A Comprehensive Identification and Expression Analysis of VQ Motif-Containing Proteins in Sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.) under Phytohormone Treatment and Cold Stress

The VQ motif-containing proteins play a vital role in various processes such as growth, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and development. However, there is currently no report on the VQ genes in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Herein, 78 VQ genes in Saccharum spontaneum were identified and classified into nine subgroups (I-IX) by comparative genomic analyses. Each subgroup had a similar structural and conservative motif. These VQ genes expanded mainly through whole-genome segmental duplication. The cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of the VQ genes were widely involved in stress responses, phytohormone responses and physiological regulation. The RNA-seq data showed that SsVQ gene expression patterns in 10 different samples, including different developmental stages, revealed distinct temporal and spatial patterns. A total of 23 SsVQ genes were expressed in all tissues, whereas 13 SsVQ genes were not expressed in any tissues. Sequence Read Archive (SRA) data showed that the majority of SsVQs responded to cold and drought stress. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the SsVQs were variously expressed under salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA) and cold treatment. This study conducted a full-scale analysis of the VQ gene family in sugarcane, which could be beneficial for the functional characterization of sugarcane VQ genes and provide candidate genes for molecular resistance breeding in cultivated sugarcane in the future.     

Chemical Compositions of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Oils from Different Cultivated Regions in China

This study is a comprehensive report on the quality of Chinese walnut oil, which enriches the research of oil resources. A total of 16 walnut samples from China were selected, and walnut oils were obtained using the pressing process. The lipid compositions and micronutrient contents were analyzed. The fatty acids corresponded to palmitic acid (3.05–8.25%), oleic acid (12.56–26.03%), linoleic acid (51.21–68.97%), and linolenic acid (6.83–15.01%), and the main triacylglycerols were trilinolein (27.87–39.47%), followed by oleoyl‐linoleoyl‐linolenoyl‐glycerol (17.07–24.18%), dilinoleoyl‐oleoyl‐glycerol (9.65–15.46%), palmitoyl‐dilinoleoyl‐glycerol (5.96–14.98%), and dilinoleoyl‐linolenoyl‐glycerol (6.42–12.43%). In addition, high amounts of micronutrients, including phytosterol, squalene, tocopherol, and total phenolic content, were found in walnut oils ranging from 540 to 1594, 17 to 131, 345 to 1280, and 1.04 to 20.39 mg kg^?1 among different samples, respectively. The differences in the geographical location and climate caused different regions of cultivation, which resulted in the differences in the chemical composition of walnut oil. Further multiple linear regression analyses between oxidative stability indices, fatty‐acid compositions, and micronutrients revealed that linoleic acid (R = ?0.891; P < 0.05), α‐tocopherol (R = 0.713; P < 0.05), and total phenolic content (R = 0.369; P < 0.05) were the main factors that affect the oxidative stability of the walnut oil.     

Fatty Acid Composition of the Oil from Developing Seeds of Different Varieties of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Fatty acid composition and moisture and oil content were determined for Montola-2001 and Centennial safflower varieties at three different harvest dates from flowering to maturity, which were grown as autumn and spring crops in two different locations in 2001–2002 and 2002–2003. The experiment was carried out using split–split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Sowing dates affected oil content and fatty acid compositions significantly (P < 0.01), whereas moisture content in both years was not significantly affected. Moisture content declined 15 days from flowering period to maturity, while oil content increased. The rate of the palmitic acid formation decreased in both varieties 15 days from flowering period to maturity, whereas formation rates of the oleic and linoleic acids increased in Montola-2001 and Centennial varieties, respectively.     

Structural Changes in Lignin During Kraft Cooking Part 3. On the Structure of Dissolved Lignins

Two series of pine kraft lignins were prepared by a) normal kraft cooks to different pulp yield levels and precipitation of the lignins from the black liquors by acidification and b) by successive acidification of the black liquor obtained from a flow-through cook. All the lignins were extensively purified, subjected to elemental and methoxyl analysis and subsequently acetylated.

Quantitative ¹³C-NMR analysis was carried out on acetylated samples and the results were combined with the results of phenolic group determination by means of aminolysis and with elemental analysis data. The various acetylated lignins were also subjected to analysis by size exclusion chromatography.

All results are discussed with reference to known features of kraft cooking and of kraft lignins.     

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Different Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Cultivars in China

China is an important centre of diversity for Prunus persica. In the present study, 17 Chinese peach cultivars were evaluated for phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Neochlorogenic acid (NCHA), chlorogenic acid (CHA), procyanidin B1 (B1), catechin (CAT), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), quercetin-3-O-galactoside (Q3GAL), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (Q3GLU), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (Q3R), and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (K3R) were identified and quantified. CHA and CAT were the predominant components in both the peel and pulp of this fruit. In general, peel extracts showed higher antioxidant activities than the pulp counterparts, consistent with the observed higher phenolic content. The melting peach cultivar “Xinyu” showed the highest antioxidant potency composite (APC) index. The principal component analysis (PCA) of peel phenolics showed a clear distinction between the melting peach and nectarine. Overall, peach cultivars rich in hydroxycinnamates and flavan-3-ols showed relatively higher antioxidant activities and might be excellent sources of phytochemicals and natural antioxidants.     

Response of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Plants to Foliar Spray with Different Concentrations of Boron

Sesame plants were sprayed with different concentrations of boron solution at 20, 30 and 40 ppm at different stages of plant growth (1, 2 and 3 months). Comparing the treated plants with untreated controls, the obtained results showed that spraying sesame plants with boron (B) solutions improves their growth and yields. Treating plants with boron solution at 20 ppm gave the highest results in growth criteria as compared with corresponding control or plants treated with higher boron solutions (30 and 40 ppm). Moisture and oil percentages were nonsignificantly changed by the different boron concentrations. The highest oil viscosity was recorded at a boron concentration of 30 ppm. Fatty acids were decreased by the effect of boron spray. A remarkable increase in the amino acid content of the plants was observed as a result of treatments with boron solutions, especially in the plants treated at 40 ppm. Spraying sesame plants with boron decreased the Fe, K, Mg and P contents, whereas the lowest concentration of boron (20 ppm) increased Ca and the highest concentration (40 ppm) increased Cl and Na.     

微波辅助顶空固相微萃取法分析印度草木犀不同部位挥发油化学成分

采用微波辅助顶空固相微萃取法提取印度草木犀不同部位的挥发油,通过气相色谱-质谱法与Kovats色谱保留指数相结合进行定性定量分析。结果表明,在印度草木犀的茎、叶和花中分别鉴定出43、44和71个组分,分别占挥发油总峰面积的89.92%、83.12%和90.77%,在茎中主要成分是3,4-二氢香豆素(5.97%),二氢香豆素(55.29%)和十六醛(4.44%)。叶中主要成分是3,4-二氢香豆素(11.84%),二氢香豆素(48.15%)。而在花中主要是3,4-二氢香豆素(6.08%),二氢香豆素(27.44%),对异丙基苯甲醚(6.20%)和麝香草酚(5.19%)。结果显示,不同部位相同化学成分其相对质量分数有一定的差异性。     

微波辅助顶空固相微萃取法分析葎草各个部位挥发油化学成分

采用微波辅助顶空固相微萃取法(MAE-HS-SPME)分析葎草不同部位的挥发油化学成分,通过气相色谱-质谱法与Kovats色谱保留指数相结合进行定性定量分析,以峰面积归一化法计算各组分的相对质量分数.结果表明,在葎草的茎、叶和花中分别鉴定出86、90和103个组分,分别占挥发油总峰面积的96.697%、96.455%和94.213%;在茎中主要成分是1,3-二甲基双环[3.3.0]辛-3-烯-2-酮(14.010%),百里酚(9.407%),β-石竹烯(6.884%),反式-β-金合欢烯(5.965%),β-甜没药烯(5.798%),香芹酚(5.702%)和α-佛手柑油烯(5.511%);叶中主要成分是β-石竹烯(12.704%),α-佛手柑油烯(8.588%),1,3-二甲基双环[3.3.0]辛-3-烯-2-酮(7.487%)和反式-β-金合欢烯(6.662%);在花中主要是反式-β-金合欢烯(11.906%),β-石竹烯(8.201%),α-葎草烯(5.515%)和β-蒎烯(4.719%);而相对质量分数有显著差异.     

Composition of Lipid Classes in the Morphologically Different Parts of the Olive Fruit,cv. Coratina (Olea europaea Linn.)

This paper reports on the distribution of “minor components” of olive oil in the four parts of olive fruit. The minor components are the nonglyceridic classes of compounds comprising vegetable oils. It was found that the classes and amounts of minor components varied to a great extent in the lipid fractions from skin, pulp, wood shell and seed. For 100 g of olives the weights of material comprising the minor components extracted by chloroform-ethanol (95:5) were the following: 103 mg in the skin, 200 mg in the pulp, 30 mg in the wood shells and 80 mg in the seeds. When the minor components were chromatographed by column chromatography or on thin-layer plates, the following classes of compounds were separated: alkanes, alkyl esters, methyl phenyl esters, steryl esters, aldehydes, alcohols, sterols, cyclic triterpenoids and very long chain free fatty acids.     

Influence of Different Fats with Varying Additions of α-Tocopheryl Acetate on the Fatty Acid Composition of Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

A two-factorial study in which different types of fat (beef tallow, fish oil, corn oil, linseed oil) at an equal proportion of 12% but with varied α-tocopheryl acetate additions (A: 80 mg/B: 500 mg/kg diet) were fed, was carried out with 200 carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). The carp in the control groups received a 12% greater hydratable cornstarch proportion instead of the fat addition. A total of 26 fatty acids were determined, of which the decanoic, docosanoic and cis-11-octadecenoic acid were demonstrated for the first time in carp. The different fat or carbohydrate additions influenced the fatty acid composition of the edible portion (muscle and skin) significantly. Analogous to the fat in the feed the greatest quantity of long-chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in the fish oil groups; feed groups with corn oil contained approximately 35% linoleic acid and feed groups with linseed oil approximately 32% linolenic acid (ω3). In contrast the groups with hydratable cornstarch and beef tallow were characterized by the high portion of oleic acid. The influence of the varied α-tocopheryl acetate additions was small overall. By means of the two-factorial variation of analysis, effects of the treatment was only shown for a few fatty acids (14: 0,18: 1ω7,20: 1ω9). On the basis of the resulting interactions between fat type and α-tocopheryl acetate addition, ist was indicated that predominantly for the more highly unsaturated fatty acids of the ω3 and ω6 series, the fatty acid pattern was not totally independent of the α-tocopheryl acetate content of the feed.     

序批式生物反应器好厌氧比对自生动态膜结构及成分的影响

分别在4种好氧厌氧时间比(3∶1,2 ∶1,1∶1,1∶2)的序批式操作条件下借助于电子显微镜、粒径分析仪、傅里叶红外光谱仪等分析手段对反应器内自生动态膜的结构及成分进行了研究.结果表明:形成的动态膜(dynamic membrane,DM)中滤饼层质量依次为38.12,40.27,42.84,44.73 g·m-2,...     

白苏子挥发性及半挥发性组分的化学成分及抗氧化活性

用同时蒸馏萃取法对甘肃产白苏子挥发性组分(VF)和半挥发组分(SVF)进行了提取,用GC-MS对以上两组分进行了分析,用超氧负离子自由基和DPPH自由基清除法进行了抗氧化活性实验。结果表明,VF的主要成分为水芹烯(相对质量分数5.72%),桉油精(6.58%),2-甲氧基苯酚(4.55%),丁香酚(6.13%),蒎烯(3.07%),紫苏酮(10.51%),n-十六酸(5.81%)等;SVF的主要成分为α-亚麻酸(16.21%),n-十六酸(4.11%),2-甲氧基苯酚(6.65%),α-亚油酸(4.44%)等;白苏子提取物对DPPH和超氧负离子自由基O2-.的清除作用呈量效关系;挥发油对超氧负离子自由基O2-.的清除作用的IC50值(0.030 5 g/L)比半挥发性组分IC50值(0.574 g/L)要低,存在显著性差异(t=2.93,p<0.05);挥发油对DPPH的清除作用的IC50(0.133 g/L)值比半挥发组分IC50值(2.75 g/L)要低,存在显著性差异(t=4.02,p<0.05)。研究结果表明白苏子是良好的天然抗氧化剂资源。     

Response of Corn Seedlings (Zea mays L.) to Different Concentrations of Nitrogen in Absence and Presence of Silicon

Silicon - Corn plants are highly demanding of nitrogen and the application of silicon has been studied because it minimizes stress from different natures, and for the better utilization of some...     

Comparing the Antileishmanial Activity of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Compounds in L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis in Vitro

Abstract : A series of mononuclear coordination or organometallic Au^I/Au^III complexes ( 1 – 9 ) have been comparatively studied in vitro for their antileishmanial activity against promastigotes and amastigotes, the clinically relevant parasite form, of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis. One of the cationic Au^I bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes ( 3 ) has low EC₅₀ values (ca. 4 μM) in promastigotes cells and no toxicity in host macrophages. Together with two other Au^III complexes ( 6 and 7 ), the compound is also extremely effective in intracellular amastigotes from L. amazonensis. Initial mechanistic studies include an evaluation of the gold complexes′ effect on L. amazonensis’ plasma membrane integrity.     

Reactions of Metal Ion Complexes with Lignin Model Compounds,Part II. Fe(TSPC) Catalyzed Formation of Oxidized Products in the Absence of Oxygen

The water soluble phthalocyanine complex trisodium tetra-4-sulfonatophthalocyanineiron(III) (Fe(TSPc)) was found to be an effective catalyst for the cleavage of the β-ether bonds in the phenolic lignin model compounds guaiacylglycol β-guaiacyl ether (1) and guaiacylglycerol β-guaiacyl ether (11). The products of these reactions were very different from those formed in the corresponding reactions catalyzed by anthraquinone (AQ) or Co(SPP).^1–4 In particular, they gave large quantities of oxidized products, even though the reactions were performed in the absence of oxygen or other added oxidant. Mechanisms have been proposed for the oxidation reactions involving 1 and 11. In both cases the first step involves one electron oxidation of the lignin model compound by the catalyst. The radical derived from 1 then undergoes further one electron oxidation and deprotonation to give 4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxy-l-(2″-methoxyphenoxy)acetophenone (8) whereas that derived from 11 undergoes Cα-Cβ bond cleavage to give vanillin (4). Reactions of the reduced form of the catalyst with 8 and the quinone methides produced from the phenolic models are important routes for guaiacol formation and regeneration of the oxidized form of the catalyst. The feasibility of these proposed reaction pathways was investigated by studying the reactions of the intermediate compounds with the catalyst.     

Chemical Composition and in Vitro Antifungal Activity Screening of the Allium ursinum L. (Liliaceae)

The objective of the study was to summarize the methods for isolating and identifying natural sulfur compounds from Allium ursinum (ramson) and to discuss the active constituents with regard to antifungal action. Using chromatographic techniques, the active constituents were isolated and subsequently identified. Analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) suggested that these compounds were sulfur constituents, with a characteristic absorbance at 250 nm. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses allowed the chemical structures of the isolated constituents to be postulated. We adopted the same methods to identify the health-giving profiling of ramsons and the effects are thought to be primarily derived from the presence and breakdown of the alk(en)ylcysteine sulphoxide, alliin and its subsequent breakdown to allicin (sulfur-compounds of ramson) in connection with antifungal action. The aim of the study was the characterization of the chemical composition of ramsons and the testing of the action of the in vitro extracts, on different strains of Candida albicans. The main goal was to highlight the most efficient extracts of Allium ursinum that can provide long-term antifungal activity without remissions. The extracts from Allium ursinum plants, inhibited growth of Candida spp. cells at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 4.0 mg/mL, while that of adherent cells at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to > 4.0 mg/mL, depending on the yeast and plant species.