Variability in the Phytochemical Contents and Free Radical‐Scavenging Capacity of Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (Wild Piquin Chili)

The variability in the phytochemical concentrations of Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum has not been extensively analyzed among wild populations and ecologic niches in its phylogeographic area. This study aimed to determine the variations in the phytochemical and antioxidant contents of the wild Piquin chili. The total flavonoid content of hydroalcoholic extracts (0.06 to 0.70 mg equivalent of quercetin per gram of dry weight (mg QE/g DW)), free radical‐scavenging capacity for 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^.) radicals (0.55 to 8.55 mm TE/g DW), amount of 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) in aqueous extracts (18.13 to 107.6 mm TE/g DW) and pungency (21,760 to 88,476 Scoville heat units) were highly variable. By analyzing the spatial distribution using the first three principal components, correlations between the phytochemical content and the free radical‐scavenging capacity (in both extracts) and flavonoid and phenolic contents (in the hydroalcoholic extract) were observed. Consistent with the statistical analysis, the spatial analysis showed intraregional differences in composition patterns, with an emphasis on central and coastal areas. Flavonoid contents, polyphenol contents and free radical‐scavenging activity were the phytochemical components that mainly contributed to the diversity of the population.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene reductase from Magnaporthe grisea

1,3,8-Trihydroxynaphthalene reductase was crystallized in the presence of NADPH and the inhibitor tricyclazole. The crystals are trigonal, space group P3₁21 or its enantiomorph P3₂21. Two crystal forms with slightly different cell dimensions were obtained. Form A has unit cell dimensions a = b = 142.6 Å, c = 70.1 Å and form B cell dimensions a = b = 142.6 Å, c = 72.9 Å. The diffraction pattern of the latter crystal form extends to 2.5 Å resolution.     

蛋白-O-岩藻糖基转移酶1基因CfPOFUT1在果生炭疽菌中的功能分析

【目的】蛋白-O-岩藻糖基转移酶1 (protein O-fucosyltransferase 1,POFUT1)是催化蛋白质O-岩藻糖基化的关键酶,在动物和人体内被证明调控一系列的生理病理过程,然而POFUT1基因在果生炭疽菌乃至真菌中还未见报道。本研究旨在克隆果生炭疽菌中CfPOFUT1基因,并分析其生物学功能。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术扩增CfPOFUT1的基因并进行生物信息学分析,构建了CfPOFUT1基因的沉默和过表达载体,通过PEG介导法将载体导入原生质体中获得CfPOFUT1基因的沉默和过表达突变体。测定了野生型菌株、CfPOFUT1沉默菌株和过表达菌株在PDA上的菌丝生长、分生孢子产生、萌发与附着胞形成、胁迫应答和致病力、杀菌剂敏感性等生物学表型。【结果】与野生型菌株相比,基因过表达突变体产孢量显著增加,致病力增强,对嘧菌酯敏感性降低,但对多菌灵和咪鲜胺敏感性增强。基因沉默突变体产孢量减少,细胞壁完整性、内质网应激敏感性提高,致病力减弱,对嘧菌酯敏感性提高,但对多菌灵和咪鲜胺敏感性降低。【结论】CfPOFUT1基因参与调控果生炭疽菌分生孢子产量,细胞壁完整性、内质网对应激和药剂敏感性,并对其致病性也具有一定的影响。     

水稻恶苗病菌对苯并咪唑类杀菌剂抗药性分子机理研究初探

用真菌β-微管蛋白基因的丰余寡聚核着酸引物B1和B3,扩增了一段871bp的水稻恶苗病菌Fusariummoniliforme的β微管蛋白基因片段,进行了克隆和DNA序列测定,并根据该序列设计了Fmoniliformeβ-微管蛋白基因的特异性测序引物。经过对恶苗病菌对多菌灵具有不同抗性水平菌株的β-微管蛋白基因核着酸序的比较研究,表明Fmoniliforme的β微管蛋白的165,198,200和257位置氨基酸末发生突变,在克隆的片段内也未发现能引起氨基酸改变的核着酸突变。说明该菌对多菌灵产生抗性的分子机理与目前已知的其他真菌有所不同,有待进～步研究。     

虫生真菌玫烟色棒束孢Pf9606抗逆性的研究

采用凹玻片悬滴法测定了玫烟色棒束孢在高温、紫外照射、紫外保护剂和杀菌剂等逆境胁迫下分生孢子的存活率。结果表明:玫烟色棒束孢Pf9606分生孢子在36～45 ℃高温下连续处理24 h后,该菌孢子几乎不能存活;36～45 ℃短时高温处理后,随温度的升高和处理时间的延长,孢子存活率明显降低;随紫外照射时间的延长,玫烟色棒束孢孢子存活率明显降低,当紫外照射50 s时,孢子存活率为55.33%,当照射时间延长为180 s时,孢子不能存活;不同浓度的抗坏血酸和高浓度的荧光素钠可提高玫烟色棒束孢抗紫外照射能力,抗坏血酸的理想浓度为0.2 mg/mL,荧光素钠的理想浓度为0.9 mg/mL,而不同浓度的刚果红和氧化锌对玫烟色棒束孢没有保护作用;玫烟色棒束孢与杀菌剂72%农用硫酸链霉素、70%代森联和58%甲霜灵锰锌混用后,对该菌孢子存活影响较小,不同浓度下孢子存活率均达85%以上,而常规浓度的氟吗·锰锌对玫烟色棒束孢孢子存活有较强的抑制作用。     

Kinetics of the lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging activity of indicaxanthin in solution and unilamellar liposomes

The reaction of the phytochemical indicaxanthin with lipoperoxyl radicals generated in methyl linoleate methanol solution by 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), and in aqueous soybean phosphatidylcholine unilamellar liposomes by 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride, was studied. The molecule acts as a chain-terminating lipoperoxyl radical scavenger in solution, with a calculated inhibition constant of 3.63 × 10⁵ M^{? 1} s^{? 1}, and a stoichiometric factor approaching 2. Indicaxanthin incorporated in liposomes prevented lipid oxidation, inducing clear-cut lag periods and decrease of the propagation rate. Both effects were concentration-dependent, but not linearly related to the phytochemical concentration. The consumption of indicaxanthin during liposome oxidation was remarkably delayed, the lower the concentration the longer the time-interval during which it remained in its native state. Indicaxanthin and α-tocopherol, simultaneously incorporated in liposomes, exhibited cooperative antioxidant effects and reciprocal protective interactions. The extent of synergism decreased at the increase of the ratio (indicaxanthin)/(α-tocopherol). A potential antioxidant mechanism of indicaxanthin is discussed in the context of the chemistry of the molecule, and of the possible reactivity of a short-lived intermediate.