Plant N-acylethanolamines play a crucial role in defense and its variation in response to elevated CO2 and temperature in tomato.

The ubiquitous lipid-derived molecules N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) have multiple immune functions in mammals, but their roles and mechanisms in plant defense response during changing environment remain largely unclear. Here, we found that exogenous NAE18:0 and NAE18:2 promoted defense against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea but suppressed defense to the hemi-biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 in tomato. The knocking-down and overexpression function analysis of the pathogen-responsive NAE synthetic gene PHOSPHOLIPASE Dγ (PLDγ) and hydrolytic gene FATTY ACID AMID HYDROLASE 1 (FAAH1) revealed that the NAE pathway is crucial for plant defense response. Using exogenous applications and SA-abolished NahG plants, we unveiled the antagonistic relationship between NAE and SA in plant defense response. Elevated CO2 and temperature significantly changed the NAE pathway in response to pathogens, while inhibition of the NAE pathway led to the alternation of environment-mediated defense variations against Pst DC3000 in tomato, indicating that NAE pathway is associated with plant defense variations in response to elevated CO2 and temperature. The results herein reveal a new function of NAE in plant defense, and its involvement in environment-mediated defense variation in tomato. These findings shed light on the NAE-based plant defense, which may have relevance to crop disease management in future changing climate.

Development of a GeXP-Based Multiplex RT-PCR Assay for Detection of Long Noncoding RNA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay based on the GenomeLab™ GeXP Genetic Analysis System (GeXP) for detection of long noncoding RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From PubMed database articles published between 2011 and 2016, we selected 8 kinds of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) related to HCC. Further, we examined 23 pairs of HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues, using the optimized GeXP multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: The expression level of lncRNA NEAT1, H19, MALAT1, HOTAIR, DANCR, UCA1, and BCAR4 were significantly decreased, compared with that in adjacent noncancerous tissues (all P <.05). The expression level of lncRNA GAS5 was statistically significantly increased (P <.05). For the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay, 8 kinds of lncRNAs were detected as a result of the GeXP assay. CONCLUSIONS: The GeXP-based multiplex RT-PCR assay may be used as an alternative method for assisting in the histopathological diagnosis of HCC in liver lesions.

Induction of systemic resistance in tomato against Botrytis cinerea by N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone via jasmonic acid signaling.

MAIN CONCLUSION: N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone activates plant systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea in tomato plants, which is largely dependent on jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. Rhizosphere bacteria secrete N-acylated-homoserine lactones (AHLs), a type of specialized quorum-sensing signal molecule, to coordinate their population density during communication with their eukaryotic hosts. AHLs behave as low molecular weight ligands that are sensed by plants and promote the host's resistance against foliar pathogens. In this study, we report on N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone (DHL), which is a type of AHL that induces systemic immunity in tomato plants and protects the host organism against the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Upon DHL treatment, tomato endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis (rather than salicylic acid biosynthesis) and signal transduction were significantly activated. Strikingly, the DHL-induced systemic resistance against B. cinerea was blocked in the tomato JA biosynthesis mutant spr2 and JA signaling gene-silenced plants. Our findings highlight the role of DHL in systemic resistance against economically important necrotrophic pathogens and suggest that DHL-induced immunity against B. cinerea is largely dependent on the JA signaling pathway. Manipulation of DHL-induced resistance is an attractive disease management strategy that could potentially be used to enhance disease resistance in diverse plant species.

Tomato photorespiratory glycolate-oxidase-derived H2 O2 production contributes to basal defence against Pseudomonas syringae.

Despite being essential for C3 plants, photorespiration is believed to cause a significant crop yield loss even under future climates. However, how photorespiration affects plant basal defence still remains largely unknown. Here, we studied the involvement of photorespiration in tomato-Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 interaction focusing on three photorespiratory genes. Inoculation with P. syringae increased photorespiration rate (Pr) and expression of glycolate oxidase (GOX2), serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (SGT) and serine hydroxyl methyltransferase (SHMT1); however, inhibition of photorespiration by isonicotinic acid hydrazide decreased tomato basal defence against P. syringae. Furthermore, silencing of GOX2, SGT or SHMT1 genes in tomato decreased Pr but increased susceptibility to P. syringae, whereas transient overexpression of GOX2, SGT or SHMT1 in tobacco increased basal defence. Further study revealed that salicylic acid (SA) signalling is involved in GOX2-mediated, SGT-mediated and SHMT1-mediated defence. Moreover, H2 O2 pretreatment remarkably alleviated the GOX2 silencing-induced depression in basal defence and SA signalling, whereas it had no effect on that of SGT-silenced and SHMT1-silenced plants. Taken together, these results suggest that H2 O2 is critical for GOX2-modulated but not SGT-modulated or SHMT1-modulated SA signalling and subsequent basal defence against P. syringae. This work deepens the understanding of photorespiration-involved defence responses to bacterial attack in plants.

Confirmation of the abnormal lipid metabolism as a risk factor for the disease of leukoaraiosis.

Our purpose is to screen out medical history indicators and test indicators linked to lipid metabolism which is closely correlated to leukoaraiosis (LA), and to build assistant diagnosis model based on support vector machine (SVM), which provided theoretical evidence for genesis and development of LA. One thousand LA patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in Imaging Department was retrospectively analyzed and divided into LA group and non-LA group in accordance with examination results. Detailed clinical statistics of the two groups were collected, including test indicators related to lipid metabolism, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), medical history indicators, age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, history of intracranial infection, history of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, lacunar infarction and relevant biochemical indexes. The study shows that patients' incidence of LA was 31.10%; in accordance with Logistic analysis, the incidence of LA is significantly correlated to factors like age, hypertension, history of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, lacunar infarction and triglyceride elevation; two SVMs, one including all variables and the other containing all screened variables were successfully established, and the former's accuracy, specificity and sensitivity respectively were 85.0%, 85.0% and 85.0% while the latter's 90.0%, 100.0% and 80.0%. Test indicators and medical history indicators of lipid metabolism correlated to LA were screened out successfully. Meanwhile, an effective SVM model also was built successfully, which is able to predict LA relatively accurately and can be used as assistant diagnostic tool for clinicians.

[Analysis of polysaccharide and lipid components of cinnamomi cortex by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To study the polysaccharide and lipid components of Cinnamomi Cortex by GC-MS and provide experimental evidence for its exploitation. METHODS: The polysaccharide components of Cinnamomi Cortex were extracted,and hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and followed by adding hydroxylamine hydrochloride, pyridine and acetic anhydride acetylation for reaction. After that, spectrometry of polysaccharides was measured by GC-MS. Lipid components were esterified and identified by GC-MS. RESULTS: 6 kinds of polysaccharide components were identified by GC-MS. D-glucofuranose accounted for 38.64%, which was the most proportion. 13 kinds of fatty acids were identified, accounted for 72.68% in total lipids. 5 kinds of unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 13.83% and 8 saturated fatty acids accounted for 58.85%. CONCLUSION: There are many kinds of polysaccharide and lipid components in Cinnamomi Cortex and GC-MS can analyze the polysaccharide and lipid components of Cinnamomi Cortex effectively.

[Screen anti-influenza virus serum marker of Lonicera japonica by proteomics technology].

OBJECTIVE: The candidate anti-influenza virus serum marker of Lonicera japonica was searched by comparing the serum protein discrepancy of experimental groups. It will provide the basis for setting forth the action and mechanism of anti-influenza virus. METHOD: Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to separate different experimental groups and the differences in serum protein was compared. The significantly expressed protein spots was selected for mass spectrum identification and bioinformatics analysis. RESULT: Fifteen identified points of protein have more typical differences between experimental groups. The structures were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS, and 12 functional protein component ownership were retrieved. CONCLUSION: There was significant difference between the serum protein of experimental groups Proteomic methods can be used to select and identify the serum marker. It is expected to clarify the mechanism of anti-influenza virus of L. japonica.

Ginsenoside Rb1 in asymmetric somatic hybrid calli of Daucus carota with Panax quinquefolius.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is one of the most valuable herbs in the world. Its major active components are ginsenosides. In order to produce ginsenoside heterogeneously, somatic hybridization, a novel approach for genetic introgression, was employed in this study. Protoplasts derived from respective calli of carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus Hoffm.) and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius L.) were used as the fusion partners. Hybrid calli derived from single cell lines containing chromatin of American ginseng were confirmed by the analyses of isozyme, Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed that the ginseng monomer Rb(1) was synthesized in seven of the hybrid calli identified as well as in the parent American ginseng calli but not in the parent carrot calli. Results indicated that hybrid introgression lines could produce ginsenoside Rb(1) and the ginsenoside Rb(1) biosynthesis pathway has been introgressed into carrot cells via somatic hybridization. From the point of biosafety view concerning the consumer acceptance, the potential predominance to produce ginsenosides with somatic hybridization other than with genetic transformation is discussed.

[Optimal process of Flos Lonicerae in producing area--kill-enzyme torrefaction].

OBJECTIVE: To search for the optimal process of Flos Lonicerae in producing area, in order to offer scientific and applied process method for steadying the quality of Flos Lonicerae. METHODS: To summarize and use for reference the reported process method, searching for the relativity of different processes and quality. RESULTS: The content of Chlorogenic Acid in kill-enzyme torrefaction sample was 12. 8% higher than directly dried in the sun and 24.9% higher than dried in the shade. The content of Luteolin-7-glu in kill-enzyme torrefaction sample was 7.8% higher than the directly dried in the sun and 54.3% higher than dried in the shade. CONCLUSION: At present, kill-enzyme torrefaction is the optimal process of Flos Lonicerae in producing area It is an important technology in GAP large-scale of Flos Lonicerae.

[Study on the relativity between cultivated varieties and quality of Radix Glehniae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between different cultivated varieties and quality of Radix Glehniae. METHODS: Polysaccharide, imperatorin and extractives in different varieties were detected according to document and Chinese Pharmacopeia. RESULTS: Each content of soluble carbohydrate, rough polysaccharide, total carbohydrate, water extractives and alcohol extractives in Baitiao is significantly higher than that in other two varieties (P < 0. 05). The content of imperatorin is highest in Dahongpao P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is more effective for Baitiao to restrain humor immunity,cell immunity and the overgrowth of T and B cells. Dahongpao is dominani as sedative, spasmolytic and abti-asthmatic.

[Somatic hybridization between carrot and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium and esteras isoenzyme analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To transfer the effective elements of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium into carrot, and provide theoretical data for the exploitation, improvement and selection of the germplasm of Chinese medicinal plants. METHOD: The protoplasta of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium irradiated by ultraviolet light (UV) at an intensity of 300 microW.(cm2)-1 for 0, 1, 2 min respectively were fused with those of carrot Fisch by PEG method. The regenerated clones, derived form a single fused cell, were examined for their hybrid nature by phenotype and Esterase isoenzyme analysis. RESULT: Nine clones were identified as the somatic hybrids between B. scorzonerifolium and carrot. CONCLUSION: This provides a firm foundation for the further analysis of the main active components saikosaponin of somatic hybrids and the screening out of high-medicine-content hybrid cell lines.

[Study on the electrophoresis finger-prints of three groups of traditional Chinese drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To identify three groups of traditional Chinese drugs by electrophoresis finger-prints. METHODS: The 3 groups of drugs of different species or varieties were analyzed by protein, peroxidase(POD) isozyme and esterase (ES) isozyme polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. And their finger-prints were established. RESULTS: Not less than one kind of electrophoresis finger-prints has significant difference between the drugs of each group, which can be used to distinguish all the species in this group. CONCLUSIONS: Different species even different varieties of traditional Chinese drugs can be identified accurately with proper electrophoresis finger-prints.