Uptake,Transport and Storage of Cardenolides in Foxglove. Cardenolide Sinks and Occurrence of Cardenolides in the Sieve Tubes of Digitalis lanata1

Cardiac glycoside transport was investigated on the organ and whole plant level. Uptake experiments were carried out with shoot and root cultures of Digitalis lanata. In both systems primary cardenolides, i.e., those with a terminal glucose in their oligosaccharide side chain, were taken up against their concentration gradient, whereas the glucose-free secondary cardenolides were not. Active uptake of primary cardenolides was further evidenced by KCN inhibition of uptake. Using plantlets grown in vitro the long-distance transport of primary cardenolides from the leaves to the roots was demonstrated. Cardenolides were also detected in etiolated leaves, induced on plants with green leaves, which are supposed to be unable to synthezise cardenolides de novo, providing further evidence for long-distance transport. Several primary cardenolides were detected in the honeydew excreted by aphids fed on Digitalis lanata leaves, indicating that the phloem is a transporting tissue for cardenolides. On the other hand, the xylem sap obtained by applying the pressure-chamber technique was cardenolide-free. It was concluded that in Digitalis primary cardenolides serve as both the transport and the storage form of cardenolides. After their synthesis they are either stored in the vacuoles of the source tissue or loaded into the sieve tubes, from which they are unloaded at other sites where they are trapped in the vacuoles of the respective sink tissue.     

Gene Control in Somatic Embryos of Digitalis lanata: Expression of the β-Glucuronidase Gene Fused to a Plastocyanin Promoter

Digitalis lanata was transformed by agrobacteria-mediated gene transfer with a chimeric reporter gene encoding for β-glucuronidase (CUS) from Escherichia coll under the control of the plastocyanin 3 (Pc3) promoter from Spinada oleracea (Pc3::uidA fusion gene). Transformed cell lines were regenerated to plants via somatic embryos. CUS activity was determined fluorometrically and histochemically. The Pc3::uidA fusion gene was expressed in the late globular and bipolar stages of somatic embryos. Expression started in globular embryos (stage-1-globules) in that part of the parenchymatic tissue which later on formed the cotyledons. No GUS activity was detectable in the parenchymatic tissue forming the root pole, in cells of the developing procambium or in epidermal cells. These tissues were free of GUS activity also in bipolar embryos. The parenchymatic cells of the cotyledons and the primary cortex of the hypocotyl of germinating embryos showed GUS activity, in contrast to the epidermal cells and the cells of the central cylinder.     

Significance of Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> and K<Superscript>+</Superscript> for Sustained Hydration of Organ Tissues in Ecologically Distinct Halophytes of the Family Chenopodiaceae

The contents of Na⁺, K⁺, water, and dry matter were measured in leaves and roots of euhalophytes Salicornia europaea L. and Climacoptera lanata (Pall.) Botsch featuring succulent and xeromorphic cell structures, respectively, as well as in saltbush Atriplex micrantha C.A. Mey, a halophyte having bladder-like salt glands on their leaves. All three species were able to accumulate Na⁺ in their tissues. The Na⁺ content in organs increased with elevation of NaCl concentration in the substrate, the concentrations of Na⁺ being higher in leaves than in roots. When these halophytes were grown on a NaCl-free substrate, a trend toward K⁺ accumulation was observed and was better pronounced in leaves than in roots. Particularly high K⁺ concentrations were accumulated in Salicornia leaves. There were no principal differences in the partitioning of Na⁺ and K⁺ between organs of three halophyte species representing different ecological groups. At all substrate concentrations of NaCl, the total content of Na⁺ and K⁺ in leaves was higher than in roots. This distribution pattern persisted in Atriplex possessing salt glands, as well as in euhalophytes Salicornia and Climacoptera. The physiological significance of such universal pattern of ion accumulation and distribution among organs in halophytes is related to the necessity of water absorption by roots, its transport to shoots, and maintenance of sufficient cell water content in all organs under high soil salinity.     

Identification of phytochemical components from Aerva lanata (Linn.) medicinal plants and its in-vitro inhibitory activity against drug resistant microbial pathogens and antioxidant properties

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical components, microbial inhibitory effectiveness and antioxidant properties of Aerva lanata plant extracts. The whole plant showed various medicinal applications in folklore and traditional medicine in various parts of the world. The organic extracts such as ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone, water and methanol were subjected for various phytochemical analysis and confirmed for the existence of flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and alkaloid containing components. Alternatively, the extracts were performed for the antibacterial activities against the microbial pathogens and antioxidant properties. Results indicated that, the solvent extracts showed prominent activity against the tested strains. The MIC concentrations of plant were detected from 5 mg/ml to 40 mg/ml. The plant extract was highly effective against E. coli and E. aerogenes and the MIC was 5 mg/ml. In addition, the extracts noted promising antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activities were dose dependent manner. In conclusion, A. lanata extracts showed that significant major phytochemicals and effective antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.     

The Analysis of Morphological Characters and a Taxonomic Revision on Panzerina anata (L.) Sojak Complex (Labiatae)

Panzerina lanata ( L. ) Sojak complex is distributed on the Mongolia plateau. Twenty-two populations representing six species in the complex: P. lanata, P. alaschanica, P . kansuensis , P . albescens , P. argyracea and P . parviflora , were sampled throughout the range of the complex including 2 provinces and 3 autonomous regions. Extensive studies were carried out by comparison of wild collection and cultivation, and morphological analysis based on character evaluation and multivariate procedures. It is showed that there exists considerable phenotypic plasticity in some morphological characters, especially those of the root, caudex and leaf. However, the characters of flowers, capsules and seeds were less influenced by environments. The character analysis indicates that some characters, which were used to distinguish taxa of the complex, for example the degree of leaf division, the morphology of calyx and so on, are continuous in a wide range in wild populations. Some “species” in the complex described according to the differences in those characters are only extreme individuals within their continuous variation. As a result, the above analysis and their geographical distribution suggest that P. alaschanica , P. kansuensis , P. albescens be actually the extreme individuals within P. lanata. In the same way, P. argyracea is invalid. The principal components analysis of 11 morphological characters on the individuals from 22 populations shows no differences. Thus, this paper considers that characters such as nutlet with or without wart, size of corolla exceeding calyx or not and dry flowers with or without colour, may be used to distinguish taxa of this complex. From the above analysis, it is indicated finally that the six species in this complex are better reduced taxonomically into two species, namely P. lanata (L.) Sojak and P. parviflora (C. Y. Wu et H. W. Li) Y. Z. Zhao, the difference of two species as follow: Nutlet surface smooth; corolla, 2～2.2 cm long; flower white and unchanging after dry .......................................................... Panzerina parviflora Nutlet surface tuberculate; corolla, 2.5～ 4 cm long; flower white, but becoming yel- lowish after dry ....................................................... P. lanata     

脓疮草复合体的生物学特性研究

通过野外和移栽实验观测,对脓疮草复合体（Ｐａｎｚｅｒｉａｎ ｌａｎａｔａ ｃｏｍｐｌｅｘ）居群进行了生物学特性研究。结果表明：浓疮草复合体居群在生活史方面无明显差异,移栽的１０个复合体居群生活史十分 相似：脓疮草复合本的花量大,花期可达３个月左右,花为雌雄异熟,以异花授粉为主,自交（同株异花授粉）亲合;叶裂程度、花萼裂片宽窄等性状,在天然居群中是连续变化的,而且移栽后可逆性较大,性状不稳定。     

棘豆属分类学新资料

作者同意赵一之先生关于海拉尔棘豆Ｏ。ｈａｉｌａｒｅｎｓｉｓ Ｋｉｔａｇ。这是尖叶棘豆Ｏ。ｏｘｐｈｙｌｌａ ＤＣ的观点,但提出其变种光果尖叶棘豆的变种名应是Ｏ。ｏｘｙｐｈｙｌｌａ ＤＣ。ｖａｒ。ｐｓｉｌｏｃａｒｐａ Ｇ．Ｚ．Ｑｉａｎ。     

干旱沙区不同种源的绵毛优若藜表现性比较

在民勤沙生植物园．通过室内和田间试验,对引自美国西部沙漠区和草原区的绵毛优若藜的物候期、种子发芽温度、植物的生长和地上部分营养成分进行了观测与测定。在昼夜变温条件下,草原区种子对温度的反应较迟钝．适宜的发芽温度应为5～25C;沙漠区种子发芽适宜的温度为lO～30C。两个种源的绵毛优若藜均在6～7月间生长量最大。草原区种源的植株月平均生长量大于沙漠区种源的生长量。不同种源植物的物候期相差较小,除开花期外,沙漠区植物的展叶、孕蕾、结果和叶变色均早于草原区。在民勤沙区,绵毛优若藜表现为准常绿性。沙漠区植株的营养成分含量略低于草原区植株。     

脓疮草复合体的形态性状分析与分类修订

脓疮草复合体(Panzerina lanata complex)隶属于唇形科脓疮草属,原有6个合法学名。通过从内 蒙古、陕西、甘肃、宁夏及新疆等5个省或自治区的22个居群取样,进行野外和移栽后的对比观测及性 状分析,并结合多变量统计分析,从不同水平和角度对复合体进行了研究。结果表明,此复合体的根、茎 等都是环境可塑性很高的性状,叶次之,而花部、果实和种子性状的可塑性较小。以往划分复合体类群 的叶裂程度、茎叶被毛及萼齿形态等几个鉴别性状在天然居群中连续变化,以此划分的几个“种”,不过 是连续变异的极端个体。再结合地理分布的特征,将P．alaschanica、P．kansuensis和P. albescens归并 在P．1anata中,同样可证明P．argyracea不存在。对22个居群11个形态性状的统计学和主成分分析 与性状分析结果一致。研究表明,该复合体小坚果表面具疣与否、花冠超出萼筒的多少及花干后变色与 否等是其分种性状,以此分种标准该复合体可分为2种:Panzerina lanata(L．)Sojak和Panzerina parviflora(C．Y．Wu et H．W．Li)Y．Z.Zhao．     

Progesterone 5β-reductases/iridoid synthases (PRISE): gatekeeper role of highly conserved phenylalanines in substrate preference and trapping is supported by molecular dynamics simulations

Vein Patterning 1 (VEP1)-encoded progesterone 5β-reductases/iridoid synthases (PRISE) belong to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily of proteins. They are characterized by a set of highly conserved amino acids in the substrate-binding pocket. All PRISEs are capable of reducing the activated C=C double bond of various enones enantioselectively and therefore have a potential as biocatalysts in bioorganic synthesis. Here, recombinant forms of PRISEs of Arabidopsis thaliana and Digitalis lanata were modified using site-directed mutagenesis (SDM). In rDlP5βR, a set of highly conserved amino acids in the vicinity of the catalytic center was individually substituted for alanine resulting in considerable to complete loss of enone reductase activity. F153 and F343, which can be found in most PRISEs known, are located at the outer rim of the catalytic cavity and seem to be involved in substrate binding and their role was addressed in a series of SDM experiments. The wild-type PRISE accepted progesterone (large hydrophobic 1,4-enone) as well as 2-cyclohexen-1-one (small hydrophilic 1,4-enone), whereas the double mutant rAtP5βR_F153A_F343A converted progesterone much better than the wild-type enzyme but almost lost its capability of reducing 2-cyclohexen-1-one. Recombinant Draba aizoides P5βR (rDaP5βR) has a second pair of phenylalanines at position 156 and 345 at the rim of the binding site. These two phenylalanines were introduced into rAtP5βR_F153A_F343A and the resulting quadruple mutant rAtP5βR_F153A_F343A_V156F_V345F partly recovered the ability to reduce 2-cyclohexen-1-one. These results can best be explained by assuming a trapping mechanism in which phenylalanines at the rim of the substrate-binding pocket are involved. The dynamic behavior of individual P5βRs and mutants thereof was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations and all calculations supported the ‘gatekeeper’ role of phenylalanines at the periphery of the substrate-binding pocket. Our findings provide structural and mechanistic explanations for the different substrate preferences seen among the natural PRISEs and help to explain the large differences in catalytic efficiency found for different types of 1,4-enones.