopropyl and branched and normal monoenoic fatty acids

Abstract The polar lipids of 5 species of Thiobacillus were extracted and purified. An analysis of the fatty acid composition of the polar lipids documented the presence of methoxy, cyclopropyl, monounsaturated and hydroxycyclopropyl fatty acids of sufficiently unusual structure to serve as 'signatures' for the presence of these organisms in environmental samples. The structures of the unusual fatty acids of the polar lipids were confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS) after isolation by capillary gas chromatography (GC).     

A method for the direct evaluation of the fatty acid status in a drop of blood from a fingertip in humans: applicability to nutritional and epidemiological studies

Several studies have shown that the fatty acid composition of circulating lipids reflects dietary fat intake, in turn being related to health status. The fatty acid composition of plasma lipids is therefore an important parameter in studies on dietary interventions. The aim of our study was to develop a rapid and inexpensive method for the analysis of circulating fatty acids applicable to large population groups. Drops of blood collected from fingertips have been directly subjected to transmethylation for gas chromatography analysis. This new method, validated for reproducibility, has been compared with the conventional method, based on withdrawal of blood from the antecubital vein followed by lipid extraction, and identical data have been obtained with the two techniques. Observed and predicted differences between blood and plasma fatty acids are related to the contribution of circulating cell membranes in blood. Finally the application of the methods to samples from 100 healthy subjects and the assessed correlation between dietary habits and blood fatty acid profiles demonstrate the validity of the new method and its applicability to nutritional and epidemiological studies.     

A New Species of the Genus Protobothrops(Squamata: Viperidae) from Southern Tibet,China and Sikkim,India

A new species of the genus Protobothrops Hoge Romano-Hoge, 1983, was described from Jilong County, southern Tibet, China, and Chungthang, northern Sikkim, India. It differs from congeners by the following characters: 1) relatively large body size(total length up to 1510 mm); 2) dorsal scale rows 25–25–19; 3) except for the smooth outermost row, dorsal scales are weakly keeled; 4) relatively high number of ventral(198–216) and subcaudal(65–76 pairs) scales; 5) 7–8 supralabials; 6) 11 to 13 infralabials; 7) dorsal head uniform dark brown, laterally a reddish-brown obscure postocular streak; 8) dorsum of trunk and tail olive, with distinct black edged red brown transverse bands across the body and tail; and 9) eye from bright brown and reddish brown to mildly brown. The new species was also observed from the Haa Valley in western Bhutan.     

Characterization of triacylglycerols from overwintering prepupae of the alfalfa pollinator Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile rotundata (F.), overwinter as prepupae. The internal lipids were extracted from prepupae that had been wintered at 4 degrees C for 7 months. Megachile rotundata prepupae possessed copious quantities of internal lipids (20% of the fresh weight) that were extracted with CHCl3/methanol (2:1). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that lipids were stored within very large intracellular vacuoles. Separation by silica chromatography revealed that 88% of the internal lipids were triacylglycerols. Ester derivatives of fatty acids from triacylglycerol components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 15 fatty acid constituents were identified. The majority (76%) of the triacylglycerol fatty acids were unsaturated fatty acids. The major triacylglycerol fatty acid constituent (30%) was the C16 monounsaturated fatty acid, palmitoleic acid (16:1, hexadec-9-enoic acid), with substantial amounts of linolenic acid (18:3, octadec-9,12,15-trienoic acid, 15%), palmitic acid (16:0, hexadecanoic acid, 14%) and oleic acid (18:1, octadec-9-enoic acid, 13%). Palmitoleic acid as the major fatty acid of an insect is an unusual occurrence as well as the presence of the 16-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, 16:2 and 16:3. The major intact triacylglycerol components were separated and identified by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A complex mixture of approximately 40 triacylglycerol components were identified and major components included palmitoyl palmitoleoyl oleoyl glycerol, palmitoyl palmitoleoyl palmitoleoyl glycerol, myristoyl palmitoleoyl palmitoleoyl glycerol, myristoleoyl palmitoyl palmitoleoyl glycerol, and palmitoyl palmitoleoyl linolenoyl glycerol. The function of these internal lipids and their relevance to winter survival and post-wintering development of M. rotundata is discussed.     

Deciphering the role of docosahexaenoic acid in brain maturation and pathology with magnetic resonance imaging

Animal studies have found that deficits in brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) accrual during perinatal development leads to transient and enduring abnormalities in brain development and function. Determining the relevance of this evidence to brain disorders in humans has been hampered by an inability to determine antimortem brain DHA levels and limitations associated with a postmortem approach. Accordingly, there is a need for alternate or complementary approaches to better understand the role of DHA in cortical function and pathology, and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques may be ideally suited for this application. A major advantage of neuroimaging is that it permits prospective evaluation of the effects of manipulating DHA status on both clinical and neuroimaging variables. Emerging evidence from MRI studies suggest that greater DHA status is associated with cortical structural and functional integrity, and suggest that reduced DHA status and abnormalities in cortical function observed in psychiatric disorders may be interrelated phenomenon. Preliminary evidence from animal MRI studies support a critical role of DHA in normal brain development. Neuroimaging research in both human and animals therefore holds tremendous promise for developing a better understanding of the role of DHA status in cortical function, as well as for elucidating the impact of DHA deficiency on neuropathological processes implicated in the etiology and progression of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.     

The Plastids of the Yew Tree (Taxus baccata L.): Ultrastructure and Immunocytochemical Examination of Chloroplastic Enzymes

The various types of plastids occurring in assimilatory and non-green tissues of Taxus baccata L. were investigated with respect to their ultrastructure and their content of starch, chlorophyll, Rubisco and the plastidic coupling factor CF₁. Chlorophyll was estimated from fluorescence intensity, and the presence of both enzymes was examined by electron microscopy after immunogold labelling. All kinds of plastids, irrespective of their location in the tree, contained stromal membranes. Due to their content of CF₁ and chlorophyll (except those of the roots) these membranes were addressed as thylakoids. Since the plastids also contain Rubisco, they represent chloroplasts. However, a decreasing gradient of all investigated chloroplastic characters from the plastids of the assimilatory tissue of the needles to those of axial tissues and of the roots was obvious. All kinds of plastids accumulated large amounts of starch especially in spring prior to bud burst but were virtually free of starch during the winter months.