Role of a GDSL lipase-like protein as sinapine esterase in Brassicaceae

The seeds of most members of the Brassicaceae accumulate high amounts of sinapine (sinapoylcholine) that is rapidly hydrolyzed during early stages of seed germination. One of three isoforms of sinapine esterase activity (BnSCE3) has been isolated from Brassica napus seedlings and subjected to trypsin digestion and spectrometric sequencing. The peptide sequences were used to isolate BnSCE3 cDNA, which was shown to contain an open reading frame of 1170 bp encoding a protein of 389 amino acids, including a leader peptide of 25 amino acids. Sequence comparison identified the protein as the recently cloned BnLIP2, i.e. a GDSL lipase-like protein, which displays high sequence identity to a large number of corresponding plant proteins, including four related Arabidopsis lipases. The enzymes belong to the SGNH protein family, which use a catalytic triad of Ser-Asp-His, with serine as the nucleophile of the GDSL motif. The corresponding B. napus and Arabidopsis genes were heterologously expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and proved to confer sinapine esterase activity. In addition to sinapine esterase activity, the native B. napus protein (BnSCE3/BnLIP2) showed broad substrate specificity towards various other choline esters, including phosphatidylcholine. This exceptionally broad substrate specificity, which is common to a large number of other GDSL lipases in plants, hampers their functional analysis. However, the data presented here indicate a role for the GDSL lipase-like BnSCE3/BnLIP2 as a sinapine esterase in members of the Brassicaceae, catalyzing hydrolysis of sinapine during seed germination, leading, via 1- O -sinapoyl-β-glucose, to sinapoyl- l -malate in the seedlings.     

HPLC法测定白芥子药材中芥子碱硫氰酸盐的含量

本文采用RP-HPLC法测定了不同产地白芥子药材中芥子碱硫氰酸盐的含量,方法为色谱柱Alltima Phenyl,5μ,250×4.6mm;流动相乙腈-0.08mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液(1585),检测波长326nm;流速1mL/min.柱温室温.实验表明,该法快速、简便,具有很好的重现性和稳定性.     

Distribution of 1-sinapoylglucose: choline sinapoyltransferase activity in the brassicaceae

The occurrence of 1-sinapoylglucose: choline sinapoyltransferase (SCT) in seeds of various members of the Brassicaceae is reported. Within the species and cultivars investigated, a positive correlation was found between extractable levels of enzyme activity and the degree of sinapine accumulation. High enzymatic activities were found in seeds from Brassica, Raphanus and Sinapis, known for their high sinapine content.     

The sng2 mutant of Arabidopsis is defective in the gene encoding the serine carboxypeptidase-like protein sinapoylglucose:choline sinapoyltransferase

Serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) proteins have traditionally been assigned roles in the hydrolytic processing of proteins; however, several SCPL proteins have recently been identified as catalysts in transacylation reactions of plant secondary metabolism. The novel functions of these enzymes suggest a catalytic diversity for plant SCPL proteins that extends beyond simple hydrolysis reactions. Characterization of the Arabidopsis sng2 (sinapoylglucose accumulator 2) mutant has identified another SCPL protein involved in plant secondary metabolism. The sng2 mutant was isolated by screening seed extracts for altered levels of sinapate esters, a group of phenylpropanoid compounds found in Arabidopsis and some other members of the Brassicaceae. Homozygous sng2 seeds accumulate sinapoylglucose instead of sinapoylcholine, and have increased levels of choline and decreased activity of the enzyme sinapoylglucose:choline sinapoyltransferase (SCT). Cloning of the SNG2 gene by a combination of map-based and candidate gene approaches demonstrates that SCT is another member of the growing class of SCPL acyltransferases involved in plant secondary metabolism.     

Interactions of flavin containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) genotype and feeding of choline and rapeseed cake on the trimethylamine (TMA) content in egg yolks of laying hens

To evaluate the relationship between the FMO3 genotype and dietary trimethylamine (TMA) precursors on TMA-N content in eggs, laying hens were fed with choline (500 and 4000 mg/kg diet) and, in a later trial, with rapeseed cake (0, 100 and 300 g/kg diet). Hens were genotyped for non-synonymous A/T polymorphism at position nt1034 of the cDNA of the FMO3 gene, which is associated with elevated TMA-levels in egg yolks. Genotypes were equally distributed among the experimental diets. TMA was extracted from yolks and measured as TMA-N by a colorimetric method. As expected, hens of the TT-genotype had high amounts of TMA-N in egg yolks when fed either 4000 mg choline/kg diet or the rapeseed cake diet, while hens of the AA-genotype showed low levels of TMA-N. Heterozygous AT-hens had a slightly increased level of TMA-N when fed with 4000 mg choline/kg diet but not with the rapeseed cake feed. Rapeseed cake can be fed to AA and AT hens without leading to fishy tainted eggs.     

辐射及活性氧对DNA的损伤以及芥子碱的保护作用

在X射线照射下,小牛胸腺DNA的碱基损伤及链断裂随着剂量升高而增加,其损伤主要集中于链断裂;活性氧可以引起DNA损伤,H2O2仅造成少量伤害,当在含有H2O2的体系中加入微量的Cu2＋、Fe2＋时损伤急剧增加,这是由反应产生的·OH所致,Cu2＋的致损伤效果明显高于Fe2＋。·OH清除剂芥子碱具有很强的抗辐射及抗氧化作用,且对DNA无伤害。这说明·OH在DNA的氧化损伤中起重要作用。     

芥子碱硫氰酸盐清除超氧阴离子自由基作用的研究

目的:研究芥子碱硫氰酸盐清除超氧阴离子自由基的作用。方法:用化学发光法测定芥子碱硫氰酸盐清除超氧阴离子自由基的能力,并以抗坏血酸的清除能力做为对照,以IC50值(清除率为50%时的浓度值)作为评价指标。结果:芥子碱硫氰酸盐和抗坏血酸的IC50值分别为0.135 mmol/L和18.74 mmol/L,后者的IC50值约为前者的140倍。结论:芥子碱硫氰酸盐具有良好的抗氧化作用,可以作为天然抗氧化剂进行开发。     

4-Hydroxybenzoylcholine: A natural product present in Sinapis alba

The total fractions of choline esters have been isolated from different parts of Sinapis alba. 4-Hydroxybenzoylcholine has been identified and found to be one of the quantitatively dominating choline esters in seed extracts of S. alba. The identity of the new natural product has been confirmed by comparison with synthetic reference compounds. Several different choline esters are present in this plant but in extracts of seedlings, leaves, and inflorescences they are not so quantitatively dominating as in seeds. The modified ion-exchange technique applied appeared to be an efficient tool in the isolation and separation of choline esters and amines from other types of phenolic plant constituents.