Inhibition of estrogen signaling through depletion of estrogen receptor alpha by ursolic acid and betulinic acid from Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina

Extracts of Prunella vulgaris have been shown to exert antiestrogenic effects. To identify the compounds responsible for these actions, we isolated the constituents of P. vulgaris and tested their individual antiestrogenic effects. Rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid, hyperoside, rutin and betulinic acid (BA) were isolated from the flower stalks of P. vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai (Labiatae). Among these constituents, UA and BA showed significant antiestrogenic effects, measured as a decrease in the mRNA level of GREB1, an estrogen-responsive protein; the effects of BA were stronger than those of UA. UA and BA were capable of suppressing estrogen response element (ERE)-dependent luciferase activity and expression of estrogen-responsive genes in response to exposure to estradiol, further supporting the suppressive role of these compounds in estrogen-induced signaling. However, neither UA nor BA was capable of suppressing estrogen signaling in cells ectopically overexpressing estrogen receptor α (ERα). Furthermore, both mRNA and protein levels of ERα were reduced by treatment with UA or BA, suggesting that UA and BA inhibit estrogen signaling by suppressing the expression of ERα. Interestingly, both compounds enhanced prostate-specific antigen promoter activity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that UA and BA are responsible for the antiestrogenic effects of P. vulgaris and suggest their potential use as therapeutic agents against estrogen-dependent tumors.     

龙生型高油酸花生种质油酸亚油酸含量及其比值的遗传分析

应用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型,对2个龙生型花生高油酸种质与低油酸珍珠豆型品种杂交组合F2的油酸、亚油酸含量及其比值(O/L值)进行遗传分析,结果表明:花生油酸、亚油酸含量的遗传均表现为1对主基因加性-显性模型。控制油酸含量主基因的加性、显性效应值和遗传率在组合I中分别为8.6281、-2.0164和65.26%,在组合II中则分别为10.6638、1.0652和71.39%;控制亚油酸含量主基因的加性、显性效应值和遗传率在组合I中分别为8.0327、1.2858和73.64%,在组合II中则分别为9.0885、-1.0826和71.59%。O/L值的遗传表现为2对主基因加性-显性-上位性模型。2对主基因的加性效应值分别为0.6855、0.6814(组合I)和1.6842、0.8835(组合II),显性效应值分别为-0.6838、0.024(组合I)和-1.6559、-0.5127(组合II);加性×加性效应(i)、加性×显性效应(jab)、显性×加性效应(jba)、显性×显性效应(l)分别为0.6812、0.024、-0.6803、-0.0244(组合I)和0.8822、-0.5124、-0.8594、0.496(组合II);组合I、II主基因遗传率分别为82.57%和88.64%。     

中国东北圆柏属新品种——直立型偃柏

发表了圆柏属一新品种,即直立型偃柏（Sabina chinensis（L.）Ant. var. sargentii ‘Electus’）。新品种为直立的灌木或小乔木;叶两型鳞叶交互对生或生于小枝顶部,针叶刺状轮生,紧贴枝上,具有强烈分枝的特点,枝条斜上。     

多效唑对水仙生长发育的影响

为提高水仙的观赏价值,探讨复合多效唑对水仙生长发育的影响,用不同的多效唑溶液对水仙鳞茎进行处理。结果表明:多效唑能抑制水仙的营养生长,使植株矮化粗壮,叶片碧绿、挺拔,不易倒伏,根白、短而壮;复合多效唑配方使平均叶长减少37.7%,花期延长2d,花朵直径增加18.3%,延缓黄化叶片的出现,减慢叶肉薄壁细胞及其中叶绿体的解体,在后期维管束的结构相对完整,有效提高观赏价值。     

广西金钟山细叶云南松径向生长及其对气候因子的响应

为探究广西金钟山细叶云南松径向生长及其对气候的响应,该文建立了细叶云南松树木年轮标准年表,采用响应分析探讨了径向生长与气候因子的关系,并使用逐步回归和方差分解量化了不同气候因子对径向生长的影响。结果表明:(1)响应分析结果显示,上一年1月、8月、9月、11月的日照时数以及上一年10月的平均最低气温和平均气温与标准年表年轮宽度均呈显著正相关,而上一年6月降雨量>10 mm的天数与年轮宽度呈显著负相关; 当年2月的降雨量、3月的空气相对湿度和平均最低气温、6月的日照时数以及9月的平均气温和平均最高气温均与年轮宽度呈显著正相关。(2)逐步回归最终模型的方差分解结果显示,上一年10月的平均最低气温对细叶云南松径向生长的影响最大(方差解释量达23.35%),其次是当年9月的平均最高气温(方差解释量为10.39%); 上一年1月和11月的日照时数分别解释了径向生长变异的3.94%和6.58%。综上表明,秋季的温度和冬季的光照条件是限制细叶云南松径向生长最主要的气候因子,早春干旱和雨季大降雨量会降低细叶云南松的径向生长。     

Comparison of natural and artificial epidemics of take-all in sequences of winter wheat crops

Winter wheat was grown for six successive years (Expt 1) and for three successive years (Expt 2) in field experiments on different soil types. Artificial inoculum of the take-all fungus (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici cultured on autoclaved oat grains) was incorporated in the soil of some of the plots just before, or at, sowing of the first winter wheat crop. Expt 1 tested the incorporation of similar amounts of inoculum (212 kg ha^-1) at different depths. Expt 2 tested different amounts of inoculum at the same, shallow depth. Early sowing (September), late sowing (October) and spring inoculation were additional treatments, applied to the first crop only, in Expt 2. Seasonal factors apart, the disease outcome in the first year after inoculation depended on amounts and placement of applied inoculum, as well as date of sowing. Deeper inoculum resulted in less disease (Expt 1). Severe take-all was produced in Expt 2 by incorporating inoculum shallowly in sufficient quantities (400 kg ha^-1 or more). Less inoculum (200 kg ha^-1) generated less disease, especially in earlier-sown plots. Differences in disease amongst inoculum treatments were greatest in the first year and diminished subsequently, particularly where sowing had been early in the first year. In Expt 1, where first crops exposed to artificial inoculum developed moderate-to-severe disease, disease in subsequent second and/or third crops was less. In the fourth crop a second peak of disease occurred, coinciding with a first peak in sequences without added inoculum. Take-all decline (TAD) appeared to be expressed in all sequences thereafter. In Expt 2 in sequences without added inoculum, TAD occurred after a peak of disease in the second crop. Where 400 kg ha^-1 or more of inoculum were added, disease was severe in the first year and decreased progressively in successive years. Disease was less patchy in plots that received artificial inoculum. However, it remains uncertain mat severe disease caused by artificial inoculation achieved an early onset of true TAD. The infectivity of the top 12 cm of soil in the first 3 yr of Expt 1, determined by bioassay, depended on the depth of added inoculum and amount of disease in subsequent crops. However, at the time of the naturally occurring peak of disease severity (in either inoculated or non-inoculated plots) it did not predict either disease or TAD. Differences and similarities amongst epidemics developing naturally and those developing from different amounts and placement of applied inoculum have been revealed. The epidemiological implications of adding inoculum and the potential value of artificially-created epidemics of take-all in field trials are discussed.     

THE ROLE OF DIATOMS IN STROMATOLITE GROWTH: TWO EXAMPLES FROM MODERN FRESHWATER SETTINGS1

Some modern laminated and calcified stromatolitic structures are partially or completely formed by eukaryotes. Diatom populations in freshwater environments with elevated ionic concentrations contribute to calcite precipitation, and the formation of distinctive mineral-rich stromatolitic laminae. Two types of stromatolite-forming diatom populations were observed. In the first example, in stromatolies growing on a quarry ledge near Laegerdorf, North Germany, calcite crystals with biogenic imprints form around polysaccharide stalks of the diatom Gomphonema olivaceum var. calcarea (Cleve) Cleve-Euler. These individually precipitated crystals eventunally become cemented together in layers, forming rigid, laminated stromatolitic deposits which drape over the quarry ledge. In the second example, in stromatolites forming in a shallow stream near Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, Mexico, diatomaceous laminae also form by the accumulation of carbonate particles in a matrix of diatoms and their extracellular polysaccharide products. These laminae become thick enough to drape over individual stromatolite heads. The diatoms responsible for these deposits are Amphora aff. A. Katii Selva, Nitzschia denticula Grun., and six other species. At Cuatro Ciénegas, in addition to the diatomaceous laminae, carbonate-rich cyanobacterial layers, dominated by two cyanobacterial species with different fabrics and porosities, are also present and contribute substantially to the growth of the stromatolites. In both the Laegerdorf and Cuatro Ciénegas examples, entire stromatolites or thick laminations on stromatolites are built by a small number of diatom species which produce copious amounts of extracellular stalk, gel, and sheath material, a property they share with cyanobacterial stromatolite builders.     

ent-Abietane diterpenoids from Isodon rubescens var. rubescens

ent-Abietane diterpenoids, hebeiabinins A-F (1-5), together with seven known diterpenoids were isolated from leaves of Isodon rubescens var. rubescens. The structures of 1-5 were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including application of 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. The diterpenoids isolated were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against A549, HT-29, and K562 tumor cells. Compound 5 was the most active with IC(50) value of 0.91 microM against A549 cells.