Putting plant resistance traits on the map: a test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes

? It has long been believed that plant species from the tropics have higher levels of traits associated with resistance to herbivores than do species from higher latitudes. A meta-analysis recently showed that the published literature does not support this theory. However, the idea has never been tested using data gathered with consistent methods from a wide range of latitudes. ? We quantified the relationship between latitude and a broad range of chemical and physical traits across 301 species from 75 sites world-wide. ? Six putative resistance traits, including tannins, the concentration of lipids (an indicator of oils, waxes and resins), and leaf toughness were greater in high-latitude species. Six traits, including cyanide production and the presence of spines, were unrelated to latitude. Only ash content (an indicator of inorganic substances such as calcium oxalates and phytoliths) and the properties of species with delayed greening were higher in the tropics. ? Our results do not support the hypothesis that tropical plants have higher levels of resistance traits than do plants from higher latitudes. If anything, plants have higher resistance toward the poles. The greater resistance traits of high-latitude species might be explained by the greater cost of losing a given amount of leaf tissue in low-productivity environments.     

Adaptive Significance of Floral Movement

Since Darwin observed the reconfiguration of pollinia in orchards and referred to it as a function to reduce self-pollination, diverse floral movements have been investigated and various hypotheses have been proposed to explain their adaptive significance. However, adaptive significance of floral movement in some species has yet to be fully explained. Increasing evidence suggests that some floral movements, which have previously been considered as a mechanism to avoid self-pollination, may act as a mechanism to reduce intrafloral male-female interference. In this review, we first explore insect-induced floral movement—such as secondary pollen presentation—that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of pollination. Secondly, we outline the active movements of different floral structures of pistil (style), stamen (filament, anther, pollen), and corolla, such as flexistyly, pollen sliding and catapulting, and anther rotation. Thirdly, we introduce movement herkogamy, which makes herkogamy decrease or increase via the movements of floral structures, especially decreased approach herkogamy via style curvature in the Malvaceae with a monadelphous column. Fourthly, we highlight the different adaptive significances in floral movements for understanding their evolution, including reduction in intrafloral male–female interference, promotion of outcrossing and/or avoidance of self-pollination, delayed autonomous selfing, and tolerance to harsh environments. In particular, we explore the possibility of three functions of one floral movement in one species, which differs from the generally recognized and conventional notion of one floral movement in one species with only one or two functional mechanisms. Finally, we provide perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for using demographic and molecular genetic approaches to (i) study the relative importance and evolutionary mechanism of different adaptive significances in one floral movement; and (ii) simultaneously investigate the floral movement and correlative traits of broader species in related or unrelated families to test how they evolved and the evolutionary relationship between their functions.     

Metabolomics: creating new potentials for unraveling the mechanisms in response to salt and drought stress and for the biotechnological improvement of xero-halophytes

Breeders have long been interested in understanding the biological function and mechanism of xero-halophytes and their ability for growth in drought-stricken and salinized environments. However, the mechanisms in response to stress have been difficult to unravel because their defenses require regulatory changes to the activation of multiple genes and pathways. Metabolomics is becoming a key tool in comprehensively understanding the cellular response to abiotic stress and represents an important addition to the tools currently employed in genomics-assisted selection for plant improvement. In this review, we highlight the applications of plant metabolomics in characterizing metabolic responses to salt and drought stress, and identifying metabolic quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We also discuss the potential of metabolomics as a tool to unravel stress response mechanisms, and as a viable option for the biotechnological improvement of xero-halophytes when no other genetic information such as linkage maps and QTLs are available, by combining with germplasm-regression-combined marker-trait association identification.     

中国红豆杉细胞经重复诱导和蔗糖饲喂后云南紫杉烷C生产的相应基因表达变化

红豆杉悬浮培养细胞具有可持续生产抗癌药物紫杉醇及其他紫杉烷的潜力。在中国红豆杉悬浮培养细胞中,云南紫杉烷 C(Tc) 是主要的次生代谢产物。为促使代谢前体由生成其他紫杉烷的代谢支路转到生产紫杉醇,实验采用实时定量PCR技术 (RQ-PCR) 揭示细胞培养过程中紫杉醇及紫杉烷合成关键基因的动态变化。在细胞培养的第7天和第12天,以100 μmol/L 2,3-二羟丙基茉莉酸 (DHPJA) 进行诱导,同时在第7天饲喂20 g/L的蔗糖,在此过程中考察6个关键基因 (TASY,TDAT,T5αH,TαH,T10βH和T14βH) 的表达变化。上述联合调控手段使得Tc产量在第1次诱导8 d后达 (554.46±21.28) mg/L,第2次诱导9 d后高达 (997.72±1.51) mg/L。代谢早期基因TASY和TDAT在第1次诱导后表达量分别提高了182和98倍,在第2次诱导后表达量分别提高了208和131倍。在每次诱导后基因表达量提高约持续24 h,之后下降。其他4个基因 (T5αH、TαH、T10βH和T14βH) 的情况有所不同。基因TαH在2次诱导后表达量分别提高了3 061和1 016倍。其他3个基因T5αH、T10βH、T14βH在第1次诱导后表达量分别提高13、38、20倍,在第2次诱导后分别提高7、16、6倍。RQ-PCR结果表明基因表达和Tc积累之间存在紧密相关性：基因表达的变化与Tc产量的变化相一致,诱导可提高6个基因的表达量。基因的高表达随着培养过程逐渐衰减,再次诱导可再次促使基因的高表达。     

Design and synthesis of N-phenylacetyl (sulfonyl) 4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives as potential antitumor agents

A series of novel N-phenylacetyl (sulfonyl) 4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives as potential telomerase inhibitors were synthesized. The bioassay tests show that compound 4a exhibited high activity against human gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, liver cancer Hep-G2 and human prostate PC-3 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 21.23 ± 0.99, 29.43 ± 0.32 and 30.89 ± 1.07 μM, respectively. All title compounds were assayed for telomerase inhibition by a modified TRAP assay, the results show that compound 4a can inhibit telomerase with IC₅₀ value of 4.0 ± 0.32 μM. Docking simulation was performed to position compound 4a into the telomerase (3DU6) active site to determine the probable binding model.     

Antinociceptive properties of nasal delivery of neurotoxin-loaded nanoparticles coated with polysorbate-80

Neurotoxin-1 (NT) is an analgesic peptide which is endowed an exceptional specificity of action that blocks transmission of the nerve impulse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of nanoparticles technology as drug carrier system for the nasal delivery of NT. Mice were administered intranasally (i.n.) with NT (NT-P-NP), free NT solution (F-NT) and intravenously (i.v.) with NT (IV-NT) respectively. The NT levels in animal brain and antinociceptive activity of NT were analyzed. The result on brain transport showed that nanoparticles could exert enhanced delivery of NT into the brain significantly after i.n. administration. The results of antinociceptive activity showed that NT-P-NP increased immobility in the open-field test, both phases of formalin test were significantly inhibited by the NT-P-NP and NT-P-NP significantly inhibited the reaction time to thermal stimuli at 60 and 90 min. Both NT-P-NP and IV-NT were able to inhibit constrictions in acetic acid-induced writhing reaction. These data suggest that NT-loaded nanoparticles coated with polysorbate-80 could generate a significant improvement of drug levels in the brain. Intranasal administration of Neurotoxin-1 entrapped in nanoparticles coated with polysorbate-80 is an attractive alternative to intravenous administration.