Sinapoylglucose: malate sinapoyltransferase activity in seeds and seedlings of rape

Protein preparations from seeds and seedlings (cotyledons) of rape (Brassica napus subsp. napus [L.] DC.) catalyzed the transfer of sinapic acid from 1-Osinapoyl--glucose to malate in the formation of O-s-inapoylmalate. The enzyme involved, 1-O-sinapoyl--glucose: l-malate O-sinapoyltransferase (SMT; EC 2.3.1), catalyzes the key step in the overall conversion of the seed constituent sinapine (O-sinapoylcholine) to the accumulating O-sinapoylmalate by way of the intermediate 1-O-sinapoyl--glucose. The present paper describes this phenomenon focussing on SMT activity.Abbreviations Sin-Glc 1-O-sinapoyl--glucose - Sin-Mal O-sinapoylmalate - SMT 1-O-sinapoyl--glucose: l-malate sinapoyltransferase (EC 2.3.1) This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.     

Targeted modulation of sinapine biosynthesis pathway for seed quality improvement in Brassica napus

Arabidopsis thaliana and other members of the Brassicaceae accumulate the hydroxycinnamic acid esters sinapoylmalate in leaves and sinapoylcholine in seeds. Our recent understanding of the phenylpropanoid pathway although complex has enabled us to perturb the sinapine biosynthesis pathway in plants. Sinapine (sinapoylcholine) is the most abundant antinutritional phenolic compound in seeds of cruciferous species and therefore is a target for elimination in canola (Brassica napus) meal. We analysed A. thaliana mutants with specific blocks in the phenylpropanoid pathway and identified mutant lines with significantly altered sinapine content. Knowledge gained from A. thaliana was extended to B. napus and the corresponding phenylpropanoid pathway genes were manipulated to disrupt sinapine biosynthesis in B. napus. Based on our understanding of the A. thaliana genetics, we have successfully developed transgenic B. napus lines with ferulic acid 5-hydroxylase (FAH) and sinapoylglucose:choline sinapoyltransferase (SCT)-antisense. These lines with concomitant downregulation of FAH and SCT showed up to 90% reduction in sinapine. In addition to reduced sinapine content, we detected higher levels of free choline accumulation in the seeds. These results indicate that it is possible to develop plants with low sinapine and higher choline by manipulating specific steps in the biosynthetic pathway. These improvements are important to add value to canola meal for livestock feed. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

菜籽饼提取物抑制黑色素生成作用

为了研究菜籽饼提取物对黑色素合成的抑制作用,为菜籽饼提取物作为美白化妆品的天然添加剂提供实验依据。采用ABTS法、DPPH法检测菜籽饼提取物清除自由基的能力,测定A-375黑色素细胞中酪氨酸酶活性和黑色素含量,并利用各自的试剂盒检测A-375细胞中抗氧化相关因子(MDA, SOD, GSH)。研究结果表明:菜籽饼提取物具有清除DPPH和ABTS的能力,对DPPH和ABTS的半数抑制率分别为304μg/mL和305.8μg/mL。菜籽饼提取物具有显著的抑制A-375黑色素的作用,药物作用48 h后,其IC50为113.3μg/m L,同时能够显著的降低黑色素的含量和酪氨酸酶的活性。与空白对照组(17.66 mol/ng)相比,菜籽饼提取物能显著降低A-375细胞内MDA含量,其抑制率为9.21 mol/ng,且能够显著提高SOD的含量,当浓度为125μg/m L时,SOD的含量较空白对照组提高了36.54 U/mL,与此同时,菜籽饼提取物亦能增加GSH的含量,当浓度为62.5μg/mL时,细胞中GSH的含量为6.43 mol/ng,其含量显著高于空白对照组。因此,菜籽饼提取物在降低黑色素含量、抑制酪氨酸酶活性的同时,也能够通过显著的抗氧化能力和清除自由基的能力,抑制A-375细胞中黑色素的生成。     

果蝇伴性隐性致死突变试验中芥子碱的辐射保护作用

过去的工作证明一些十字花科植物的抗辐射性与其体内存在的天然辐射保护物质有关。芥子碱是存在于十字花科植物中的一种天然辐射保护物质。它对大麦和小麦以及小鼠均有辐射保护作用。本文报道芥子碱在果蝇伴性隐性致死(SLRL)突变试验系统中的辐射保护作用。供试果蝇并不拒食芥子碱水溶液。10 mg/ml芥子碱对果蝇无生理毒性,对生育力亦无不良影响。40 Gy X 射线诱发8.96% SLRL 突变。而40 Gy 辐照前喂10 mg/ml芥子碱的果蝇其SLRL 突变率降为0.4%。Oregon K 果蝇的自发突变率为0-0.4%。可见喂芥子碱后辐射诱发的SLRL 突变不复出现,说明芥子碱对果蝇有很强的辐射保护作用。也讨论了芥子碱作为潜在抗癌物质的可能性。     

Reduction of Sinapate Ester Content in Transgenic Oilseed Rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>) by dsRNAi-based Suppression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">BnSGT1</Emphasis> Gene Expression

Seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) accumulate high amounts of antinutritive sinapate esters (SE) with sinapoylcholine (sinapine) as major component, accompanied by sinapoylglucose. These phenolic compounds compromise the use of the protein-rich valuable seed meal. Hence, a substantial reduction of the SE content is considered essential for establishing rape as a protein crop. The present work focuses on the suppression of sinapine synthesis in rape. Therefore, rape (spring cultivar Drakkar) was transformed with a dsRNAi construct designed to silence seed-specifically the BnSGT1 gene encoding UDP-glucose:sinapate glucosyltransferase (SGT1). This resulted in a substantial decrease of SE content in T2 seeds with a reduction reaching 61%. In T2 seeds a high and significant correlation between the contents of sinapoylglucose and all other sinapate esters has been observed. Among transgenic plants, no significant difference in other important agronomic traits, such as oil, protein, fatty acid and glucosinolate content in comparison to the control plants was observed. Maximal reduction of total SE content by 76% was observed in seeds of one homozygous T2 plant (T3 seeds) carrying the BnSGT1 suppression cassette as a single copy insert. In conclusion, this study is an initial proof of principle that suppression of sinapoylglucose formation leads to a strong reduction of SE in rape seeds and is thus a promising approach in establishing rape, currently an important oil crop, as a protein crop as well.