Observation of baker’s yeast strains used in biotransformation by atomic force microscopy

Different strains of baker’s yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The images of uncoated and nonfixed samples were reproducible with high-constrast and nanometer-resolution. Molecules from the polysaccharide surface of the cell wall were pictured and the distance of atoms was measured. The preparation of samples was easy, suggesting that AFM is a useful tool in this type of analyses.     

Profiles of Essential Oils and Correlations with Phenolic Acids and Primary Metabolites in Flower Buds of Magnolia heptapeta and Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens

Magnolia flower buds are a source of herbal medicines with various active compounds. In this study, differences in the distribution and abundance of major essential oils, phenolic acids, and primary metabolites between white flower buds of Magnolia heptapeta and violet flower buds of Magnolia denudata var. purpurascens were characterised. A multivariate analysis revealed clear separation between the white and violet flower buds with respect to primary and secondary metabolites closely related to metabolic systems. White flower buds contained large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MH), phenolic acids, aromatic amino acids, and monosaccharides, related to the production of isoprenes, as MH precursors, and the activity of MH synthase. However, concentrations of β-myrcene, a major MH compound, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds, possibly due to higher threonine levels and low acidic conditions induced by comparatively low levels of some organic acids. Moreover, levels of stress-related metabolites, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, proline, and glutamic acid, were higher in violet flower buds than in white flower buds. Our results support the feasibility of metabolic profiling for the identification of phytochemical differences and improve our understanding of the correlated biological pathways for primary and secondary metabolites.     

牡丹草地下芽的形态分化与生长特征研究

采用解剖镜、扫描电镜技术，对长白山早春类短命植物牡丹草地下芽形态分化进行了观察，并采用游标卡尺测定各阶段芽体大小，研究地下芽的生长发育节律。发现牡丹草地上生活周期结束后，地下贮藏器官需要休眠2个月左右，于7月中下旬，地下芽开始出现形态分化和发育。其进程可分为萌芽期、花序原基分化期、花序形成期和花器官分化期4个时期，历经2个月左右，最终以发育成熟的花序进行越冬休眠。连续测定和相关分析表明，在整个夏眠期，牡丹草地下芽的茎高、芽长、芽径均随时间指数生长，茎高和芽长、芽径之间以及芽长与芽径之间呈幂函数规律异速生长，且相关系数均达到极显著水平。 牡丹草块茎需短暂休眠后完成地下芽的形态建成，地下芽茎高、芽长和芽径的增长具有不同步性和阶段性优先伸长的异速生长特性。     

小鼠早期胚胎肢体发育中的视黄酸诱导的视黄酸代谢

给怀孕10 d的小鼠胃灌流视黄酸(100 mgRA/kg体重)6和24 h后,对视黄酸合成酶基因Raldh2和代谢酶基因Cyp26a1,Cyp26b1在胚胎肢体的表达进行了分析.Cyp26a1和Cyp26b1在灌流6 h,表达增加;灌流24 h,表达恢复到正常水平.Raldh2在此时间段表达降低.这些结果提示:在小鼠早期胚胎肢体发育中,存在视黄酸诱导的视黄酸代谢.     

视黄酸合成酶基因Raldh2敲除鼠肢体发育起始的挽救

视黄酸合成酶基因Raldh2敲除鼠胚胎心脏膨大,没有肢体发育的起始.肌细胞增强子基因Mef2C敲除鼠胚胎心脏较小,但肢体的发育起始正常.Raldh2/Mef2C双基因敲除鼠与Raldh2敲除鼠形态相似.Tbx5在Raldh2/Mef2C基因敲除鼠第9天的胚胎表达表明,双基因敲除鼠胚胎没有肢体的发育.这一结果表明Mef2C敲除鼠没有挽救Raldh2敲除鼠肢体发育的起始.     

高效液相色谱法同时分离测定仁用杏花芽中8种植物激素

采用Shim-Park C18 VP-ODS色谱柱(150mm×4.6mm,5μm)、岛津SPD-10A VP UV-检测器,以V(甲醇)∶V(0.075%冰乙酸水溶液)=45∶55为流动相,在流速0.7mL/min、柱温30℃、检测波长254nm的条件下,同时分离测定了仁用杏花芽中的腺素、玉米素、赤霉素、生长素、6-苄氨基嘌呤、秋水仙素、脱落酸和吲哚-3-丁酸8种植物激素。各峰的分离效果理想,加标回收率达到95.41%~103.48%;测量灵敏度达0.0001volt;精密度RSD%<0.1。     

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.     

Silk fabric dyed with extract of sophora flower bud

This study analysed the use of sophora flower bud extract for dyeing and the resulting colour character and fastness of dyed silk fabric. The pigment composition on the silk fabric and recycling of this extract were also studied. The results indicated that the dyed silk fabric possessed good washing, rubbing and perspiration fastness, and the pigment composition on the silk fabric was mainly rutin and quercetin. The average recovery rate of the dye was 55.00%. These results demonstrate that the sophora flower bud extract is an effective natural dye.     

龙牙百合体细胞胚的诱导及植株再生

以龙牙百合鳞片为外植体，以MS为基本培养，通过添加不同浓度的6-BA，2，4-D，研究了其体细胞胚发生的最佳培养条件，并对体细胞胚的发生过程进行了形态学观察。结果表明：影响龙牙百合体细胞胚发生方式的因素是2，4-D。当2，4-D浓度低于0．5mg／L时，体细胞胚以直接方式发生，起源于鳞片表皮下数层细胞或深层的细胞，依次经过多细胞原胚，球形胚，心形胚，成熟胚等阶段，其形态学发育过程与合子胚相似。当2，4-D浓度适中时，体细胞胚以间接方式发生，起源于愈伤组织内部的胚性细胞团，其形态学发育过程也与合子胚相似；诱导胚性愈伤组织的最适培养基为MS＋0．5mg／L6-BA＋2．0mg／L2，4-D，在分化形成体细胞胚时，需降低或去除2，4-D。     

The Difference of Volatile Compounds in Female and Male Buds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Ser.) C. B. Clarke (Family Cucurbitaceae) is a dioecious plant and has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine for the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases. The component, content, and difference in volatile compounds in the female and male buds of H. pedunculosum were explored by using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) technology and multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that isoamyl alcohol was the main compound in both female and male buds and its content in males was higher than that in females; 18 compounds were identified in female buds including 6 unique compounds such as (E)-4-hexenol and isoamyl acetate, and 32 compounds were identified in male buds, including 20 unique compounds such as (Z)-3-methylbutyraldehyde oxime and benzyl alcohol. (Z)-3-methylbutyraldehyde oxime and (E)-3-methylbutyraldehyde oxime were found in male buds, which only occurred in night-flowering plants. In total, 9 differential volatile compounds between female and male buds were screened out, including isoamyl alcohol, (Z)-3-methylbutanal oxime, and 1-nitropentane based on multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA). This is the first time to report the volatile components of H. pedunculosum, which not only find characteristic difference between female and male buds, but also point out the correlation between volatile compounds, floral odor, and plant physiology. This study enriches the basic theory of dioecious plants and has guiding significance for the production and development of H. pedunculosum germplasm resources.