Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations of Brassica nigra Introgression Lines from Somatic Hybridization: A Resource for Cauliflower Improvement.

Broad phenotypic variations were obtained previously in derivatives from the asymmetric somatic hybridization of cauliflower "Korso" (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, 2n = 18, CC genome) and black mustard "G1/1" (Brassica nigra, 2n = 16, BB genome). However, the mechanisms underlying these variations were unknown. In this study, 28 putative introgression lines (ILs) were pre-selected according to a series of morphological (leaf shape and color, plant height and branching, curd features, and flower traits) and physiological (black rot/club root resistance) characters. Multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that these plants contained 18 chromosomes derived from "Korso." Molecular marker (65 simple sequence repeats and 77 amplified fragment length polymorphisms) analysis identified the presence of "G1/1" DNA segments (average 7.5%). Additionally, DNA profiling revealed many genetic and epigenetic differences among the ILs, including sequence alterations, deletions, and variation in patterns of cytosine methylation. The frequency of fragments lost (5.1%) was higher than presence of novel bands (1.4%), and the presence of fragments specific to Brassica carinata (BBCC 2n = 34) were common (average 15.5%). Methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism analysis indicated that methylation changes were common and that hypermethylation (12.4%) was more frequent than hypomethylation (4.8%). Our results suggested that asymmetric somatic hybridization and alien DNA introgression induced genetic and epigenetic alterations. Thus, these ILs represent an important, novel germplasm resource for cauliflower improvement that can be mined for diverse traits of interest to breeders and researchers.

[DNA barcoding and its utility in commonly-used medicinal snakes].

Identification accuracy of traditional Chinese medicine is crucial for the traditional Chinese medicine research, production and application. DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial gene coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), are more and more used for identification of traditional Chinese medicine. Using universal barcoding primers to sequence, we discussed the feasibility of DNA barcoding method for identification commonly-used medicinal snakes (a total of 109 samples belonging to 19 species 15 genera 6 families). The phylogenetic trees using Neighbor-joining were constructed. The results indicated that the mean content of G + C(46.5%) was lower than that of A + T (53.5%). As calculated by Kimera-2-parameter model, the mean intraspecies genetic distance of Trimeresurus albolabris, Ptyas dhumnades and Lycodon rufozonatus was greater than 2%. Further phylogenetic relationship results suggested that identification of one sample of T. albolabris was erroneous. The identification of some samples of P. dhumnades was also not correct, namely originally P. korros was identified as P. dhumnades. Factors influence on intraspecific genetic distance difference of L. rufozonatus need to be studied further. Therefore, DNA barcoding for identification of medicinal snakes is feasible, and greatly complements the morphological classification method. It is necessary to further study in identification of traditional Chinese medicine.

[DNA barcoding of COI gene in some medicinal animals of Lacertilia].

To identify some medicinal animals of Lacertilia, in total 59 individuals belonging to 12 species 7 genera 3 families, we used the universal barcoding primers to sequence these species, compared with other homologous sequences (564 bp) obtaining from the GenBank and finally constructed phylogenetic trees using Neighbor-joining, Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference, respectively. As a result, the mean content of G + C (46.5%) was lower than that of A + T (53.5%). As calculated by Kimera-2-parameter model, the whole individuals mean distance for interspecies and intraspecies was 35. 5% and 1.7%, respectively. The mean distance for interspecies was 21 times as much as that for intraspecies. The mean distance for intraspecies of Gekko swinhonis, Hemidactylus frenatus and G. gecko was greater than 2%, respectively. Further analyses suggested that geographical groups of the three species might be of different subSpecies, even species. Of course, incorporating morphological characters and other unlinked genetic markers in future studies will offer further insights into the divergence. On the basis of phylogenetic trees constructed by COI, our results indicated that the taxonomy of the category (family, genus, and species) by DNA barcoding is consistent with morphological characters. Therefore, DNA barcoding is a useful tool for both identification and phylogeny of medicinal animals of Lacertilia, particularly for nonprofessor identifying authentication of Chinese crude drugs of these species.

[Prime study of Gekko gecko in HPLC fingerprint].

OBJECTIVE: To establish HPLC fingerprint of Gekko gecko. METHODS: The relative retention time and relative peak area of exteacts of Gekko gecko were determine by HPLC to confirm proper chromatographic condition and obtain the data. RESULTS: Better distribution of relative retention time and relative peak area were shown under the chromatographic condition and the HPLC fingerprint was established. CONCLUSION: The established HPLC fingerprints of Gekko gecko can be used to identify Gekko gecko and its quality control.

Characterization of Quin-C1 for its anti-inflammatory property in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced lung injury.

AIM: To study the in vivo effects of Quin-C1, a highly specific agonist for formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX), in a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury. METHODS: Male ICR mice were injected intratracheally with BLM (d 0), and intraperitoneally with Quin-C1 (0.2 mg/d) or vehicle between d 1 and d 28, during which pulmonary inflammation was monitored. A similar regimen was carried out between d 5 and d 28 to differentiate anti-inflammatory from anti-fibrotic effects. During the treatment, leukocyte numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted, and FPR2/ALX transcripts, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), the mouse keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) expression levels in the lung tissue were also measured. Both hydroxyproline content and histological changes were examined on d 28 to assess the severity of lung fibrosis. RESULTS: BLM caused a significant increase in expression levels of all the selected cytokines and chemokines, as well as a thickening of the alveolar wall. Treatment with Quin-C1 significantly reduced the neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in BALF, diminished expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, KC, and TGF-ß1, and decreased collagen deposition in lung tissue. The treatment also lowered the content of lung hydroxyproline. Quin-C1 did not ameliorate lung fibrosis when the treatment was started 5 d after the BLM challenge, suggesting that the protection may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory effects. Exposure to BLM or BLM plus Quin-C1 did not change the level of FPR2/ALX transcripts (mFpr1, mFpr2, and Lxa4r) in the lung tissue. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate an anti-inflammatory role for Quin-C1 in bleomycin-induced lung injury, which may be further explored for therapeutic applications.

Rhodanine derivatives as novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists.

AIM: To characterize the in vitro bioactivities of rhodanine derivatives as novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma modulators, based on a hit (SH00012671) identified during high-throughput screening (HTS) of a diverse synthetic compound library, and to preliminarily elucidate the structure-activity relationship of this class of PPARgamma agonists. METHODS: Full-length PPARgamma and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha), biotinylated PPAR response element (PPRE), [3H]BRL49653 (rosiglitazone), and streptavidin-coated FlashPlate or microbeads were used to measure the receptor-binding properties of various compounds based on the scintillation proximity assay (SPA) technology. A recombinant PPRE vector was transiently cotransfected with PPARgamma and RXRalpha plasmids into the African green monkey kidney (CV-1) cells, and the effects of BRL49653 and test compounds on transcription mediated by PPARgamma were determined by examining luciferase (reporter) responses. 3T3-L1 cells were employed to determine whether the compounds facilitated adipogenesis upon PPARgamma activation. RESULTS: Of the 16,000 samples screened with the SPA method, only 1 compound (SH00012671) displayed a similar binding affinity (Ki=186.7 nmol/L) to PPARgamma as BRL49653, but it was inactive in the cell-based assays. A series of rhodanine derivatives were synthesized based on the core structure of SH00012671 and 8 of them showed agonist activities in both cotransfection and pre-adipocyte differentiation assays. To reduce intrinsic cytotoxicities, the sulphur on the rhodanine was changed to oxygen. This alteration led to a decrease in receptor-binding affinities while modified analogues generally maintained agonist efficacies in the cell-based assays. Of the analogues studied, compound 31 exhibited about 70% the efficacy exerted by BRL49653 in both cotransfection and pre-adipocyte differentiation assays. CONCLUSION: Through minor chemical modifications on the core structure of the initial HTS hit, SH00012671 was transformed to possess both molecular (PPARgamma binding) and cellular (adipogenesis) activities. The rhodanine derivatives reported here may represent a new scaffold in further understanding the molecular mechanism of agonism at PPARgamma.

[Embryogenesis of microspore derived multicells in Capsicum annuum L].

Microspores and derived multicells were isolated and cultured in modified liquid CP medium after a 15d's preculture of anthers on solidified medium. Thirty days later in suspension culture, at 28 degrees C dark condition embryoids with different developmental stages were formed. Up to 22 embryoids could be formed from the cell suspension of 12 anthers, and about 23% of the embryoids were at the cotyledonary stage. Fluorescence and light microscope observations revealed that these embryoids derived from microspores. After several symmetrical division of the nuclei of uninucleated microspores, multi-nuclei cells or multi-cells were formed, and developed further into embryoids. There were white hairs on the surface of pepper embryoids, and some embryoids showed low vigor while others showed normal by TTC staining. Plants could be formed from torpedo and cotyledonary stage embryoids on solidified medium. Embryoids could be induced by 7 degrees C, 32 degrees C or 35 degrees C stress treatment on anthers, Higher embryogenesis frequencies were got at 7 degrees C and 35 degrees C condition in anther culture while 35 degrees C and 32 degrees C treatment showed a higher embryogenesis in isolated multicell culture. The reason of this result was discussed. There were obvious differences in embryogenesis frequency among different genotypes and different temperature stress conditions. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that there were haploidy, doubled haploidy and haploid-diploid chimera in the regenerated plants.