ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of Nepeta cataria as a host with specific endogenous metabolite background for transient expression and metabolic engineering of secondary biosynthetic sequences. RESULTS: The reporter gene gfp::licBM3 as well as three biosynthetic genes leading to the formation of the cannabinoid precursor olivetolic acid were adopted to the modular cloning standard GoldenBraid, transiently expressed in two chemotypes of N. cataria and compared to Nicotiana benthamiana. To estimate the expression efficiency in both hosts, quantification of the reporter activity was carried out with a sensitive and specific lichenase assay. While N. benthamiana exhibited lichenase activity of 676 ± 94 µmol g-1 s-1, N. cataria cultivar '1000', and the cultivar 'Citriodora' showed an activity of 37 ± 8 µmol g-1 s-1 and 18 ± 4 µmol g-1 s-1, respectively. Further, combinatorial expression of genes involved in cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway acyl-activating enzyme 1 (aae1), olivetol synthase (ols) and olivetolic acid cyclase (oac) in N. cataria cv. resulted presumably in the in vivo production of olivetolic acid glycosides. CONCLUSION: Nepeta cataria is amenable to Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression and could serve as a novel chassis for the engineering of secondary metabolic pathways and transient evaluation of heterologous genes.
ABSTRACT
Systemic neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid are increasingly applied against insect pest infestations on forest trees. However, leaves falling from treated trees may reach nearby surface waters and potentially represent a neonicotinoid exposure source for aquatic invertebrates. Given imidacloprid's susceptibility towards photolysis and high water solubility, it was hypothesized that the leaves' toxicity might be modulated by UV-irradiation during decay on the forest floor, or by leaching and re-mobilization of the insecticide from leaves within the aquatic ecosystem. To test these hypotheses, the amphipod shredder Gammarus fossarum was fed (over 7â¯d; nâ¯=â¯30) with imidacloprid-contaminated black alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves that had either been pre-treated (i.e., leached) in water for up to 7â¯d or UV-irradiated for 1â¯d (at intensities relevant during autumn in Central Europe) followed by a leaching duration of 1â¯d. Gammarids' feeding rate, serving as sublethal response variable, was reduced by up to 80% when consuming non-pretreated imidacloprid-contaminated leaves compared to imidacloprid-free leaves. Moreover, both leaching of imidacloprid from leaves (for 7â¯d) as well as UV-irradiation reduced the leaves' imidacloprid load (by 46 and 90%) thereby mitigating the effects on gammarids' feeding rate to levels comparable to the respective imidacloprid-free controls. Therefore, natural processes, such as UV-irradiation and re-mobilization of foliar insecticide residues in water, might be considered when evaluating the risks systemic insecticide applications in forests might pose for aquatic organisms in nearby streams.
Subject(s)
Amphipoda/physiology , Insecticides/toxicity , Neonicotinoids/toxicity , Nitro Compounds/toxicity , Ultraviolet Rays , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Animals , Aquatic Organisms , Ecosystem , Europe , Imidazoles/toxicity , Invertebrates , Pesticide Residues , Plant Leaves , Rivers , TreesABSTRACT
Four tethered titanocene complexes were covalently immobilized onto 3-mercaptopropyl-functionalized silica gel. We have investigated the influence of the length of the tether and of the ansa-bridge on the activity in the heterogeneous hydrosilylation of the cyclic imine 2-phenylpyrroline, taken as an illustrative example. Possible metal leaching during the reaction was investigated using ICP/OES, recycling studies and the three-phase test. The novel immobilized catalysts exhibit an activity similar to their homogeneous analogues in the tested hydrosilylation reactions with a TOF of ~20 h(-1). Furthermore, our results indicate that metal leaching is negligible under the applied reaction conditions.
