Sorbitol Synthesis in Transgenic Tobacco with Apple cDNA Encoding NADP-Dependent Sorbitol-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

The apple (Malus domestica) cDNA encoding NADP-dependent sorbitol-6-phosphatedehydrogenase (S6PDH) was stably integrated and expressed intransgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. SR1). Expression ofthe cDNA in either a sense or antisense orientation was accomplishedusing cauliflower mosaic virus regulatory sequences (CaMV35S).Sorbitol synthesis was confirmed by gas-chromatography-mass-spectroscopy(GC-MS). Sorbitol concentration in the leaves of the transgenicplants expressing the sense orientation varied from 186 to 446nmol (g fr wt)^-1. The concentration positively correlates withS6PDH activity in leaves. Neither sorbitol nor S6PDH activitywas detected in the extracts of nontransformed tobacco or transgenictobacco expressing the antisense orientation. These resultsprovide key genetic evidence that S6PDH expression is sufficientfor the synthesis of sorbitol in tobacco, implicating it asa key enzyme in the sorbitol biosynthetic pathway in apple andperhaps other members of the woody Rosaceae. ¹Present address: Laboratory of Pomology, Faculty of Agriculture,Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-01 Japan     

Sperm concentration and the fertilization of human eggs in vitro

The effect of sperm concentration on the fertilization of preovulatory and immature human eggs was studied in the context of an ongoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. Fertilization success was independent of the follicular recruitment protocol used, and with preovulatory eggs, was inversely related to sperm concentration over the range of 2.5 - 50 X 10(4) motile sperm/ml. Maximum fertilization (80.8%) occurred at a concentration of 2.5 X 10(4) motile sperm/ml. The incidence of polyspermic fertilization was directly related to the sperm concentration, decreasing from 5.5% at 10 X 10(4) to 0% at 1-2.5 X 10(4) motile sperm/ml. Immature eggs cultured in vitro, then inseminated, also demonstrated an inverse relationship between fertilization and sperm concentration with a maximum fertilization rate of 66.6% at 5 X 10(4) motile sperm/ml. The percentage of motile sperm in the inseminating population had no influence on fertilization rates unless the value dropped below 40%. Fertilization success using sperm from oligospermic and polyzoospermic males was also examined. In contrast to males with normal semen parameters, oligospermic males demonstrated highest fertilization success at 50 X 10(4) motile sperm/ml. The IVF of preovulatory eggs using sperm from polyzoospermic males was comparable to that for males with normal semen parameters at equivalent sperm concentrations. The implications of these findings to the application of IVF-ET technology to the infertile couple is discussed.     

Synthesis,Molecular Docking,and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Some Novel Aminobenzylnaphthol Derivatives via One-Pot Three-Component Reaction

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - This work provides the first example of incorporating the thiazole moiety into the aminobenzylnaphthol i.e. Betti base. A series of novel synthesized Betti...