Finlay–Wilkinson's regression coefficient as a pre‐screening criterion for yield responsiveness to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration in crops

The rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) can increase crop productivity, but there are likely to be intraspecific variations in the response. To meet future world food demand, screening for genotypes with high [CO₂] responsiveness will be a useful option, but there is no criterion for high [CO₂] responsiveness. We hypothesized that the Finlay–Wilkinson regression coefficient (RC) (for the relationship between a genotype's yield versus the mean yield of all genotypes in a specific environment) could serve as a pre‐screening criterion for identifying genotypes that respond strongly to elevated [CO₂]. We collected datasets on the yield of 6 rice and 10 soybean genotypes along environmental gradients and compared their responsiveness to elevated [CO₂] based on the regression coefficients (i.e. the increases of yield per 100 µmol mol^?1 [CO₂]) identified in previous reports. We found significant positive correlations between the RCs and the responsiveness of yield to elevated [CO₂] in both rice and soybean. This result raises the possibility that the coefficient of the Finlay–Wilkinson relationship could be used as a pre‐screening criterion for [CO₂] responsiveness.     

Combining mapping of physiological quantitative trait loci and transcriptome for cold tolerance for counteracting male sterility induced by low temperatures during reproductive stage in rice

Male sterility induced by low temperatures (LTs) during the reproductive stage is a major constraint for temperate zone rice. To detect physiological quantitative trait loci (QTLs), we modeled genotypic variation in the physiological processes involved in low temperature spikelet sterility on the basis of anther length (AL), a proxy for microspore and pollen grain number per anther. The model accounted for 83% of the genotypic variation in potential AL at normal temperature and the ability to maintain AL at LT. We tested the model on 208 recombinant inbred lines of cold‐tolerant ‘Tohoku‐PL3’ (PL3) × cold‐sensitive ‘Akihikari’ (AH) for 2 years. QTLs for spikelet fertility (FRT) at LT were detected on chromosomes 5 (QTL for Cold Tolerance at Reproductive stage, qCTR5) and 12 (qCTR12). qCTR12 was annotated with the ability to maintain AL under LTs. qCTR5 was in a region shared with QTLs for culm length and heading date. Genome‐wide expression analysis showed 798 genes differentially expressed in the spikelets between the parents at LTs. Of these, 12 were near qCTR5 and 23 were near qCTR12. Gene expression analysis confirmed two candidate genes for qCTR5 (O‐methyltransferase ZRP4, Os05g0515600; beta‐1,3‐glucanase‐like protein, Os05g0535100) and one for qCTR12 (conserved hypothetical protein, Os12g0550600). Nucleotide polymorphisms (21 deletions, 2 insertions and 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms) in PL3 were found near the candidate conserved hypothetical protein (Os12g0550600) and upstream in PL3, but not in AH. Haplotype analysis revealed that this gene came from ‘Kuchum’. The combination of mapping physiological QTLs with gene expression analysis can be extended to identify other genes for abiotic stress response in cereals.     

Quantitative and antioxidative behavior of Trolox in rats’ blood and brain by HPLC‐UV and SMFIA‐CL methods

Trolox, a water‐soluble vitamin E analogue has been used as a positive control in Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity assays due to its high antioxidative effect. In this study, the ex vivo antioxidative effects of Trolox and its concentration in blood and brain microdialysates from rat after administration were evaluated by newly established semi‐microflow injection analysis, chemiluminescence detection and HPLC‐UV. In the administration test, the antioxidative effect of Trolox in blood and brain microdialysates after a single administration of 200 mg/kg of Trolox to rats could be monitored. The antioxidative effects in blood (12.0 ± 2.1) and brain (8.4 ± 2.1, × 10³ antioxidative effect % × min) also increased. Additionally, the areas under the curve (AUC)s_0–360 (n = 3) for blood and brain calculated with quantitative data were 10.5 ± 1.2 and 9.7 ± 2.5 mg/mL × min, respectively. This result indicates that Trolox transferability through the blood–brain barrier is high. The increase in the antioxidative effects caused by Trolox in the blood and brain could be confirmed because good correlations between concentration and antioxidative effects (r ≥ 0.702) were obtained. The fact that Trolox can produce an antioxidative effect in rat brain was clarified. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Lactobacillus mutant capable of accumulating long-chain polyphosphates that enhance intestinal barrier function

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) was previously identified as a probiotic-derived substance that enhances intestinal barrier function. PolyP-accumulating bacteria are expected to have beneficial effects on the human gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we selected Lactobacillus paracasei JCM 1163 as a strain with the potential to accumulate polyP, because among the probiotic bacteria stored in our laboratory, it had the largest amount of polyP. The chain length of polyP accumulated in L. paracasei JCM 1163 was approximately 700 phosphate (Pi) residues. L. paracasei JCM 1163 accumulated polyP when Pi was added to Pi-starved cells. We further improved the ability of L. paracasei JCM 1163 to accumulate polyP by nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. The mutant accumulated polyP at a level of 1500 nmol/mg protein—approximately 190 times that of the wild-type strain. PolyP extracted from the L. paracasei JCM 1163 significantly suppressed the oxidant-induced intestinal permeability in mouse small intestine. In conclusion, we have succeeded in breeding the polyP-accumulating Lactobacillus mutant that is expected to enhance intestinal barrier function.     

Practical one-step glucuronidation via biotransformation

We herein report a practical one-step glucuronidation method by biotransformation using Streptomyces sp. SANK 60895. This novel direct method of biotransformation has been shown to be more practical and scalable for glucuronidation than previously reported chemical and enzymatic procedures given its simplicity, high β-selectivity, cost-effectiveness, and reproducibility. We applied the present method to the synthesis of acyl glucuronide and hydroxy-β-glucuronide of mycophenolic acid and compound 4, respectively. This method was also shown to be applicable to the N-glucuronidation of various compounds.     

Environmental analysis of packaging‐derived changes in food production and consumer behavior

This study analyzed the environmental impacts of packaging‐derived changes in food production and consumer behavior to assist packaging designers in making environmentally conscious decisions. Packaging can be functionalized to prevent food loss and waste (FLW), for example, extending the expiration date and apportioning the package size, but it can generate additional environmental impacts from changes in food and packaging production. Previous studies assessed additional impacts from packaging production; however, the effects of packaging functionalization are yet to be connected with food production and consumer behavior. To examine the effect of functionalization on these aspects, we analyzed packaging‐derived changes in food production for milk and cabbage products. The case study compared products with functionalized packaging that permits a longer expiration date or a smaller portion size to their base‐case products. Our results showed that the packaging‐derived changes increased the global warming potential (GWP) of food production more than other processes did. Thus, changes in food production weakened the effectiveness of the packaging functionalization to decrease the GWP. Moreover, the analysis of consumer behavior scenarios showed that consumers’ perception of the expiration date decisively influences the effectiveness of packaging functionalization. When consumers discarded food after the expiration date, provided they consumed in small quantities, the packaging functionalization reduced FLW. From the scenario analysis, we identified appropriate combinations of packaging functionalization and consumer behaviors to effectively decrease total GWP. With our expanded analysis, packaging designers can understand the effectiveness of their decisions on the product life cycle in reducing FLW and environmental impacts.     

Forest characteristics and population structure of Glyptostrobus pensilis,a globally endangered relict species of southeastern China

The Chinese water pine Glyptostrobus pensilis is the sole surviving species of the genus Glyptostrobus. It is endemic to southern China, central Vietnam, and eastern Laos, and today it is nearly extinct in the wild. Forest community characteristics and population structure of G. pensilis in China have remained un-known up to now. We investigated six swamp forest stands and analyzed their forest community characteristics (i.e. vertical stratification, species composition, and diversity) and population structure, including the frequency distribution of DBH (diameter at breast height) and age-classes as found in Fujian Province, southeastern China. The vertical stratifications of all the forest stands were rather simple. The remaining wild specimens ranged from roughly 15 to some 357 years for an average of ca. 85 years, with only a few individuals less than 20 years old. Compared with the stands and populations of G. pensilis in Vietnam, the taxonomic compositions of the stands in the two regions were different, except for the dominant species-G. pensilis. The Shannon-Wiener index showed the overstory of each stand had much lower diversity (0.26 on average) in Fujian Province than that (1.97 on average) in Vietnam, whereas the diversity indices were about the same (around 2.41) for the understories in the two regions. Furthermore, we discovered 18 G. pensilis seedlings at the study sites in Fujian Province. This discovery demonstrates that G. pensilis regeneration is extremely poor and its populations are declining, although these populations are rela-tively healthier than those in Vietnam.     

Leucyl/phenylalanyl(L/F)-tRNA-protein transferase-mediated aminoacyl transfer of a nonnatural amino acid to the N-terminus of peptides and proteins and subsequent functionalization by bioorthogonal reactions

We report here a new strategy for derivatizing peptides and proteins at the N-terminus. To achieve this, a nonnatural amino acid was charged onto a tRNA and then enzymatically transferred to a lysine (Lys) unit at the N-terminus of a peptide or a protein by using L/F-tRNA-protein transferase. By using the chemoenzymatic technique, beta-(2-quinolyl)-L-alanine, p-azido-L-phenylalanine, and p-acetyl-L-phenylalanine were introduced to the N-terminus. The latter two nonnatural amino acids possess bioorthogonal functional groups to which artificial tags can be introduced. Actually, a biotin tag was coupled to the bioorthogonal ketone group of acetylphenylalanine at the N-terminus of a peptide. N-terminal-specific biotinylation and fluorescence derivatization of the bioorthogonal azido-containing protein or peptide was also carried out based on a [3 + 2] cycloaddition. The enzymatic transfer of a nonnatural amino acid to the N-terminus of target peptides or proteins was also successfully achieved in the presence of other peptides or crude protein mixtures.