Chromium,manganese, and zinc complexes of deoxyalliin and their bioactivity

Chromium, manganese, and zinc complexes of deoxyalliin were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral studies, electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, conductivity, and magnetic moment measurements. The complexes are proposed to have octahedral geometry, are water soluble, and exhibit antifungal activity against Collectotrichum falcatum, a fungus which causes red rot disease in sugarcane.     

Molecular Cloning,Characterization, and Expression Analysis of Lignin Genes from Sugarcane Genotypes Varying in Lignin Content

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is one of the highest biomass-producing plant and the best lignocellulosic feedstock for ethanol production. To achieve more efficient conversion of biomass to ethanol, a better understanding of the main factors affecting biomass recalcitrance is needed. Therefore, with this objective, here, we report a systematic study on lignin content, deposition, identification, and cloning of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and their differential expression in five sugarcane clones, EC11003, EC11010, IK 76-91, IK 76-99, and Co 86032. Lignin content among the clones varied from 26.87 to 23.19 % with the highest in the clone EC11010 and the lowest in high sugar Co86032. Lignin deposition studied through phloroglucinol staining of the cell walls implied that the sclerenchyma cells of the energy canes (EC11010 and EC11003) have more lignin deposition followed by the Erianthus (IK 76-91 and IK 76-99) clones whereas Co86032 has the minimum amount of lignin deposition. We cloned partial coding regions of important genes of lignification COMT (650 bp), CCR (332 bp), and PAL (650 bp) from Erianthus, wild relative of sugarcane followed by the expression analysis through real-time PCR. Differential expression analysis showed high level of expression for the three genes in the energy cane EC11010.     

Expression Profiling of Bioactive Genes from Moringa oleifera

Plants are under constant assault by biotic and abiotic agents. When an elicitor is prologued, an immense reprogramming of plant gene expression and defense responses are initiated, which could be a natural source for potential drug development and insertional mutagenesis. In this regard, differential expression analysis of a medicinal plant Moringa oleifera was performed for bioactive genes at seedling stage, using differential display-RT-PCR technique. Infected seedlings with a fungus Fusarium solani collected at different time intervals, showed a massive change in their gene expression profile. The data analysis revealed that at least 150 pathogen-induced and about 60 suppressed genes were differentially expressed at 8-h postinoculation of the biotic stress. Fifty-five selective genes were disunited and reamplified. Sequence analysis of these potential genes illustrated that these genes had properties of some induced peroxidase mRNA, cell proliferation, others were mitogen activated protein kinases, ribosomal protein genes, defense regulating genes, and a few also had structural properties. Further studies about the utility of these genes in plant metabolism could assist to develop improved transgenic breeds with enhanced value of infection tolerance not only of M. oleifera but of other cultivars also.     

Functional Annotation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fibrobacter succinogenes</Emphasis> S85 Carbohydrate Active Enzymes

Fibrobacter succinogenes is a cellulolytic bacterium that degrades plant cell wall biomass in ruminant animals and is among the most rapidly fibrolytic of all mesophilic bacteria. The complete genome sequence of Fisuc was completed by the DOE Joint Genome Institute in late 2009. Using new expression tools developed at Lucigen and C5-6 Technologies and a multi-substrate screen, 5,760 random shotgun expression clones were screened for biomass-degrading enzymes, representing 2× genome expression coverage. From the screen, 169 positive hits were recorded and 33 were unambiguously identified by sequence analysis of the inserts as belonging to CAZy family genes. Eliminating duplicates, 24 unique CAZy genes were found by functional screening. Several previously uncharacterized enzymes were discovered using this approach and a number of potentially mis-annotated enzymes were functionally characterized. To complement this approach, a high-throughput system was developed to clone and express all the annotated glycosyl hydrolases and carbohydrate esterases in the genome. Using this method, six previously described and five novel CAZy enzymes were cloned, expressed, and purified in milligram quantities.     

Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization Approach Revealed Differential Expression of Hypersensitive Response and Reactive Oxygen Species Production Genes in Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) Leaves during Pestalotiopsis thea Infection

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is an economically important plant cultivated for its leaves. Infection of Pestalotiopsis theae in leaves causes gray blight disease and enormous loss to the tea industry. We used suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique to unravel the differential gene expression pattern during gray blight disease development in tea. Complementary DNA from P. theae-infected and uninfected leaves of disease tolerant cultivar UPASI-10 was used as tester and driver populations respectively. Subtraction efficiency was confirmed by comparing abundance of ??-actin gene. A total of 377 and 720 clones with insert size >250?bp from forward and reverse library respectively were sequenced and analyzed. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis revealed 17 sequences in forward SSH library have high degree of similarity with disease and hypersensitive response related genes and 20 sequences with hypothetical proteins while in reverse SSH library, 23 sequences have high degree of similarity with disease and stress response-related genes and 15 sequences with hypothetical proteins. Functional analysis indicated unknown (61 and 59?%) or hypothetical functions (23 and 18?%) for most of the differentially regulated genes in forward and reverse SSH library, respectively, while others have important role in different cellular activities. Majority of the upregulated genes are related to hypersensitive response and reactive oxygen species production. Based on these expressed sequence tag data, putative role of differentially expressed genes were discussed in relation to disease. We also demonstrated the efficiency of SSH as a tool in enriching gray blight disease related up- and downregulated genes in tea. The present study revealed that many genes related to disease resistance were suppressed during P. theae infection and enhancing these genes by the application of inducers may impart better disease tolerance to the plants.     

Signaling in the Tomato Immunity against Fusarium oxysporum

New strategies of control need to be developed with the aim of economic and environmental sustainability in plant and crop protection. Metabolomics is an excellent platform for both understanding the complex plant–pathogen interactions and unraveling new chemical control strategies. GC-MS-based metabolomics, along with a phytohormone analysis of a compatible and incompatible interaction between tomato plants and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, revealed the specific volatile chemical composition and the plant signals associated with them. The susceptible tomato plants were characterized by the over-emission of methyl- and ethyl-salicylate as well as some fatty acid derivatives, along with an activation of salicylic acid and abscisic acid signaling. In contrast, terpenoids, benzenoids, and 2-ethylhexanoic acid were differentially emitted by plants undergoing an incompatible interaction, together with the activation of the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. In accordance with this response, a higher expression of several genes participating in the biosynthesis of these volatiles, such as MTS1, TomloxC, TomloxD, and AOS, as well as JAZ7, a JA marker gene, was found to be induced by the fungus in these resistant plants. The characterized metabolome of the immune tomato plants could lead to the development of new resistance inducers against Fusarium wilt treatment.     

Proteomic Profiling and the Predicted Interactome of Host Proteins in Compatible and Incompatible Interactions Between Soybean and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium virguliforme</Emphasis>

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a complex of two diseases of soybean (Glycine max), caused by the soil borne pathogenic fungus Fusarium virguliforme. The root rot and leaf scorch diseases both result in significant yield losses worldwide. Partial SDS resistance has been demonstrated in multiple soybean cultivars. This study aimed to highlight proteomic changes in soybean roots by identifying proteins which are differentially expressed in near isogenic lines (NILs) contrasting at the Rhg1/Rfs2 locus for partial resistance or susceptibility to SDS. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis resolved approximately 1000 spots on each gel; 12 spots with a significant (P < 0.05) difference in abundance of 1.5-fold or more were picked, trypsin-digested, and analyzed using quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Several spots contained more than one protein, so that 18 distinct proteins were identified overall. A functional analysis performed to categorize the proteins depicted that the major pathways altered by fungal infection include disease resistance, stress tolerance, and metabolism. This is the first report which identifies proteins whose abundances are altered in response to fungal infection leading to SDS. The results provide valuable information about SDS resistance in soybean plants, and plant partial resistance responses in general. More importantly, several of the identified proteins could be good candidates for the development of SDS-resistant soybean plants.     

Variation of the Antioxidative Defense in Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Facing Bud Rot Disease in the Coastal Area of Ecuador

Elaeis guineensis Jacq. has gained a reputation in the food industry as an incredible crop capable of supplying the world’s largest edible oil production. In Ecuador, an important oil palm-producing country, this crop is affected in a high percentage by the bud rot disease, which is responsible for palm death. The main objective of the investigation was dedicated to understanding the palm defense mechanism facing bud rot disease, translated in the induction of reactive oxygen species, activation of defensive machinery comprising enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative components, secondary metabolites, carotenoids accumulation in the palm during all stages of disease infection. For this, a survey was conducted in different oil palm plantations in the Esmeraldas province, one of the most representative for its highest incidence of bud rot disease. The survey completed DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and other spectrophotometric analyses to underline the biochemical, biological, and physiological palm response front of bud rot incidence. The palm defense strategy in each disease stage could be represented by the phenolic compound’s involvement, an increment of antioxidant activity, and the high enzymatic activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The results of the investigation made understandable the palm defense strategy front of this disease, respectively, the antioxidative defense and the palm secondary compounds involved.     

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus megaterium JX285 isolated from Camellia oleifera rhizosphere

Bacillus megaterium strain JX285, isolated from rhizosphere red soil sample, can solubilize inorganic phosphorus, which increases the amount of available phosphorus and promotes plant growth. To investigate the mechanisms underlying phosphate solubilization, we sequenced the entire genome of B. megaterium strain JX285 (CGMCC 1.1621), which comprises a circular chromosome of 5,066,463 bp and seven plasmids of 167,030, 128,297, 60,905, 134,795, 9,598, 37,455, and 6332 bp, respectively. The whole genome sequence includes 5948 protein-coding genes, 124 tRNAs, and 29 rRNAs, and has been deposited at Genbank/EMBL/DDBJ with accession numbers CP018874–CP018881. We detected genes associated with organic acid production, which may be vital for phosphate conversion. Furthermore, phosphatase-encoding genes were also detected. The information embedded in the genome will assist in studying the mechanisms of phosphate solubilization. In conclusion, analysis of the JX285 genome will further our knowledge regarding this strain and may contribute to its biotechnological application.     

Abscisic Acid—Defensive Player in Flax Response to Fusarium culmorum Infection

Fusarium culmorum is a ubiquitous soil pathogen with a wide host range. In flax (Linum ussitatissimum), it causes foot and root rot and accumulation of mycotoxins in flax products. Fungal infections lead to huge losses in the flax industry. Moreover, due to mycotoxin accumulation, flax products constitute a potential threat to the consumers. We discovered that the defense against this pathogen in flax is based on early oxidative burst among others. In flax plants infected with F. culmorum, the most affected genes are connected with ROS production and processing, callose synthesis and ABA production. We hypothesize that ABA triggers defense mechanism in flax and is a significant player in a successful response to infection.     

Expression Profiling of Bioactive Genes from a Medicinal Plant Nigella sativa L.

Plants respond to stress in part by modulating gene expression either constitutively or in an inducible manner which ultimately leads to the restoration of cellular homeostasis, detoxification of toxins, and recovery of growth. Upon introduction to various elicitors such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns, a massive reprogramming of plant gene expression is initiated. Differential display PCR offers rapid and multiple comparisons of gene expression to various stress durations and intensities. Nigella sativa has acclaimed many medicinal properties in traditional medicine. To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms in response to stress in the plants, Fusarium solani (a fungus) stress was induced at different time intervals ranging from 0 to 48 h. RNA was subjected to complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis followed by PCR using different sets of anchored primers and arbitrary primers. The expression was visualized after silver staining on urea-PAGE. Out of the 23 upregulated re-amplified cDNA products, ten differential fragments showed significant homologies with domains related to cellular metabolism, signal transduction, and disease resistance. Such genes could be an informative source for developing genetically improved breeds under infectious stress.     

Red and near infra-red signaling: Hypothesis and perspectives

The review covers some of the proposed cellular photoreceptors responsible for the effect of red and near infra-red (NIR) light on mammalian cells, including cytochrome-c-oxidase, photoactive porphyrins, flavoproteins, and molecular oxygen. We do not discuss the clinical studies but consider animal models, especially fibroblasts. Several key hypotheses such as mitochondria signaling and free-radical conception of the effects of red light and NIR light based on the changes in redox properties of photoreceptor molecules as well as membrane conception are examined. Special attention is paid to common mechanisms of light signaling in mammalian and plant organisms.     

Functional Analysis of the Potential Enzymes Involved in Sugar Modulation in High and Low Sugarcane Cultivars

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a dynamic C4 polyploidy grass used as a major source of sucrose and an alternative for ethanol, food, and energy. Despite growing scientific interest, various sucrose metabolism regulatory aspects have been limited. Biochemical and gene expression studies were conducted on developmental stages, 240–420 days of planting (DAP) in mature leaves of three high and three low sucrose sugarcane cultivars. Sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities were found to be remarkably higher at 240–360 DAP but decrease at 420 DAP. Twofold increases of SS activity was estimated at 240–360 DAP while SPS activity trend was found to be lower than the SS activity. In comparing SS and SPS activities with the brix of respective DAP, results show that these activities are significant and positively correlated with ‘r’ values of 0.69 and 0.68 for SS and SPS, respectively. However, the soluble acid invertase (SAI) and neutral invertase (NI) activities were found to decrease significantly with the maturity of cultivars, negatively correlating with brix at ‘r’ values 0.83 and 0.89 for SAI and NI, respectively. The antioxidant enzyme activity was modulated similar to the invertases activity. Of the six genes, ESAS 11 and 23 associated with sucrose accumulation and ESTS 34 and 41 associated with sugar transport in sugarcane were differentially expressed among the selected high and low sugarcane cultivars. Hence, these findings reinforce the selection of diverse sugarcane cultivars for gene expression studies targeting to quantitative traits and candidate marker determination.     

Recent Advances in Understanding the Mechanisms of Elemene in Reversing Drug Resistance in Tumor Cells: A Review

Malignant tumors are life-threatening, and chemotherapy is one of the common treatment methods. However, there are often many factors that contribute to the failure of chemotherapy. The multidrug resistance of cancer cells during chemotherapy has been reported, since tumor cells’ sensitivity decreases over time. To overcome these problems, extensive studies have been conducted to reverse drug resistance in tumor cells. Elemene, an extract of the natural drug Curcuma wenyujin, has been found to reverse drug resistance and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Mechanisms by which elemene reverses tumor resistance include inhibiting the efflux of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1) transporter, reducing the transmission of exosomes, inducing apoptosis and autophagy, regulating the expression of key genes and proteins in various signaling pathways, blocking the cell cycle, inhibiting stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and so on. In this paper, the mechanisms of elemene’s reversal of drug resistance are comprehensively reviewed.     

Cellulose synthase (CesA) genes in algae and seedless plants

Microfibril structure is determined largely by the organization of arrays of integral plasma membrane protein particles known as &#x201C;terminal complexes&#x201D;, which include cellulose synthase catalytic subunits encoded by CesA genes. Although the CesA genes of plants and bacteria share conserved regions, variations in terminal complex and microfibril structure presumably result from sequence differences. Thus, the CesA domains that influence terminal complex assembly may be revealed by examining the differences between CesA genes from green algae in which terminal complex structure ranges from rosettes (plant-like) to linear (bacteria-like). This report describes a second CesA gene that has been cloned from Mesotaenium caldariorum, a unicellular green alga from the order Zygnematales, which have rosette terminal complexes. Both McCesA1 and McCesA2 are similar to seed plant CesAs in domain structure and intron position. Seed plants have multiple CesAs and CesA-like (Csl) genes, some of which appear to be expressed specifically during cell expansion, secondary cell wall deposition in vascular tissue, or tip growth. Diversification of the CesA and Csl gene families can be explored by comparing these genes in mosses, which lack vascular tissue with secondary cell walls, and early divergent vascular plants such as ferns. Degenerate primers were used to amplify and clone five unique CesA and Csl fragments from genomic DNA isolated from Physcomitrella patens. Probes derived from the cloned fragments were used to isolate several clones from a Physcomitrella genomic library. One Csl fragment was amplified from genomic DNA isolated from the fern Ceratopteris richardii. Phylogenetic analysis supports the presence of CslD genes in both mosses and ferns, but does not support the presence of secondary cell wall specific CesA orthologs in mosses.     

Identification and cloning of molecular markers for UV-B tolerant gene in wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.)

Previously we have selected wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.) sterile lines that are tolerant or susceptible to UV-B radiation based on response index (RI) in a field screening test. The RI was established according to plant height, tiller number, leaf index, total biomass and brix under enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-310 nm) radiation. In this experiment, molecular markers linked to the UV-B tolerant and susceptible genes were identified and cloned. RAPD (Randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs) assay using 100 arbitrary primers followed by clustering analysis separated the tolerant and susceptible lines into two groups at the genetic distance of 0.380. The UV-B tolerant and susceptible gene pools were constructed and compared using the Bulked Segregate Analysis (BSA) approach. Of the 100 arbitrary RAPD primers, primer OPR16 produced polymorphic DNA banding patterns from both gene pools. The OPR16-1200 bp DNA fragment was only amplified from the tolerant lines and the OPR16-800 bp from the susceptible ones. These two PCR fragments were cloned onto T-vector. DNA sequence alignment analysis determined that 42% homology existed between the reverse and forward sequences of the OPR16-1200 bp clone, and 36% homology between the forward sequences of the OPR16-800 bp and OPR16-1200 bp clones. The two DNA clones were determined to be linked to the UV-B tolerant and susceptible genes, and they can be used to develop molecular markers for the associated traits.