Gallic acid oxidation by turnip peroxidase

Both ellagic and gallic acids non competitively inhibited guaiacol oxidation by turnip peroxidase. The K_i values were 3 and 26 μm for ellagic and gallic acid respectively. Enzymatic oxidation of gallic acid by the isolated major turnip peroxidase was characterized with respect to spectral behaviour, affinity constant and pH effect. The K_m for H₂O₂ and gallic acid are 2.5 and 8.0 mM for turnip peroxidase. The pH optimum for gallic acid oxidation is about 6.5 and the rate constant k₄ decreased with the increase of pH in presence of both guaiacol and Gallic acid. When the gallic acid oxidation products were subjected to chromatographic analysis, it was found to be converted mainly to ellagic and an unknown quinone.     

The prevalence and spatial distribution of viruses in natural populations of Brassica oleracea

We report a survey of four viruses (beet western yellows luteovirus (BWYV), cauliflower mosaic caulimovirus (CaMV), turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV), turnip yellow mosaic tymovirus (TYMV)) in five natural populations of Brassica oleracea in Dorset (UK). All four viruses were common; 43% of plants were infected with BWYV, 60% with CaMV, 43% with TuMV and 18% with TYMV. For each virus there were significant differences in the proportion of infected plants among populations, which were not completely explained by differences in the age of plants. Multiple virus infections were prevalent, with 54% of plants having two or more virus types. There were statistically significant associations between pairs of viruses. The CaMV was positively associated with the other three viruses, and BWYV was also positively associated with TuMV. There was no detectable association between BWYV and TYMV, whereas TuMV and TYMV were negatively associated. We suggest these associations result from BWYV, CaMV and TuMV having aphid vectors in common, as aphids are attracted to plants that already have a virus infection. Infected plants were distributed randomly or were very weakly aggregated within populations. The implications of widespread multiple virus infections in natural plant populations are discussed with respect to the release of transgenic plants expressing virus-derived genes.     

Effects of a juvenile hormone analog, pyriproxyfen, on the apterous form of Lipaphis erysimi

Effects of a juvenile hormone analog, pyriproxyfen, on various developmental stadia of the apterous form of the turnip aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), were bioassayed at three concentrations (50, 100, and 150 mg [AI]/l) in the laboratory. Supernumerary-molted nymphs with 1-3 extra molts were found when the first three nymphal instars were treated, and all these nymphs died prematurely. In contrast, all treated fourth instar nymphs molted normally to adults. The longevity of all pyriproxyfen-treated L. erysimi nymphs and adults and the fecundity of treated adults were reduced by 50%. Higher concentrations of pyriproxyfen (100 and 150 mg [AI]/l) caused sterility in adults from treated fourth instars; whereas the lowest concentration (50 mg [AI]/l) did not cause any adult sterility. A majority of adults from treated fourth instars and treated adults produced normal nymphs, and some adults produced dead nymphs with normal appendages or dead and deformed nymphs without any appendages. Normal nymphs produced by the adults from treated adults or treated at fourth instars developed more slowly from first instar to adult than the water-treated nymphs, and all adults in the new generation apparently reproduced normally. The potential role of pyriproxyfen in a vegetable aphid IPM program was discussed.     

High overexpression of CERES,a plant regulator of translation,induces different phenotypical defence responses during TuMV infection

Mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF4E and eIF(iso)4E confer potyvirus resistance in a range of plant hosts. This supports the notion that, in addition to their role in translation of cellular mRNAs, eIF4E isoforms are also essential for the potyvirus cycle. CERES is a plant eIF4E- and eIF(iso)4E-binding protein that, through its binding to the eIF4Es, modulates translation initiation; however, its possible role in potyvirus resistance is unknown. In this article, we analyse if the ectopic expression of AtCERES is able to interfere with turnip mosaic virus replication in plants. Our results demonstrate that, during infection, the ectopic expression of CERES in Nicotiana benthamiana promotes the development of a mosaic phenotype when it is accumulated to moderate levels, but induces veinal necrosis when it is accumulated to higher levels. This necrotic process resembles a hypersensitive response (HR)-like response that occurs with different HR hallmarks. Remarkably, Arabidopsis plants inoculated with a virus clone that promotes high expression of CERES do not show signs of infection. These final phenotypical outcomes are independent of the capacity of CERES to bind to eIF4E. All these data suggest that CERES, most likely due to its leucine-rich repeat nature, could act as a resistance protein, able to promote a range of different defence responses when it is highly overexpressed from viral constructs.     

津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁花青素合成相关基因的筛选

目的：确定赤丸芜菁块根花青素积累与光照时间的相关关系,筛选并鉴定依光型和非依光型花青素合成相关基因。方法：以不同时间的恒定光照处理赤丸芜菁块根,利用紫外-可见分光光度计测定块根花青素含量;利用芯片杂交和Northern杂交筛选并鉴定津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁花青素合成相关基因。结果：赤丸芜菁块根皮花青素的积累与光照时间无明显相关性;芯片杂交试验中,共有25个基因的表达发生明显变化,其中赤丸芜菁中表达上调的基因有6个,津田芜菁中表达上调的基因有19个;Northern杂交验证显示,津田芜菁中恒定光可以诱导细胞色素P450单加氧酶和一种假定的转运蛋白的编码基因表达,这些基因的表达量与处理时间存在相关关系。结论：筛选了部分花青素合成相关基因,为阐述依光型和非依光型花青素生物合成机制奠定了基础。     

Effects of short chain fatty acids on radicle emergence and root growth in lettuce

Abstract. Short chain fatty acids inhibit both radicle emergence and root growth in lettuce. The transition from ineffectual to inhibitory levels occurs abruptly. Root growth is more sensitive to lower concentrations than radicle emergence and is invariant with chain length. The effect of short chain alcohols on radicle emergence is similar to that of short chain acids, but their comparatively severe inhibition of root growth varies with chain length. Alkanes of the same chain lengths have no noticeable effect. Respiration is not altered by a representative short chain fatty acid (heptanoic). Lettuce seeds are sensitized to phytochrome-absorbed light by short chain fatty acids as found by Berrie and co-workers.     

津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁查尔酮异构酶基因的克隆及表达特性

目的：克隆津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁查尔酮异构酶（CHI）基因并研究其表达特性。方法：利用UV-A处理2种芜菁未见光块根24h,提取总RNA后通过RT-PCR方法克隆津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁的BrCH11和BrCH12基因,通过Northern杂交检测BrCH11和BrCH12基因的UV-A诱导表达特性。结果：BrCH11和BrCH12的开放读码框为756bp,编码251个氨基酸残基;氨基酸序列分析显示,BrCH11和BrCH12与萝卜CHI的同源性达91％,第11-222的肽段具有CHI结构域;BrCH11和BrCH12,2的核苷酸序列和推导的氨基酸序列分别在3个位点存在差异;BrCH11和BrCH12基因具有高度同源性;BrCH11和BrCH12基因的表达量与UV-A处理时间相关。结论：克隆了津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁的BrCH11和BrCH12基因,这2个基因的表达受UV-A诱导。     

芜菁UF3GT基因的克隆及表达特性

目的:克隆‘津田’芜菁和‘赤丸’芜菁的UDP-葡萄糖∶类黄酮3-O-葡萄糖基转移酶(UF3GT)基因并研究其表达特性。方法:利用RT-PCR方法克隆‘津田’芜菁BrUF3GT1基因和‘赤丸’芜菁BrUF3GT2基因,并进行生物信息学分析;通过Northern杂交检测BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2基因的UV-A诱导表达特性;对BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2基因进行原核诱导表达。结果:BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2的开放读框为1407 bp,编码468个氨基酸残基;氨基酸序列分析显示,BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2与拟南芥UF3GT的同源性为87%,从第16~453位氨基酸残基的肽段具有糖基转移酶家族成员的结构域;BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2基因具有高度同源性,核苷酸序列在7个位点存在差异,推导的氨基酸序列在1个位点存在差异;Northern杂交结果显示,UV-A可以诱导BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2基因表达,基因的表达量与处理时间相关;原核诱导表达及纯化后可以获得相对分子质量分别约为51.88×103和51.89×103的BrUF3GT1和BrUF3GT2蛋白。结论:克隆了‘津田’芜菁和‘赤丸’芜菁的UF3GT基因,为初步阐明2种芜菁的花青素生物合成机理奠定了实验基础。     

芜菁消减文库特异基因片段功能的初步分析

目的：对4个消减cDNA文库中筛选到的特异基因片段进行功能分析,为筛选津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁花青素合成的特异基因和代谢途径奠定基础。方法：以不同处理的津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁块根为材料,采用抑制削减杂交构建4个消减cDNA文库并富集特异基因群体,同时对消减文库的特异基因片段进行初步的生物信息学分析。结果：通过功能聚类、代谢途径分析和基因注释等手段分析了消减cDNA文库的特异基因片段。结论：对消减文库特异基因片段的功能分析,为进一步分离和鉴定依光型和非依光型花青素合成相关基因奠定了基础。