Apoplast-Localized ß-Glucosidase Elevates Isoflavone Accumulation in the Soybean Rhizosphere.

Plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) are often stored as glycosides within cells and released from the roots with some chemical modifications. While isoflavones are known to function as symbiotic signals with rhizobia and to modulate the soybean rhizosphere microbiome, the underlying mechanisms of root-to-soil delivery are poorly understood. In addition to transporter-mediated secretion, the hydrolysis of isoflavone glycosides in the apoplast by an isoflavone conjugate-hydrolyzing ß-glucosidase (ICHG) has been proposed but not yet verified. To clarify the role of ICHG in isoflavone supply to the rhizosphere, we have isolated two independent mutants defective in ICHG activity from a soybean high-density mutant library. In the root apoplastic fraction of ichg mutants, the isoflavone glycoside contents were significantly increased, while isoflavone aglycone contents were decreased, indicating that ICHG hydrolyzes isoflavone glycosides into aglycones in the root apoplast. When grown in a field, the lack of ICHG activity considerably reduced isoflavone aglycone contents in roots and the rhizosphere soil, although the transcriptomes showed no distinct differences between the ichg mutants and wild-types (WTs). Despite the change in isoflavone contents and composition of the root and rhizosphere of the mutants, root and rhizosphere bacterial communities were not distinctive from those of the WTs. Root bacterial communities and nodulation capacities of the ichg mutants did not differ from the WTs under nitrogen-deficient conditions either. Taken together, these results indicate that ICHG elevates the accumulation of isoflavones in the soybean rhizosphere but is not essential for isoflavone-mediated plant-microbe interactions.

Long-term safety and efficacy of belimumab in Japanese patients with SLE: A 7-year open-label continuation study.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of belimumab in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: This was a subgroup analysis of Japanese patients who completed studies BEL113750 or BEL112341 and were enrolled in a Phase 3, open-label extension study (BEL114333; NCT01597622). Eligible patients received intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg every 28 days for ≤7 years. Primary endpoint: safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response rate, SRI-4 components, severe SLE flare, and use of corticosteroids/other SLE-related treatments. Analyses were based on observed data from first belimumab dose received in either parent or current study through to study end. RESULTS: Of 71 Japanese patients enrolled, 69.0% completed the study. Overall, 98.6% patients had adverse events (AEs); 32.4% had serious AEs. The proportion of SRI-4 responders increased progressively (Year 1, Week 24: 40.9% [27/66]; Year 7, Week 48: 84.6% [11/13]) as did the proportion of Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLE Disease Activity Index responders. The proportion of patients with no worsening in PGA (91.2-100.0%) and no new organ damage (92.6-100.0%) remained stable over time. Severe SLE flare was experienced by 11.3% (8/71) of patients. Corticosteroid and immunosuppressant use decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Favourable safety profile and treatment responses with belimumab were maintained for ≤7 years in Japanese patients with SLE.

Synthesis and Secretion of Isoflavones by Field-Grown Soybean.

Isoflavones play important roles in rhizosphere plant-microbe interactions. Daidzein and genistein secreted by soybean roots induce the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia and may modulate rhizosphere interactions with microbes. Yet despite their important roles, little is known about the biosynthesis, secretion and fate of isoflavones in field-grown soybeans. Here, we analyzed isoflavone contents and the expression of isoflavone biosynthesis genes in field-grown soybeans. In roots, isoflavone contents and composition did not change with crop growth, but the expression of UGT4, an isoflavone-specific 7-O-glucosyltransferase, and of ICHG (isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase) was decreased during the reproductive stages. Isoflavone contents were higher in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil during both vegetative and reproductive stages, and were comparable in the rhizosphere soil between these two stages. We analyzed the degradation dynamics of daidzein and its glucosides to develop a model for predicting rhizosphere isoflavone contents from the amount of isoflavones secreted in hydroponic culture. Conjugates of daidzein were degraded much faster than daidzein, with degradation rate constants of 8.51 d-1 for malonyldaidzin and 11.6 d-1 for daidzin, vs. 9.15 × 10-2 d-1 for daidzein. The model suggested that secretion of isoflavones into the rhizosphere is higher during vegetative stages than during reproductive stages in field-grown soybean.

Influence of riders' skill on plasma cortisol levels of horses walking on forest and field trekking courses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of rider's skill on the plasma cortisol levels of trekking horses on two courses, walking on field and forest courses (about 4.5 to 5.1 km each). Three riders of different skills did horse trekking (HT) in a tandem line under a fixed order: advanced-leading, beginner-second and intermediate-last. A total of six horses were used and they experienced all positions in both courses; a total of 12 experiments were done. Blood samples were obtained before HT, immediately after and 2 h after HT. As a control, additional blood samples were obtained from the same horses on non-riding days. Irrespective of the course and the rider's skill, the cortisol level before HT was higher than that of control (P < 0.05). In both courses, the cortisol levels immediately after HT ridden by the advanced rider were higher than that of control (P < 0.05). However, in every case, the cortisol level 2 h after HT was closely similar to the level of the control. Thus, we concluded the stress of trekking horse was not sufficient to disturb the circadian rhythm of the cortisol level, irrespective of the course and the rider's skill.

Developmental and nutritional regulation of isoflavone secretion from soybean roots.

Isoflavones play important roles in plant-microbe interactions in rhizospheres. Soybean roots secrete daidzein and genistein to attract rhizobia. Despite the importance of isoflavones in plant-microbe interactions, little is known about the developmental and nutritional regulation of isoflavone secretion from soybean roots. In this study, soybeans were grown in hydroponic culture, and isoflavone contents in tissues, isoflavone secretion from the roots, and the expression of isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase (ICHG) were investigated. Isoflavone contents did not show strong growth-dependent changes, while secretion of daidzein from the roots dramatically changed, with higher secretion during vegetative stages. Coordinately, the expression of ICHG also peaked at vegetative stages. Nitrogen deficiency resulted in 8- and 15-fold increases in secretion of daidzein and genistein, respectively, with no induction of ICHG. Taken together, these results suggest that large amounts of isoflavones were secreted during vegetative stages via the hydrolysis of (malonyl)glucosides with ICHG.

Asymmetric meso-aziridine ring-opening reactions using a chiral zirconium catalyst.

A chiral zirconium catalyst prepared from Zr(O(t)Bu)4 and a chiral tridentate BINOL was found to be effective for asymmetric meso-aziridine ring-opening reactions with aniline derivatives. The N-benzhydryl group on the product obtained was easily cleaved to give the corresponding amine in high yield under reductive conditions.

Enhancement of endotoxin-induced vascular hyporeactivity to phenylephrine in the thoracic aortas of Mg-deficient rats ex vivo.

Since endotoxin lethality is enhanced by Mg deficiency in animals, we determined whether endotoxin-induced vascular hyporeactivity to phenylephrine (PE) is enhanced in Mg-deficient rats. Normal and Mg-deficient adult male Wistar rats were injected with Escherichia coli 011: B4 lipopolysaccharide (1 or 5 mg/kg, i.p.). Six h later, rings prepared from their thoracic aortas showed severe hyporeactivity to PE. This was more pronounced in the Mg-deficient rats, and was reversed by in vitro treatment with a highly selective inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, 1400 W, or a highly selective soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, ODQ. However, reversal required high doses of both inhibitors in Mg-deficient rats. Endotoxemia for 6 h was associated with elevated serum interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels, and strong TNF receptor mRNA expression in the abdominal aortas, which were significantly greater in the Mg-deficient rats. Treatment of the thoracic aortas, isolated from control and Mg-deficient rats before endotoxic challenge, with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha for 6 h in vitro caused hyporeactivity to PE, but its severity did not differ significantly between the two groups. These results suggest that high serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels, and increased TNF receptor production in the vascular tissue, contribute to vascular hyporeactivity to PE in endotoxemia, and to its enhancement in Mg-deficient rats, via NO/cGMP signaling.