Co-transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax</Emphasis> major ginsenosides Rb<Subscript>1</Subscript> and Rg<Subscript>1</Subscript> to minor ginsenosides C–K and F<Subscript>1</Subscript> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cladosporium cladosporioides</Emphasis>

Rb₁ and Rg₁ are the major ginsenosides in protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol. Their content in ginsenosides was 23.8 and 17.6%, respectively. A total of 22 isolates of β-glucosidase producing microorganisms were isolated from the soil of a ginseng field using Esculin-R2A agar. Among these isolates, the strain GH21 showed the strongest activities to convert ginsenoside Rb₁ and Rg₁ to minor ginsenosides compound-K and F₁, respectively. Ginsenosides Rb₁ and Rg₁ bioconversion rates were 74.2 and 89.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, the results demonstrated that the ginsenoside Rg₁ could change the biotransformation pathway of ginsenoside Rb₁ by inhibiting the formation of the intermediate metabolite gypenoside-XVII. GH21 was identified as a Cladosporium cladosporioides species based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA gene sequences constructed phylogenetic trees.     

Doxorubicin induces the persistent activation of intracellular transglutaminase 2 that protects from cell death

The activation of transglutaminase 2 (TG2), an enzyme that catalyzes post-translational modifications of proteins, has been implicated in apoptosis, cell adhesion and inflammatory responses. We previously reported that intracellular TG2 is activated under oxidative stress conditions, such as ultraviolet irradiation, ischemia-reperfusion, and hypoxia. In this study, we examined the effect of genotoxic stress on the intracellular activity of TG2 using doxorubicin which generates reactive oxygen species that lead to double-strand breakage of DNA. We demonstrated that doxorubicin elicits the persistent activation of TG2. Doxorubicin-induced TG2 activity was suppressed by treatment with caffeine at the early phase, N-acetylcysteine at the mid-phase, and EGTA at the late phase. However, treatment with a blocking antibody against TGFβ or toll-like receptor 2 showed no effect on TG2 activity, indicating that at least three different signaling pathways may be involved in the process of TG2 activation. In addition, using MEF cells defective for TG2 and cells overexpressing an activesite mutant of TG2, we revealed that doxorubicin-induced cell death is inversely correlated with TG2 activity. Our findings indicate that the persistent activation of TG2 by doxorubicin contributes to cell survival, suggesting that the mechanism-based inhibition of TG2 may be a novel strategy to prevent drug-resistance in doxorubicin treatment.     

Application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based technology for authentication of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Catharanthus roseus</Emphasis> (L.) G. Don

In this study, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based molecular marker was developed for authentication of Catharanthus roseus, a medicinal plant. Samples of this plant were collected from different geographical locations in India. Random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis of collected samples was carried out with 25 random primers. A 610-bp DNA fragment, common to all accessions, was eluted, cloned, and sequenced. Four LAMP primers were designed on the basis of sequence of 610 bp DNA fragment. LAMP reaction, containing 10× Bst DNA polymerase reaction buffer, Bst DNA polymerase, four in-house designed primers, dNTPs, MgSO₄, and betaine, was incubated at 65°C for 1 h. The resulting amplicon was visualized by adding SYBR Green I to the reaction tube. The data showed confirmatory results. Since the assay method is simple, sensitive, and cost-effective, it is a feasible method for identifying and authentication of C. roseus.     

Non-enzymatic antioxidative defence in drought-stressed mulberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus indica</Emphasis> L.) genotypes

The present study investigated drought-induced responses of non-enzymatic antioxidants in four diverse mulberry genotypes (Morus indica L. S-36, M-5, MR-2 and V-1). Inside the glasshouse, potted plants were subjected to four water regimes for 75 days: (a) control: pots maintained at 100% pot water holding capacity (PC) (b) low water stress: 75% PC (c) medium water stress: 50% PC and (d) high water stress: 25% PC. Photosynthetic leaf gas exchange and non-enzymatic antioxidants including α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione, proline and total carotenoids were measured in leaves at regular intervals. Amongst all, V-1 was relatively drought tolerant and showed exceeded accumulation of α-tocopherol and AA-glutathione pool in association with higher carotenoids and proline contents. Susceptible S-36, M-5 and MR-2 could not induce any significant up-regulation in AA-glutathione pool leading to endogenous loss of α-tocopherol and more lipid peroxidation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide (O₂ ^{· ?}) showed apparent accumulation in water-stressed leaves and significantly contributed to lipid peroxidation in susceptible genotypes when compared to V-1. Our study demonstrated that proline, AA and glutathione were the major non-enzymatic antioxidants in mulberry with α-tocopherol and carotenoids as good additional indicators for drought stress tolerance. These non-enzymatic antioxidants can cumulatively render effective protection against oxidative damage and can be considered as reliable markers for screening drought-tolerant mulberry genotypes.     

Loopholes in the regulation of invasive species: genetic identifications identify mislabeling of prohibited aquarium plants

Numerous invasive aquatic species introductions can be traced to the aquarium trade. Many potentially harmful aquarium species may be difficult to identify based on morphology alone. As such, some prohibited or invasive species may be available for purchase if they are mislabeled as species without restrictions. Here we compare molecular identifications to internet vendors’ identifications for accessions of a popular genus of aquarium plants that are difficult to distinguish morphologically (Myriophyllum; watermilfoils). Specifically, we identified the extensive mislabeling of M. heterophyllum—an invasive species in the northeastern and western US. Furthermore, genotypes of M. heterophyllum found in our aquarium survey have also been found in invasive populations, suggesting their potential introduction through escape from aquaria, water gardens, or nurseries. Two additional taxa were sold under incorrect names. Finally, our survey revealed that Myriophyllum taxa present in the aquarium trade generally have poorly known distributions and ecologies, and therefore their invasive potential is unknown. Our study confirms that molecular identification methods can provide a valuable tool to survey commercial pathways for potentially harmful species that are otherwise difficult to identify.     

Quercetin attenuates lindane induced oxidative stress in wistar rats

A wide number of pesticides, including highly persistent organochlorine compounds, such as lindane (γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane), have deteriorative effect on fauna and flora by inducing oxidative stress. Lindane induces cell damage by producing free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Quercetin, a dietary flavonoid, is ubiquitous in fruits and vegetables and plays an important role in human health by virtue of its antioxidant function. In this study the flavonoid quercetin was used to investigate its antioxidative effect against lindane induced oxidative stress in rats. The level of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH) were analysed in addition to the antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities in the liver and kidney tissue. Levels of hepatic marker enzymes in serum like Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and renal markers like serum creatinine and serum urea were estimated. Administration of Lindane induced histopathological alterations and increased levels of serum hepatic and renal markers and malondialdehyde (MDA) with a significant decrease in GSH content and CAT, SOD, GPx and GST activities. Cotreatment of quercetin along with lindane significantly decreased the lindane induced alteration in histology, serum hepatic and renal markers and MDA and also improved the cellular antioxidant status. The results show that Quercetin ameliorates Lindane induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney. The quercetin exhibited chemopreventive effect when administered along with lindane.     

Ovarian hormones regulate expression of the focal adhesion proteins,talin and paxillin,in rat uterine luminal but not glandular epithelial cells

During early pregnancy in the rat, focal adhesions disassemble in uterine luminal epithelial cells at the time of implantation to facilitate their removal so that the implanting blastocyst can invade into the underlying endometrial decidual cells. This study investigated the effect of ovarian hormones on the distribution and protein expression of two focal adhesion proteins, talin and paxillin, in rat uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells under various hormone regimes. Talin and paxillin showed a major distributional change between different hormone regimes. Talin and paxillin were highly concentrated along the basal cell surface of uterine luminal epithelial cells in response to oestrogen treatment. However, this prominent staining of talin and paxillin was absent and also a corresponding reduction of paxillin expression was demonstrated in response to progesterone alone or progesterone in combination with oestrogen, which is also observed at the time of implantation. In contrast, the distribution of talin and paxillin in uterine glandular epithelial cells was localised on the basal cell surface and remained unchanged in all hormone regimes. Thus, not all focal adhesions are hormonally dependent in the rat uterus; however, the dynamics of focal adhesion in uterine luminal epithelial cells is tightly regulated by ovarian hormones. In particular, focal adhesion disassembly in uterine luminal epithelial cells, a key component to establish successful implantation, is predominantly under the influence of progesterone.     

Pressure treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> in low-moisture environments

We investigated the influence of cell hydration on the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CBS 1171 to withstand extreme hydrostatic pressure in order to determine the mechanisms involved in cell resistance. Hydration conditions were modified in two different ways. We first modulated the chemical potential of water by adding glycerol in cell suspensions. Another procedure consisted in dehydrating cells aerobically and immersing them in perfluorooctane, an innocuous hydrophobic liquid used as a pressure-transmitting medium, prior to pressure treatments. This original method made it possible to transmit isostatic pressure to yeast powders without changing the initial water activity (a _w) level at which cells had been equilibrated. The a _w ranged between 0.11 and 0.99. Pressure treatments were applied at levels of up to 600 MPa for 10 min, 24 h, and 6 days. The dehydration of cells was found to strongly limit, or even prevent, cell inactivation under pressure. Notably, cells suspended in a water–glycerol mixture with a _w levels of 0.71 or below were completely protected against all pressure treatments. Moreover, cells dehydrated aerobically survived for 6 days at 600 MPa even when a _w levels were relatively high (up to 0.94). We highlighted the crucial role of water content in determining cellular damage under pressure. When water is available in a sufficient amount, high pressure induces membrane permeabilization, causing uncontrolled mass transfers that could lead to death during a prolonged holding under pressure. Possible mechanisms of membrane permeabilization are discussed.     

Effects of landscape and demographic history on genetic variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea glehnii</Emphasis> at the regional scale

To evaluate the effects of landscape and demographic history on genetic variation in Picea glehnii at a regional scale we have investigated the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of P. glehnii populations in the Furano region, central Hokkaido, Japan, using seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. We found significant correlations between elevation and genetic diversity parameters. The value of A _[46] increased and the value of F _IS decreased with increasing elevation, while F _IS values were not significantly different from 0 in any of the populations. Significant recent bottlenecks were detected for isolated populations at low-elevation sites and for relatively large populations at moderate- and high-elevation sites. Evolutionary events pre-dating the Holocene should be taken into consideration, as elevational gradients should be with respect to locally adapted traits such as flowering phenology, However, the palynological data from the Holocene in this region suggest that the distribution pattern of genetic diversity of P. glehnii detected here may have been influenced by past demographic history related to the elevation shifts in this species’ distribution associated with climate change during this period. Population differentiation was low, with F _ST and G′_ST values of 0.022 and 0.065, respectively. However, genetic boundaries were detected around one swamp population (C13). Therefore, significant isolation by distance (IBD) was not detected when all populations were considered, but there was significant IBD when the C13 population was excluded. Information on genetic diversity and genetic differentiation at the regional scale may be useful for selecting seed sources for afforestation programs for P. glehnii.