Constraints on the evolution of adaptive plasticity: costs of plasticity to density are expressed in segregating progenies

Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a genotype to express different phenotypes across environments, is an adaptive strategy expected to evolve in heterogeneous environments. One widely held hypothesis is that the evolutionary benefits of plasticity are reduced by its costs, but when compared with the number of traits tested, the evidence for costs is limited. Selection gradients were calculated for traits and trait plasticities to test for costs of plasticity to density in a field study using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Brassica rapa. Significant costs of putatively adaptive plasticity were found in three out of six measured traits. For one trait, petiole length, a cost of plasticity was detected in both environments tested; such global costs are expected to more strongly constrain the evolution of plasticity than local costs expressed in a single environment. These results, in combination with evidence from studies in segregating progenies of Arabidopsis thaliana, suggest that the potential for genetic costs of plasticity exists in natural populations. Detection of costs in previous studies may have been limited because historical selection has purged genotypes with costly plasticity, and experimental conditions often lack environmental stresses.     

Induction of plant responses by a sequestering insect: Relationship of glucosinolate concentration and myrosinase activity

Induction of plant allelochemicals is of particular ecological importance for interactions with herbivores that can make use of induced metabolites by incorporating them for their own defence. Induction patterns in white mustard, Sinapis alba, were investigated following herbivory of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae, which sequesters plant glucosinolates. Larvae of different age were allowed to feed for 24 h on young leaves of premature, non-flowering plants. Changes in primary and secondary metabolites were recorded in the damaged leaves (local) and in the adjacent leaves and stems (systemic) for several days. Organ- and time-specific patterns were evident. Local responses included increases in glucosinolate concentrations, soluble and insoluble myrosinase activity and glucose levels, while systemic responses in leaves were restricted to increases in myrosinase activities and glucose. All effects were strongest immediately after feeding and declined mostly within a day. Stems had overall lower constitutive levels of glucosinolates and myrosinase activities than leaves. Feeding by one large larva had a greater impact on the plant's physiology than feeding by three small ones, even though both treatments resulted in quantitatively similar leaf destruction. Local increase in glucosinolate concentration could be beneficial for larvae, while conspecifics feeding on induced adjacent leaves might be negatively affected due to higher myrosinase activity levels. The results are discussed in the context of the ‘optimal defence theory’ and the ‘lethal plant defence paradox’.     

Intracellular localization of sucrose-phosphate phosphatase in storage cells

The intracellular location of sucrose-phosphate phosphatase (SPP; EC 3.1, 3.24) was investigated by comparing the ratios of SPP to vacuolar and cytosolic markers in protoplasts and vacuoles from storage tissues of red beet ( Beta vulgaris ) and turnip ( Brassica rapa L. var. rapa ) hypocotyl, and carrot ( Daucus carota ) root. In all three instances, SPP activity was found not to be associated with vacuolar markers ß-acetyl-glucosaminidase and α-mannosidase, but proportionally associated with the cytosolic marker alcohol dehydrogenase. It was determined that in storage cells of red beet and turnip hypocotyl, as well as in carrot root, SPP is located in the cytoplasm. Discrepancies with earlier reports indicating SPP of vacuolar origin are discussed.     

Expression and occurrence of uracil-DNA glycosylase in higher plants

Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) is the first enzyme in the base excision repair pathway for removal of uracil in DNA. DNA repair capacity is likely to be a critical factor in mutagenesis and thereby in the capacity to prevent genetic damage and unwanted variation. We have studied expression of UDG in 9 higher plant species. The highest expression of UDG was measured in Solanum tuberosum. A comparison of 6 Solanum tuberosum cultivars showed that the specific activity ranged from 30 pmol mg¹ protein min^?1 in the cultivar Laila to 80 pmol mg^?1 protein min^?1 in the cultivar Ostara. Measurement of UDG in Begonia X cheimantha gave no indications of enzyme activity. The possible effects of no or low UDG activity is discussed. In vitro cultures of Solanum tuberosum and Thymus vulgaris were used to examine the effect of auxin and cytokinin on the UDG activity. Axillary shoots of Solanum tuberosum were cultured on medium including 20 variations in hormone concentration. Auxin (1-naphtaleneacetic acid) increased the expression of UDG. Plants cultured on medium supplemented with 3 mg 1^?1 1-naphtaleneacetic acid showed a specific UDG activity which was approximately 3-fold higher than the activity in controls. The cytokinin benzyladenine reduced the specific UDG activity at concentrations in the range 0.25–10 mg 1^?1. In vitro cultured Saintpaulia ionantha was used to examine UDG activity during initiation, conditioning and multiplication cycles. In general, highest expression of UDG was measured in the conditioning cycle on hormone free medium. Measurement of UDG expression during single subculture periods, clearly showed that UDG expression may vary over one culture period. Expression of UDG was in general highest three weeks after transfer to fresh medium. Of different seedling organs from 0- to 15-day-old Brassica napus L., roots and hypocotyls showed the highest UDG activities. In cotyledons a very low and nearly constant specific activity was observed. In 12-day-old seedlings the activity in roots was approximately 20 times higher than the activity in cotyledons.     

Translation in micrococcal nuclease-treated cell-free extracts from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: Stimulation by initiation factor eIF-2B

Translation of exogenous mRNAs in micrococcal nuclease-treated extracts from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is greatly stimulated by the addition of crude initiation factors or initiation factors eIF-2B and eIF-2 containing eIF-2B. The requirement for exogenous eIF-2B in micrococcal nuclease-treated extracts does not result from either loss or enhanced phosphorylation of eIF-2 during incubation.     

Chemical Constituents from Turnip and Their Effects on <i>α</i>-Glucosidase

Brassica rapa var. rapa (turnip) is an important crop in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) with anti-hypoxic effect. Turnip is rich in glucosinolates, isothiocyanates and phenolic compounds with diverse biological activities, involving anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and analgesic properties. In this study, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol parts of Brassica rapa were first revealed with inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, whereas the water part was inactive. Subsequent bioassay-guided isolation on the EtOAc and butanol parts yielded 12 compounds, involving three indole derivatives, indole-3- acetonitrile (1) 4-methoxyindole-3-acetonitrile (2) and indole-3-aldehyde (3) two flavonoids, liquiritin (4) and licochalcone A (5) two phenylpropanoids, sinapic acid (6) and caffeic acid (7) two phenylethanol glycosides, 2-phenylethyl β- glucopyranoside (8) and salidroside (9) and three other compounds, syringic acid (10) adenosine (11) and (3β, 20E)-ergosta-5, 20 (22)-dien-3-ol (12) Licochalcone A (5) and caffeic acid (7) showed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 62.4 ± 8.0 μM and 162.6 ± 3.2 μM, comparable to the positive control, acarbose (IC₅₀ = 142 ± 0.02 μM). Docking study suggested that licochalcone A (5) could well align in the active site of α-glucosidase (docking score = -52.88) by forming hydrogen bonds (Gln1372, Asp1420, Gln1372, Arg1510), hydrophobic effects (Tyr1251, Tyr1251, Trp1355, Phe1560, Ile1587, Trp1355, Phe1559, Phe1559) and π-π stacking interaction (Trp1355). This study provides valuable information for turnip as a new resource in searching anti-diabetic candidates.     

Low parasitism by Diaeretiella rapae (Hym.: Braconidae) of Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Hemip.: Aphididae): pre- or post-ovipositional host resistance?

While the aphid Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis) (Hemip.: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) is considered one of the preferred hosts of Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hym.: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in several parts of the world, field surveys in Uberlandia (Brazil) found parasitism of this aphid to not exceed 10%. This study sought to determine the cause of this low parasitism, as well as the effects of parasitism on the intrinsic growth rate of the aphid population. We evaluated parasitism, percentage emergence, developmental time, longevity, number of attacks and number of parasitoid larvae in L. pseudobrassicae and compared these to the same characteristics in Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The lowest percentage of parasitism was found in L. pseudobrassicae, followed by M. persicae and B. brassicae. The ratio between the number of parasitoid larvae and the number of ovipositions in L. pseudobrassicae ranged from 0.02 to 0.03, while, in B. brassicae, it was between 0.41 and 0.44 and, in M. persicae, between 0.62 and 0.80, indicating high mortality rates of early stages of D. rapae in L. pseudobrassicae. Parasitism by D. rapae reduced the r_m of L. pseudobrassicae. The r_m for parasitised aphids was only 63% of that for unparasitised aphids. However, no hosts died before reaching adulthood, and 83% of parasitised aphids were still able to reproduce. As a result, the r_m of the aphid was positive, resulting in population growth of L. pseudobrassicae, even among individuals parasitised during the second instar. Our results indicate the existence of L. pseudobrassicae genotypes that are completely resistant to D. rapae.     

苦豆子生物碱对萝卜蚜的毒力及其对几种酯酶的影响

苦豆子Sophora alopecuroids(L.)的次生代谢物质为喹诺里西定生物碱类。本研究明确了该生物碱中的野靛碱对萝卜蚜(Lipaphis erysimi)有很高的毒杀作用,对其无翅成蚜的致死中浓度(LC₅₀浸渍法)为(432.59±2.12)mg/L,优于著名的杀蚜生物碱毒黎碱和烟碱,两者对该试虫的LC₅₀分别为(684.70±2.28)mg/L和(1090.65±2.01)mg/L。用小菜蛾(Plutella xylostella)幼虫作试虫,得知苦豆子7种主要生物碱对昆虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)有抑制作用,其抑制程度排序为：总碱>野靛碱>槐胺碱>槐定碱>槐果碱>氧化苦参碱>苦参碱>苦豆碱。野靛碱和苦豆碱对a-乙酸萘酯酶、a-乙酸萘酯羧酸酯酶及酯酶同功酶的活性亦表现不同程度的抑制作用。     

Non-identity of cystine lyase with β-cystathionase in turnip roots

An active preparation of cystine lyase (EC 4.4.1.-) was prepared from turnip roots and its substrate specificity examined. Only L-cysteine, cysteine-S-SO₃, and the sulphoxides of L-djenkolic acid, S-methyl-and S-ethyl-L-cysteine were substrates. L-Cystathione, L-djenkolic acid, S-methyl-and S-ethyl-cysteines were not cleaved by this enzyme. The K_m for L-cystine was 1.3 mM and L-cystathionine acted as an effective competitive inhibitor with a K_i of 0.7 mM. After dialysis against 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.5, added pyridoxal phosphate was absolutely necessary for activity. In addition a marked stimulation was observed in the presence of ammonium sulphate. The products of the reaction were cysteine persulphide, pyruvate and presumably ammonia. The persulphide was easily demonstrated by cleavage with CN^? to yield SCN^? under conditions in which elemental sulphur was unreactive.