The effect of a long-term water stress on the metabolism and emission of terpenes of the foliage of Cupressus sempervirens

The effects of long-term water stress on water and terpene contents of the foliage of Cupressus sempervirens were studied. A great deal of water was lost over 2 months before a remarkable stabilization. A strong decrease of all the classes of terpenes accompanied this dehydration. Mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and free terpenols were almost entirely metabolized, whereas esters and terpene glycosides rose slightly and remained at a constant level when the water content had stabilized. Although a significant part of the mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons was emitted in the early stage of stress application, the major part was used by the plant in response to the drought conditions.     

Agronomic and chemical performance of field‐grown tobacco engineered for triterpene and methylated triterpene metabolism

Squalene is a linear intermediate to nearly all classes of triterpenes and sterols and is itself highly valued for its use in wide range of industrial applications. Another unique linear triterpene is botryococcene and its methylated derivatives generated by the alga Botryococcus braunii race B, which are progenitors to fossil fuel deposits. Production of these linear triterpenes was previously engineered into transgenic tobacco by introducing the key steps of triterpene metabolism into the particular subcellular compartments. In this study, the agronomic characteristics (height, biomass accumulation, leaf area), the photosynthetic capacity (photosynthesis rate, conductance, internal CO₂ levels) and triterpene content of select lines grown under field conditions were evaluated for three consecutive growing seasons. We observed that transgenic lines targeting enzymes to the chloroplasts accumulated 50–150 times more squalene than the lines targeting the enzymes to the cytoplasm, without compromising growth or photosynthesis. We also found that the transgenic lines directing botryococcene metabolism to the chloroplast accumulated 10‐ to 33‐fold greater levels than the lines where the same enzymes were targeted to in the cytoplasm. However, growth of these high botryococcene accumulators was highly compromised, yet their photosynthesis rates remained unaffected. In addition, in the transgenic lines targeting a triterpene methyltransferase (TMT) to the chloroplasts of high squalene accumulators, 55%–65% of total squalene was methylated, whereas in the lines expressing a TMT in the cytoplasm, only 6%–13% of squalene was methylated. The growth of these methylated triterpene‐accumulating lines was more compromised than that of nonmethylated squalene lines.     

The synergistic attractiveness effect of plant volatiles to sex pheromones in a moth

The effects of plant-derived chemicals (volatiles) on the attraction of the Spodoptera litura moth to sex pheromones were evaluated using an electroantennogram (EAG). Neuronal responses of male moths to sex pheromone mixtures (SPs) (a 9:1 mixture of synthetic (9Z,11E)-9,11-tetraddecadienyl acetate (Z9E11-14:OAc) and (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9E12-14:OAc)) and to SPs mixtures with eight plant volatiles (benzaldehyde, (E)-β-caryophyllene, phenylacetaldehyde, 2,6-nonadienal, benzyl alcohol, racemic linalool, longifolene, and (E)-β-ocimene) were also measured. Then, wind tunnels and field trapping bioassays were conducted to determine the influence of plant volatiles on S. litura moth behavioral responses to SPs. The results indicated that benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and benzyl alcohol significantly enhanced, and longifolene, (E)-β-caryophyllene, and (E)-β-ocimene had no significant effect on the attractions to SPs, whereas racemic linalool significantly decreased the attraction of male S. litura moths to SPs throughout the olfactory pathway. 2,6-Nonadienal significantly enhanced olfactory responses, but had no significant effect on output behavior. These findings provide foundations in utilization of plant volatiles and sex pheromones to manage the pest and other agricultural pests.     

Biological nanosilver particles for the protection of archaeological stones against microbial colonization

The inhabitation of microorganisms and their subsequent interaction with mineral matrix of the stone substrate under varied environmental conditions encourages deterioration of stones leading to the loss of strength, durability and aesthetic. This study highlighted the synthesis of nanosilver particles (AgNPs) using the biogenic volatiles of the bacterial strain Nesterenkonia halobia. The antimicrobial activities of AgNPs were evaluated against the gram positive bacterial strain Streptomyces parvullus and fungal strain Apergillus niger. Furthermore, the silver particles were mixed with two types of consolidation polymers and were used to coat the external surfaces of sandstone and limestone blocks. The stones treated with silicon polymer loaded with AgNPs showed an elevated antimicrobial potentiality against A. niger and S. parvullus. Scan electron microscope (SEM) and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of treated stones demonstrated the existence of nano-composite structures containing the elemental silver. Polymers functionalized with AgNPs can be used not only as potent biocides but also for the consolidation of the historic monuments and artifacts.     

Niche construction initiates the evolution of mutualistic interactions

Niche construction theory explains how organisms' niche modifications may feed back to affect their evolutionary trajectories. In theory, the evolution of other species accessing the same modified niche may also be affected. We propose that this niche construction may be a general mechanism driving the evolution of mutualisms. Drosophilid flies benefit from accessing yeast‐infested fruits, but the consequences of this interaction for yeasts are unknown. We reveal high levels of variation among strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in their ability to modify fruits and attract Drosophila simulans. More attractive yeasts are dispersed more frequently, both in the lab and in the field, and flies associated with more attractive yeasts have higher fecundity. Although there may be multiple natural yeast and fly species interactions, our controlled assays in the lab and field provide evidence of a mutualistic interaction, facilitated by the yeast's niche modification.     

A derivative of the CRMP2 binding compound lanthionine ketimine provides neuroprotection in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia

Lanthionines are novel neurotrophic and neuroprotective small molecules that show promise for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, a recently developed, cell permeable lanthionine derivative known as LKE (lanthionine ketimine 5-ethyl ester) promotes neurite growth at low nanomolar concentrations. LKE also has neuroprotective, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its therapeutic potential in cerebral ischemia and its mechanisms of neurotrophic action remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we hypothesize that the neuroprotective actions of LKE could result from induction or modulation of CRMP2. We found that treating primary cultured mouse neurons with LKE provided significant protection against t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced neuronal death possibly through CRMP2 upregulation. Similarly, in vivo studies showed that LKE pre and/or post-treatment protects mice against permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (p-MCAO) as evidenced by lower stroke lesions and improved functional outcomes in terms of rotarod, grip strength and neurologic deficit scores in treated groups. Protein expression levels of CRMP2 were higher in brain cortices of LKE pretreated mice, suggesting that LKE’s neuroprotective activity may be CRMP2 dependent. Lower activity of cleaved PARP-1 and higher activity of SIRT-1 was also observed in LKE treated group suggesting its anti-apoptotic properties. Our results suggest that LKE has potential as a therapeutic intervention in cerebral ischemia and that part of its protective mechanism may be attributed to CRMP2 mediated action and PARP-1/SIRT-1 modulation.     

Rhythms of volatile release from female and male sea buckthorn plants and electrophysiological response of sea buckthorn carpenter moths

The sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides L., is a thorny, nitrogen-fixing, dioecious, and deciduous shrub which has been attacked by a catastrophic outbreak of Holcocerus hippophaecolus in the ‘Three North Areas’ of China recently. The behavioral responses of female individuals to their dioecious host sea buckthorn, H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, were tested by Y-tube bioassay, and intraspecific emission variations and the circadian rhythm of male and female sea buckthorn plants were compared, together with the electrophysiological responses of sea buckthorn carpenter moths to these parameters. Y-tube olfactometry indicated that mated female H. hippophaecolus individuals did not display a significant preference for either sex of sea buckthorns. Additionally, no unique chemical compound was found. Female antennae significantly responded to 1-octene, methyl salicylate, and (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol acetate, among which methyl salicylate was more abundant in females than in males. In addition, the circadian variation of (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol acetate suggested that it was an effective compound for host location.     

云斑白条天牛对核桃、桉树的趋向性和EAG反应

云斑白条天牛Batocera lineaolata严重危害核桃树和桉树,是一种寄主范围较广的蛀干害虫。本研究通过弄清云斑白条天牛对核桃和桉树两种寄主树种挥发物的行为反应差异,为利用信息素监测和防治云斑白条天牛提供理论依据。本研究采用触角电位(EAG)反应和"Y"型嗅觉仪技术测定了云斑白条天牛对寄主核桃和桉树各部位挥发物的趋向性和EAG反应。结果表明:核桃种群的云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃树皮、叶片和嫰枝挥发物的趋向率均高于桉树相应部位挥发物的趋向率。雌性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著高于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性;相反,雄性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著低于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性。核桃种群云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃和桉树的树皮、嫰枝和叶片的挥发物均有较强的EAG反应;其中,雌性天牛对核桃树皮挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于雄虫的EAG反应值;未交尾雄虫对桉树嫰枝挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于核桃嫰枝的EAG反应值。可见,来源于核桃种群的云斑白条天牛更趋向于选择核桃,性别和交尾与否对其趋向性和EAG反应也存在一定影响。