钮子瓜和袋花忍冬的化学成分研究

钮子瓜（Zehneria maysorensis Arn.）是一种常用的中草药，其性味苦、凉，主要功效为清热利湿、散风止痛，主治膀胱炎、头痛。体外活性筛选实验表明，袋花忍冬（Lonicera saccata Rehd.）95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯部分对血管紧张素转化酶显示较强的抑制活性。为明确钮子瓜的药用物质基础和袋花忍冬中具有ACE抑制活性的成分，首次对两个植物的成分进行了研究。 1. 从钮子瓜95%乙醇提取物中主要通过色谱方法首次分离了14个化合物，通过波谱方法鉴定为(2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2R)-2-羟基二十四烷酰基氨基]-10-十八烷-1,3,4-三醇（1）、(2S,3S,4R)-2-二十四烷酰基氨基-十八烷-1,3,4-三醇 （2）、胡萝卜苷（3）、swertish （4）、苯甲酸（5）、水杨酸（6）、loliolide （7）、胸腺嘧啶（8）、尿嘧啶（9）、(23Z)-9,19-环阿尔廷-23-烯-3β,25-二醇（10）、(20S,22E,24R)-5α,8α-表二氧-麦角甾-6,22-二烯-3β-醇（11）、十六烷酸 1-甘油酯（12）、大豆脑苷Ⅰ（13）和(22E,24S)-24-甲基-5α-胆甾-7,22-二烯-3β,5α,6β-三醇（14）。其中化合物4为一黄酮碳苷，具有旋转异构现象，有止痛作用；化合物6具有抗炎、镇痛、减热的活性，它们可能是钮子瓜药用物质基础的一部分。 2. 从袋花忍冬95%乙醇提取物中首次分离并鉴定了16个已知化合物：胡萝卜苷（3）、(20S,22E,24R)-5α,8α-表二氧-麦角甾-6,22-二烯-3β-醇（11）、十六烷酸 1-甘油酯（12）、E-p-coumaryl behenate (15)、谷甾醇（16）、2,6-dihydroxyhumula-3(12), 7(13),9(E)-triene (17)、环阿尔廷-25-烯-3β,24ξ-二醇 (18)、二十四烷酸 (19)、2,4-二羟基-3,6-二甲基苯甲酸甲酯 (20)、乌苏酸 (21)、柚皮素 (22)、木犀草素 (23)、柏双黄酮（24）咖啡酸 (25)、洋芹素（26）和木犀草素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷 (27)。其中木犀草素（23）和咖啡酸（25）含量较高，它们为抑制ACE活性的成分。 3．综述了黄酮碳苷的旋转异构现象。 Zehneria maysorensis is a folk medicine for the treatment of cystitis and headache. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the 95% ethanol extract of Lonicera saccata showed obvious ACE inhibitory activity in vitro. To reveal their active constitutents, they were subjected to chemically study. From the 95% ethanol extract of the whole plants of Zehneria maysroensis fourteen compounds were isolated for the first time. On the basis of spectral data and/or by comparison with authentic samples, they were characterized to be (2S,3S,4R,10E)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-10-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (1), (2S,3S,4R)-2-tetracosanoylamino-1,3,4-octadecanetriol (2), daucosterol (3), swertish (4), benzoic acid (5), salicylic acid (6), loliolide (7), thymine (8), uracil (9), (23Z)-9,19-cycloart-23-ene-3β,25-diol (10), (20S,22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-ergosta- 6,22-diene-3β-ol (11), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl hexadecoate (12), soya-cerebroside (13) and (22E,24S)-24-methyl-5α-cholesta-7,22-diene-3β,5α,6β-triol (14). Compound 4, a C-glycosylflavone, showed a very interesting rotational isomerism. Compounds 4 and 6 may be the active constituents of Zehneria maysorensis considering their sedative and anti-inflammation activity, respectively. From the whole plants of Lonicera saccata, sixteen compounds were isolated for the first time. On the basis of spectral data and/or by comparison with authentic samples, they were identified to be daucosterol (3), (20S,22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy- ergosta-6,22-diene-3β-ol (11), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl hexadecoate (12), E-p-coumaryl behenate (15), β-sitosterol (16), 2,6-dihydroxyhumula-3(12),7(13),9(E)-triene (17), cycloart-25-ene-3β,24ξ-diol (18), tetracosanoic acid (19), methyl 2,4-dihydroxy- 3,6-dimethylbenzoate (20), ursolic acid (21), naringenin (22), luteolin (23), cupressuflavone (24), caffeic acid (25), apigenin (26) and luteolin-7-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (27). Luteolin (23) and caffeic acid (25) were the ACE inhibitory active constituents. Rotational isomerism for C-glycosylflavonoid was reviewed.

具有环氧化酶-2选择性抑制活性的多取代蒽醌的合成

1-甲基-2-甲氧羰基-3, 6, 8-三羟基-7-甲氧基蒽醌是从唐菖蒲干球茎中分离到的具有环氧化酶-2选择性抑制活性的多取代蒽醌类化合物。本文试图合成该化合物，实现了其类似物的合成，同时发现了几个未见报道的反应。 1．通过Diels-Alder 反应合成了关键中间体——3-甲基-5-羟基-1, 2, 4-苯三甲酸三甲酯，1-COOMe选择性水解产物与1, 2, 3-三甲氧基苯进行分子间Friedel-Crafts反应的产物再进行分子内Friedel-Crafts反应得到了目标产物的类似物1-甲基-2-甲氧羰基-3-羟基-6，7，8-三甲氧基蒽醌（路线1）。目标产物及其它类似物的合成正在进行中。 2．以乙酰乙酸甲酯和巴豆醛为原料，经过Michael加成、分子内的Aldol反应、芳香化、选择性甲酰化和还原反应，得到关键中间体2-甲基-3-羟甲基-6-甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯及其衍生物。通过该化合物与3，4，5-三甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯进行Friedel-Crafts烷基化反应得到了多取代的二苯基甲烷衍生物，拟进一步关环合成目标化合物（路线2）。 3．发现邻甲氧基苯甲酸甲酯中酯甲基可以被正丁基锂和仲丁基锂中烷基交换生成相应的酯，反应的机理不明确。当使用叔丁基锂时，得到的是邻甲氧基苯基叔丁酮，这个方法可以用来合成芳基叔丁酮类化合物。 4．以2-苄氧基-6-甲基苯甲酸甲酯为原料进行氯甲基化反应时，以苯和二氯乙烷作溶剂，发生了苄基的迁移和芳环的偶联，分别得到2，2'-二甲基-3，3'-二甲氧羰基-4，4'-二羟基联苯和2，2'-二甲基-3，3'-二甲氧羰基-4，4'-二羟基-5，5'-二苄基联苯。这是对称联苯合成的新方法。 5．水杨酸羟基邻对位的选择性甲酰化可以分别通过水杨酸和水杨酸甲酯用HMTA/CF3COOH来实现。 6．Lewis酸催化3，4，5-三甲氧基苄醇环化成1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13-nonamethoxyl-10,15-dihydro-5H-trbibenzo [a, d, g] cyclononene (NDTC)，产率(54%)高于已有方法（12%）。 Methyl 3,6,8-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylate is a new COX-2 selective inhibitor isolated from Gladiolus gandavensis. Two strategies were investigated to synthesis this compound, in which some important reactions were discovered. 1. The key intermediate 5-hydroxy-3-methylbenzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid 2,4-dimethyl ester was prepared via Diels-Alder reaction followed by selective hydrolysis of 1-COOMe. This compound was coupled with 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene and the product undergo intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction to give methyl 3-hydroxy-5,6,7-trimethoxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylate (1st route). The target compound and other analogues are being prepared with the same procedure. 2. The key intermediates methyl 3-hydroxymethyl-6-methoxy-2-methylbenzoate and its derivatives were prepared starting from crotonaldehyde and methyl acetoacetate via Michael addition, intramolecular aldol reaction, aromatization, formylation and reduction. The intermediates were coupled respectively with derivatives of gallic acid to give polysubstituted diphenylmethane. However, attempts to cyclize these compounds to the target compounds and analogues were not successful (2nd route). 3. In the process for ortho-lithiation of methyl 2-methoxybenzoate, the substrate converted respectively to n-butyl 2-methoxybenzoate and sec-butyl 2-methoxybenzoate when n-BuLi and sec-BuLi were used. However, tert-BuLi reacted with methyl 2-methoxybenzoate afford 2-methoxyphenyl tert-butyl ketone, which could be used to synthesize aryl tert-butyl ketones. 4. The transformtion of methyl 2-benzoxy-6-methylbenzoate to dimethyl 4,4'-dihydroxy-2,2'-dimethylbiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate in benzene, and dimethyl 5,5'-dibenzyl-4,4'-dihydroxy-2,2'-dimethylbiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate in 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of ZnCl2 provides a new method for the synthesis of symmetric biphenyl. 5. The formylation of salicylic acid at C-5 and methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate at C-3 could be regioselectively realized by using HMTA/CF3COOH. 6. Racemic 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13-nonamethoxyl-10, 15-dihydro-5H-trbibenzo [a, d, g] cyclononene was prepared via Lewis acids catalyzed trimerization of 3, 4, 5-trimethoxylbenzyl alcohol with yield (54%) higher than the reported procesure (12%).

五枫藤、小驳骨和川西茶藨的化学成分研究

八月瓜属植物五枫藤(Holboellia latifolia Wall.)和驳骨草属植物小驳骨(Gendarussa vulgaris Nees)均为药用植物, 前者化学成分研究不深入, 后者的化学成分未见报道。川西茶藨(Ribes takare D. Don)为茶藨子属植物, 没有化学成分的报道。本论文对三个植物的化学成分和活性成分进行了研究, 主要通过色谱方法分离得到了48 个化合物, 采用波谱分析或与已知标准品对照等手段鉴定了它们的结构, 其中有1 个新的原小檗碱类化合物和3 个新的联苯类化合物,发现了具有细胞毒活性和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性的化合物。1、从五枫藤地上部分的95%乙醇提取物中分离得到了12 个化合物: 五加苷K (1)、hederagenin 3-O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)- α-L-arabinopyranoside (2)、β-萘乙酸(3) 、3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4) 、3-O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O- β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)- α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid (5) 、3-O-( β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid)-oleanolic acid 28-O- β-D-glucopyranoside (6)、lup-20(29)-en-3-one (7)、lupeol (8)、β-谷甾醇(9)、齐墩果酸(10)、乌苏酸(11)、β-胡萝卜苷(12)。化合物1 对Lu-06、N-04 和Bre-04 癌细胞株的GI50 分别是0.77µg/mL、1.26 µg/mL 和1.55 µg/mL, 化合物2 对N-04 癌细胞株的GI50 为2.44 µg/mL。2、从小驳骨地上部分的95%乙醇提取物中分离得到了1 个原小檗碱类新化合物13-hydroxyl gusanlung A (25), β-谷甾醇(9)、齐敦果酸(10)、β-胡萝卜苷(12)、棕榈酸(1-)甘油酯(13)、棕榈酸(14)、阿苯哒唑(15)、阿苯哒唑砜(16)、阿苯哒唑亚砜(17)、aurantiamide acetate (18)、华良姜素(19)、芫花素(20)、(-)-丁香树酯醇(21)、gusanlung B (22) 、eupteleasaponinsⅤ acetate (23)、gusanlungA (24)、刺五加苷E (26)、岩白菜素(27)、咖啡酸(28)。化合物25 对肝癌细胞株(HepG2) 的GI50 为2.08 µg/mL。3、从川西茶藨地上部分的95%乙醇提取物中分离鉴定了22 个化合物: β-谷甾醇(9) 、β- 胡萝卜苷(12) 、O-acetyloleanolic aldehyde (29),4,7,8-trimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxydibenzofuran (30) 、3', 5-dimethoxy-3, 4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (31) 、桦木醇(32) 、6,7-dimethoxy-1-methyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-one (33)、3'-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (34) 、7-hydroxy-4,8-dimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxydibenzofuran (35)、桦木醛(36)、没食子酸(37) 、6β- 羟基-4- 烯-3- 酮- 豆甾醇(38) 、5α, 8α-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6, 22-dien-3β-ol (39)、verrucofortine (40)、6-methoxycalpogoniumisoflavone A (41)、2-羟基二苯甲酮(42)、桦木酸(43), 3, 5-二甲氧基苯甲酸-4-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(44)、洋芹素(45)、刺槐素(46)、水杨酸(47)、洋芹素-5-O- β-D-葡萄糖苷(48), 化合物30、31 和35 为新的联苯化合物。化合物30的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制率为10.2% (1.00 mg/mL); 化合物35 的抑制率为17.2% (1.00mg/mL)。4、综述了1960 年以来原小檗碱类化合物药理活性研究进展。 Plants Holboellia latifolia Wall and Gendarussa vulgaris Nees, are used as folkmedicine. Ribes takare D. Don belongs to the genus Ribes. The three plants have notbeen chemically studied in detail. Chemical and bioactive study of three plants led tothe isolation of 48 compounds by chromatography. Their structures were elucidatedon the basis of spectroscopic evidence or comparison with authentic samples. Amongthe 48 componds isolated one protoberberine alkaloid and three biphenyls are newones. Cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory compounds had been found.1. Twelve compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the aerial partof H. latifolia Wall. They were characterized as fellow: eleutheroside K (1),hederagenin-3-O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)- α-L-arabinopyranoside (2),2-naphthyl acetic acid (3),3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4), 3-O- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O- β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)- α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid (5),3-O-( β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid)-oleanolic acid-28-O- β-D-glucopyranoside (6),lup-20(29)-en-3-one (7), lupeol (8), β-sitosterol (9), oleanolic acid (10), ursolicacid (11), and β-daucosterol (12). Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity againstLu-06 (GI50, 0.77 µg/mL), N-04 (GI50, 1.26 µg/mL) and Bre0-4 (GI50=1.55 µg/mL)and compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity against N-04 (GI50=2.44 µg/mL).2. A new protoberberine alkaloid, 13-hydroxyl gusanlung A (25), was isolated fromthe aerial part of Gendarussa vulgaris Nees, together with β-sitosterol (9), oleanolicacid (10), β-daucosterol (12), glycerol monopalmitate (13), palmific acid (14),albendazole (15), albendazole sulphone (16), albendazole sufloxide (17), aurantiamideacetate (18), kumatakenin (19), genkwanin (20), (-)-syringaresinol (21), gusanlung B(22), eupteleasaponinsⅤ acetate (23), gusanlung A (24), eleutheroside E (26),bergenin (27) and caffeic acid (28). Compound 25 showed cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells (GI50, 2.08 µg/mL).3. Phytochemical study of the Ribes takare D. Don led to the isolation of three newbiphenyls, 4,7,8-trimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxydibenzofuran (30), 3', 5-dimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (31) and 7-hydroxy-4,8-dimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxydibenzofuran (35), along with nineteenknown compounds, β-sitosterol (9), β-daucosterol (12), O-acetyloleanolic aldehyde(29), betulin (32), 6,7-dimethoxy-1-methyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-one (33),3'-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3, 4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (34), betulinic aldehyde (36),gallic acid (37), stigmast-4-en-6β-ol-3-one (38), 5α, 8α-epidioxy-(22E, 24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (39), verrucofortine (40), 6-methoxycalpogonium isoflavone A (41),2-hydroxybenzophenone (42), betulinic acid (43), 3,5-dimethoxygallic acid-4-O- β-D-glucopryranoside (44), apigenin (45), acacetin (46), salicylic acid (47) andapigenin-5-O- β-D-glucopryranoside (48). α-Glucosidase inhibitory rates ofcompound 30 and 35 were respectively 10.2% and 17.2% at a concentration of 1.00 mg/mL).4. Pharmacological activities of protoberberines were summarized.

Preparation and luminescence properties of terbium-Sal complex in-situ synthesized in silica matrix by a two-step sol-gel process

In-situ synthesis of terbium complex with salicylic acid (Sal) in silica matrix was made by a two-step sol-gel process. The terbium complex with salicylic acid was formed in sol-gel derived silica gel, and confirmed by the luminescence excitation spectra and infrared(IR) spectra. As compared to the pure terbium complex powder, the silica gel containing terbium complex exhibits its characteristic emission and presents a longer fluorescence lifetime than that for the pure complex. The luminescence properties of the complex containing;silica gel were investigated and compared with that of both terbium doped the silica gel and thp pure complex powder. The reasons leading to the above results were also discussed.

Salicylate accumulation inhibits growth at chilling temperature in Arabidopsis

Ian M. Scott, Shannon M. Clarke, Jacqueline E. Wood and Luis A.J. Mur (2004). Salicylate accumulation inhibits growth at chilling temperature in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 135(2), 1040-1049. RAE2008

Efeito dos salicilatos em Salmo trutta fario

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Redox rhythm reinforces the circadian clock to gate immune response.

Recent studies have shown that in addition to the transcriptional circadian clock, many organisms, including Arabidopsis, have a circadian redox rhythm driven by the organism's metabolic activities. It has been hypothesized that the redox rhythm is linked to the circadian clock, but the mechanism and the biological significance of this link have only begun to be investigated. Here we report that the master immune regulator NPR1 (non-expressor of pathogenesis-related gene 1) of Arabidopsis is a sensor of the plant's redox state and regulates transcription of core circadian clock genes even in the absence of pathogen challenge. Surprisingly, acute perturbation in the redox status triggered by the immune signal salicylic acid does not compromise the circadian clock but rather leads to its reinforcement. Mathematical modelling and subsequent experiments show that NPR1 reinforces the circadian clock without changing the period by regulating both the morning and the evening clock genes. This balanced network architecture helps plants gate their immune responses towards the morning and minimize costs on growth at night. Our study demonstrates how a sensitive redox rhythm interacts with a robust circadian clock to ensure proper responsiveness to environmental stimuli without compromising fitness of the organism.

Rational design of a dual-mode optical and chemical prodrug

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the rational design and behaviour of the first dual mode optical and chemical prodrug, exemplified by an acetyl salicylic acid-based system. Methods. A cyclic 1,4-benzodioxinone prodrug was synthesised by reaction of 3,5-dimethoxybenzoin and acetyl salicoyl chloride with pyridine. After purification by column chromatography and recrystallization, characterization was achieved using infrared and NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Light-triggered drug liberation was characterised via UV-visible spectroscopy following low-power 365 nm irradiation for controlled times. Chemical drug liberation was characterised via UV-visible spectroscopy in pH 5.5 solution. Results. The synthetic method yielded pure prodrug, with full supporting characterisation. Light-triggered drug liberation proceeded at a rate of 8.30 10j2 sj1, while chemical, hydrolytic liberation proceeded independently at 1.89 10j3 sj1. The photochemical and hydrolytic reactions were both quantitative. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the first rational dual-mode optical and chemical prodrug, using acetyl salicylic acid as a model, acting as a paradigm for future dual-mode systems. Photochemical drug liberation proceeds 44 times faster than chemical liberation, suggesting potential use in drug-eluting medical devices where an additional burst of drug is required at the onset of infection.

Chp8, a diguanylate cyclase from Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 suppresses the PAMP flagellin, increases EPS and promotes plant immune evasion.

The bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae causes disease in a wide range of plants. The associated decrease in crop yields results in economic losses and threatens global food security. Competition exists between the plant immune system and the pathogen, the basic principles of which can be applied to animal infection pathways. P. syringae uses a type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver virulence factors into the plant that promote survival of the bacterium. The P. syringae T3SS is a product of the hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp) and hypersensitive response and conserved (hrc) gene cluster, which is strictly controlled by the codependent enhancer-binding proteins HrpR and HrpS. Through a combination of bacterial gene regulation and phenotypic studies, plant infection assays, and plant hormone quantifications, we now report that Chp8 (i) is embedded in the Hrp regulon and expressed in response to plant signals and HrpRS, (ii) is a functional diguanylate cyclase, (iii) decreases the expression of the major pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) flagellin and increases extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), and (iv) impacts the salicylic acid/jasmonic acid hormonal immune response and disease progression. We propose that Chp8 expression dampens PAMP-triggered immunity during early plant infection.

The protein phosphatase 7 regulates phytochrome signaling in Arabidopsis.

The psi2 mutant of Arabidopsis displays amplification of the responses controlled by the red/far red light photoreceptors phytochrome A (phyA) and phytochrome B (phyB) but no apparent defect in blue light perception. We found that loss-of-function alleles of the protein phosphatase 7 (AtPP7) are responsible for the light hypersensitivity in psi2 demonstrating that AtPP7 controls the levels of phytochrome signaling. Plants expressing reduced levels of AtPP7 mRNA display reduced blue-light induced cryptochrome signaling but no noticeable deficiency in phytochrome signaling. Our genetic analysis suggests that phytochrome signaling is enhanced in the AtPP7 loss of function alleles, including in blue light, which masks the reduced cryptochrome signaling. AtPP7 has been found to interact both in yeast and in planta assays with nucleotide-diphosphate kinase 2 (NDPK2), a positive regulator of phytochrome signals. Analysis of ndpk2-psi2 double mutants suggests that NDPK2 plays a critical role in the AtPP7 regulation of the phytochrome pathway and identifies NDPK2 as an upstream element involved in the modulation of the salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defense pathway by light. Thus, cryptochrome- and phytochrome-specific light signals synchronously control their relative contribution to the regulation of plant development. Interestingly, PP7 and NDPK are also components of animal light signaling systems.

Localization and expression of EDS5H a homologue of the SA transporter EDS5.

BACKGROUND: An important signal transduction pathway in plant defence depends on the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA). SA is produced in chloroplasts and the multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY5 (EDS5; At4g39030) is necessary for the accumulation of SA after pathogen and abiotic stress. EDS5 is localized at the chloroplast and functions in transporting SA from the chloroplast to the cytoplasm. EDS5 has a homologue called EDS5H (EDS5 HOMOLOGUE; At2g21340) but its relationship to EDS5 has not been described and its function is not known. RESULTS: EDS5H exhibits about 72% similarity and 59% identity to EDS5. In contrast to EDS5 that is induced after pathogen inoculation, EDS5H was constitutively expressed in all green tissues, independently of pathogen infection. Both transporters are located at the envelope of the chloroplast, the compartment of SA biosynthesis. EDS5H is not involved with the accumulation of SA after inoculation with a pathogen or exposure to UV stress. A phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis that EDS5H may be an H(+)/organic acid antiporter like EDS5. CONCLUSIONS: The data based on genetic and molecular studies indicate that EDS5H despite its homology to EDS5 does not contribute to pathogen-induced SA accumulation like EDS5. EDS5H most likely transports related substances such as for example phenolic acids, but unlikely SA.

Localization and functional characterization of iridoid biosynthetic genes in Catharanthus roseus /

Catharanthus roseus is the sole biological source of the medicinal compounds vinblastine and vincristine. These chemotherapeutic compounds are produced in the aerial organs of the plant, however they accumulate in small amounts constituting only about 0.0002% of the fresh weight of the leaf. Their limited biological supply and high economical value makes its biosynthesis important to study. Vinblastine and vincristine are dimeric monoterpene indole alkaloids, which consists of two monomers vindoline and catharanthine. The monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIA's) contain a monoterpene moiety which is derived from the iridoid secologanin and an indole moiety tryptamine derived from the amino acid tryptophan. The biosynthesis of the monoterpene indole alkaloids has been localized to at least three cell types namely, the epidermis, the laticifer and the internal phloem assisted parenchyma. Carborundum abrasion (CA) technique was developed to selectively harvest epidermis enriched plant material. This technique can be used to harvest metabolites, protein or RNA. Sequencing of an expressed sequence tagged (EST) library from epidermis enriched mRNA demonstrated that this cell type is active in synthesizing a variety of secondary metabolites namely, flavonoids, lipids, triterpenes and monoterpene indole alkaloids. Virtually all of the known genes involved in monterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis were sequenced from this library.This EST library is a source for many candidate genes involved in MIA biosynthesis. A contig derived from 12 EST's had high similarity (E'^') to a salicylic acid methyltransferase. Cloning and functional characterization of this gene revealed that it was the carboxyl methyltransferase imethyltransferase (LAMT). In planta characterization of LAMT revealed that it has a 10- fold enrichment in the leaf epidermis as compared to the whole leaf specific activity. Characterization of the recombinant enzyme revealed that vLAMT has a narrow substate specificity as it only accepts loganic acid (100%) and secologanic acid (10%) as substrates. rLAMT has a high Km value for its substrate loganic acid (14.76 mM) and shows strong product inhibition for loganin (Kj 215 |iM). The strong product inhibition and low affinity for its substrate may suggest why the iridoid moiety is the limiting factor in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis. Metabolite profiling of C. roseus organs shows that secologanin accumulates within these organs and constitutues 0.07- 0.45% of the fresh weight; however loganin does not accumulate within these organs suggesting that the product inhibition of loganin with LAMT is not physiologically relevant. The limiting factor to iridoid and MIA biosynthesis seems to be related to the spatial separation of secologanin and the MIA pathway, although secologanin is synthesized in the epidermis, only 2-5% of the total secologanin is found in the epidermis while the remaining secologanin is found within the leaf body inaccessable to alkaloid biosynthesis. These studies emphasize the biochemical specialization of the epidermis for the production of secondary metabolites. The epidermal cells synthesize metabolites that are sequestered within the plant and metabolites that are secreted to the leaf surface. The secreted metabolites comprise the epidermome, a layer separating the plant from its environment.

Unique and unifying themes in the mechanisms regulating the expression of the arabidopsis thaliana PR-1 and Solanum tuberosum PR-10a inducible defense genes

Arabidopsis is a model plant used to study disease resistance; Solanum tuberosum or potato is a crop species. Both plants possess inducible defense mechanisms that are deployed upon recognition of pathogen invasion. Transcriptional reprogramming is crucial to the activation of defense responses. The Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes are activated in these defense programs. Expression of Arabidopsis PR-l and potato PR-10a serve as markers for the deployment of defense responses in these plants. PR-l expression indicates induction of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Activation of SAR requires accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), in addition to the interaction of the non-expressor of pathogenesis-related genes I (NPRI), with the TGA transcription factors. The PR-10a is activated in response to pathogen invasion, wounding and elicitor treatment. PR-10a induction requires recruitment of the Whirly I (Whyl) activator to the promoter. This locus is also negatively regulated by the silencer element binding factor (SEBF). We established that both the PR-l and PR-10a are occupied by repressors under non-inducing conditions. TGA2 was found to be a constitutive resident and repressor of PR-l, which mediates repression by forming an oligomeric complex on the promoter. The DNA-binding activity of this oligomer required the TGA2 N-terminus (NT). Under resting conditions we determined that the PR-10a is bound by a repressosome containing SEBF and curiously the activator Pto interacting protein 4 (Pti4). In the context of this repressosome, SEBF is responsible for PR-10a binding, yet rWe also showed that PR-l and PR-10a are activated by different means. In PR-l activation the NPRI NT domain alleviates TGA2-mediated repression by interacting with the TGA2 NT. TGA2 remains at the PR-l but adopts a dimeric conformation and forms an enhanceosome with NPRl. In contrast, the PR-10a is activated by evicting the repressosome and recruiting Why! to the promoter. These results advance our understanding of the mechanisms regulating PR-l and PR-10a expression under resting and inducing conditions. This study also revealed that the means of regulation for related genes can differ greatly between model and crop s

Regulation of Systemic Acquired Resistance through the Interaction of Arabidopsis thaliana Transcription factors TGAI and TGA2 with NPRI

Arabidopsis thaliana is an established model plant system for studying plantpathogen interactions. The knowledge garnered from examining the mechanism of induced disease resistance in this model system can be applied to eliminate the cost and danger associated with current means of crop protection. A specific defense pathway, known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR), involves whole plant protection from a wide variety of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens and remains induced weeks to months after being triggered. The ability of Arabidopsis to mount SAR depends on the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), the NPRI (non-expressor of pathogenesis related gene 1) protein and the expression of a subset of pathogenesis related (PR) genes. NPRI exerts its effect in this pathway through interaction with a closely related class of bZIP transcription factors known as TGA factors, which are named for their recognition of the cognate DNA motif TGACG. We have discovered that one of these transcription factors, TGA2, behaves as a repressor in unchallenged Arabidopsis and acts to repress NPRI-dependent activation of PRJ. TGA1, which bears moderate sequence similarity to TGA2, acts as a transcriptional activator in unchallenged Arabidopsis, however the significance of this activity is J unclear. Once SAR has been induced, TGAI and TGA2 interact with NPRI to form complexes that are capable of activating transcription. Curiously, although TGAI is capable of transactivating, the ability of the TGAI-NPRI complex to activate transcription results from a novel transactivation domain in NPRI. This transactivation domain, which depends on the oxidation of cysteines 521 and 529, is also responsible for the transactivation ability of the TGA2-NPRI complex. Although the exact mechanism preventing TGA2-NPRI interaction in unchallenged Arabidopsis is unclear, the regulation of TGAI-NPRI interaction is based on the redox status of cysteines 260 and 266 in TGAl. We determined that a glutaredoxin, which is an enzyme capable of regulating a protein's redox status, interacts with the reduced form of TGAI and this interaction results .in the glutathionylation of TGAI and a loss of interaction with NPRl. Taken together, these results expand our understanding of how TGA transcription factors and NPRI behave to regulate events and gene expression during SAR. Furthermore, the regulation of the behavior of both TGAI and NPRI by their redox status and the involvement of a glutaredoxin in modulating TGAI-NPRI interaction suggests the redox regulation of proteins is a general mechanism implemented in SAR.

Enhanced phytoextraction: In search of EDTA alternatives

Enhanced phytoextraction proposes the use of soil amendments to increase the heavy-metal content of above-ground harvestable plant tissues. This study compares the effect of synthetic aminopolycarboxylic acids [ethylenediamine tetraacetatic acid (EDTA), nitriloacetic acid (NTA), and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)] with a number of biodegradable, low-molecular weight, organic acids (citric acid, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, salicylic acid, and NH4 acetate) as potential soil amendments for enhancing phytoextraction of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Ni) by Zea mays. The treatments in this study were applied at a dose of 2 mmol/kg(-1) 1 d before sowing. To compare possible effects between presow and postgermination treatments, a second smaller experiment was conducted in which EDTA, citric acid, and NH4 acetate were added 10 d after germination as opposed to 1 d before sowing. The soil used in this screening was a moderately contaminated topsoil derived from a dredged sediment disposal site. This site has been in an oxidized state for more than 8 years before being used in this research. The high carbonate, high organic matter, and high clay content characteristic to this type of sediment are thought to suppress heavy-metal phytoavailability. Both EDTA and DTPA resulted in increased levels of heavy metals in the above-ground biomass. However, the observed increases in uptake were not as large as reported in the literature. Neither the NTA nor organic acid treatments had any significant effect on uptake when applied prior to sowing. This was attributed to the rapid mineralization of these substances and the relatively low doses applied. The generally low extraction observed in this experiment restricts the use of phytoextraction as an effective remediation alternative under the current conditions, with regard to amendments used, applied dose (2 mmol/kg(-1) soil), application time (presow), plant species (Zea mays), and sediment (calcareous clayey soil) under study.