Transcriptional regulations of pollen tube reception are associated with the fertility of the ginger species Zingiber zerumbet and Zingiber corallinum.

Zingiber zerumbet and Zingiber corallinum are economically valuable species in the genus Zingiber. While Z. corallinum is sexually active, Z. zerumbet adopts clonal propagation, although it has the potential for sexual reproduction. It is unclear so far at which step during the sexual reproduction of Z. zerumbet inhibition occurs, and what are the regulatory mechanisms underlying this inhibition. Here, by comparing with the fertile species Z. corallinum using microscopy-based methods, we show that rare differences were observed in Z. zerumbet up to the point when the pollen tubes invaded the ovules. However, a significantly higher percentage of ovules still contained intact pollen tubes 24 h after pollination, suggesting pollen tube rupture was impaired in this species. Further RNA-seq analysis generated accordant results, showing that the transcription of ANX and FER, as well as genes for the partners in the same complexes (e.g., BUPS and LRE, respectively), and those putative peptide signals (e.g., RALF34), were timely activated in Z. corallinum, which ensured the pollen tubes being able to grow, reorient to ovules, and receipt by embryo sacs. In Z. zerumbet, genes for these complexes were cooperatively suppressed, which would result in the maintenance of PT integrity due to the disruption of RALF34-ANX/BUPS signaling in PT and the failure of PT reception by an active synergid due to the insufficiency of the synergid-harbored FER/LRE complex. Taking the results from the cytological and RNA-seq studies together, a model is proposed to illustrate the possible regulation mechanisms in Z. zerumbet and Z. corallinum, in which the regulations for pollen tube rupture and reception are proposed as the barrier for sexual reproduction in Z. zerumbet.

Cytochemical and comparative transcriptome analyses elucidate the formation and ecological adaptation of three types of pollen coat in Zingiberaceae.

BACKGROUND: The pollen ornate surface of flowering plants has long fascinated and puzzled evolutionary biologists for their variety. Each pollen grain is contained within a pollen wall consisting of intine and exine, over which the lipoid pollen coat lies. The cytology and molecular biology of the development of the intine and exine components of the pollen wall are relatively well characterised. However, little is known about the pollen coat, which confers species specificity. We demonstrate three types of pollen coat in Zingiberaceae, a mucilage-like pollen coat and a gum-like pollen coat, along with a pollen coat more typical of angiosperms. The morphological differences between the three types of pollen coat and the related molecular mechanisms of their formation were studied using an integrative approach of cytology, RNA-seq and positive selection analysis. RESULTS: Contrary to the 'typical' pollen coat, in ginger species with a mucilage-like (Caulokaempferia coenobialis, Cco) or gum-like (Hornstedtia hainanensis, Hhn) pollen coat, anther locular fluid was still present at the bicellular pollen (BCP) stage of development. Nevertheless, there were marked differences between these species: there were much lower levels of anther locular fluid in Hhn at the BCP stage and it contained less polysaccharide, but more lipid, than the locular fluid of Cco. The set of specific highly-expressed (SHE) genes in Cco was enriched in the 'polysaccharide metabolic process' annotation term, while 'fatty acid degradation' and 'metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides' were significantly enriched in SHE-Hhn. CONCLUSIONS: Our cytological and comparative transcriptome analysis showed that different types of pollen coat depend on the residual amount and composition of anther locular fluid at the BCP stage. The genes involved in 'polysaccharide metabolism' and 'transport' in the development of a mucilage-like pollen coat and in 'lipid metabolism' and 'transport' in the development of a gum-like pollen coat probably evolved under positive selection in both cases. We suggest that the shift from a typical pollen coat to a gum-like or mucilage-like pollen coat in flowering plants is an adaptation to habitats with high humidity and scarcity of pollinators.

Leaf epidermal micromorphology of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) from China and its systematic significance.

Leaf epidermal characteristics are important for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of many plants, but there is currently insufficient such data for this application in Zingiber species. Therefore, the leaf epidermal micromorphology of 22 species in three sections of Zingiber was investigated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Differences between various taxonomic groups of Zingiberaceae were also compared to assess their phylogenetic and taxonomic significance. As in other genera of Zingiberaceae, the epidermal cells in both the adaxial and abaxial epidermis of Zingiber species were found to be hexagonal or polygonal, with non-sinuous anticlinal walls that are arranged parallel to leaf veins. Tetracytic stomata are mostly randomly distributed in the intercostal regions of both surfaces and are more common on the abaxial surface. The stomatal density of the species in sect. Pleuranthesis is significantly lower than that in sects. Zingiber and Cryptanthium. There are two types of trichome in Zingiber: so-called "delicate" trichomes are present in most species, while "stout" trichomes with a swollen base are only found in Z.corallinum and Z.montanum. Oil cells occur in both epidermal layers of some species in sects. Zingiber and Cryptanthium, but only in the abaxial epidermis of Z.ellipticum in sect. Pleuranthesis. Crystals are found in the abaxial epidermis only in all species, but are present in both epidermal layers of Z.corallinum and Z.montanum. Although the epidermal morphology is similar in most Zingiber species, stomatal density, type of trichome and distribution of oil cells and crystals offer valuable information for the systematic and taxonomic studies in this genus.

Population genetic structure and connectivity of a riparian selfing herb Caulokaempferia coenobialis at a fine-scale geographic level in subtropical monsoon forest.

BACKGROUND: Rivers and streams facilitate movement of individuals and their genes across the landscape and are generally recognized as dispersal corridors for riparian plants. Nevertheless, some authors have reported directly contrasting results, which may be attributed to a complex mixture of factors, such as the mating system and dispersal mechanisms of propagules (seed and pollen), that make it difficult to predict the genetic diversity and population structure of riparian species. Here, we investigated a riparian self-fertilizing herb Caulokaempferia coenobialis, which does not use anemochory or zoochory for seed dispersal; such studies could contribute to an improved understanding of the effect of rivers or streams on population genetic diversity and structure in riparian plants. Using polymorphic ISSR and cpDNA loci, we studied the effect at a microgeographic scale of different stream systems (a linear stream, a dendritic stream, and complex transverse hydrological system) in subtropical monsoon forest on the genetic structure and connectivity of C. coenobialis populations across Dinghu Mountain (DH) and Nankun Mountain (NK). RESULTS: The results indicate that the most recent haplotypes (DH: H7, H8; NK: h6, h7, h11, h12) are not shared among local populations of C. coenobialis within each stream system. Furthermore, downstream local populations do not accumulate genetic diversity, whether in the linear streamside local populations across DH (H: 0.091 vs 0.136) or the dendritic streamside local populations across NK (H: 0.079 vs 0.112, 0.110). Our results show that the connectivity of local C. coenobialis populations across DH and NK can be attributed to historical gene flows, resulting in a lack of spatial genetic structure, despite self-fertilization. Selfing C. coenobialis can maintain high genetic diversity (H = 0.251; I = 0.382) through genetic differentiation (GST = 0.5915; FST = 0.663), which is intensified by local adaptation and neutral mutation and/or genetic drift in local populations at a microgeographic scale. CONCLUSION: We suggest that streams are not acting as corridors for dispersal of C. coenobialis, and conservation strategies for maintaining genetic diversity of selfing species should be focused on the protection of all habitat types, especially isolated fragments in ecosystem processes.

Genetic variation and population structure of clonal Zingiber zerumbet at a fine geographic scale: a comparison with two closely related selfing and outcrossing Zingiber species.

BACKGROUND: There has always been controversy over whether clonal plants have lower genetic diversity than plants that reproduce sexually. These conflicts could be attributed to the fact that few studies have taken into account the mating system of sexually reproducing plants and their phylogenetic distance. Moreover, most clonal plants in these previous studies regularly produce sexual progeny. Here, we describe a study examining the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation within and between local populations of fully clonal Zingiber zerumbet at a microgeographical scale and compare the results with data for the closely related selfing Z. corallinum and outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. Such studies could disentangle the phylogenetic and sexually reproducing effect on genetic variation of clonal plants, and thus contribute to an improved understanding in the clonally reproducing effects on genetic diversity and population structure. RESULTS: The results revealed that the level of local population genetic diversity of clonal Z. zerumbet was comparable to that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum and significantly higher than that of selfing Z. corallinum. However, the level of microgeographic genetic diversity of clonal Z. zerumbet is comparable to that of selfing Z. corallinum and even slightly higher than that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. The genetic differentiation among local populations of clonal Z. zerumbet was significantly lower than that of selfing Z. corallinum, but higher than that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. A stronger spatial genetic structure appeared within local populations of Z. zerumbet compared with selfing Z. corallinum and outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that fully clonal plants are able not only to maintain a high level of within-population genetic diversity like outcrossing plants, but can also maintain a high level of microgeographic genetic diversity like selfing plant species, probably due to the accumulation of somatic mutations and absence of a capacity for sexual reproduction. We suggest that conservation strategies for the genetic diversity of clonal and selfing plant species should be focused on the protection of all habitat types, especially fragments within ecosystems, while maintenance of large populations is a key to enhance the genetic diversity of outcrossing species.

Genetic variation and genetic structure within metapopulations of two closely related selfing and outcrossing Zingiber species (Zingiberaceae).

Habitat fragmentation strongly affects the genetic diversity of plant populations, and this has always attracted much research interest. Although numerous studies have investigated the effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity of plant populations, fewer studies have compared species with contrasting breeding systems while accounting for phylogenetic distance. Here, we compare the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation within and among subpopulations in metapopulations (at fine-scale level) of two closely related Zingiber species, selfing Zingiber corallinum and outcrossing Zingiber nudicarpum. Comparisons of the genetic structure of species from unrelated taxa may be confounded by the effects of correlated ecological traits or/and phylogeny. Thus, we possibly reveal the differences in genetic diversity and spatial distribution of genetic variation within metapopulations that relate to mating systems. Compared to outcrossing Z. nudicarpum, the subpopulation genetic diversity in selfing Z. corallinum was significantly lower, but the metapopulation genetic diversity was not different. Most genetic variation resided among subpopulations in selfing Z. corallinum metapopulations, while a significant portion of variation resided either within or among subpopulations in outcrossing Z. nudicarpum, depending on whether the degree of subpopulation isolation surpasses the dispersal ability of pollen and seed. A stronger spatial genetic structure appeared within subpopulations of selfing Z. corallinum potentially due to restricted pollen flow and seed dispersal. In contrast, a weaker genetic structure was apparent in subpopulations of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum most likely caused by extensive pollen movement. Our study shows that high genetic variation can be maintained within metapopulations of selfing Zingiber species, due to increased genetic differentiation intensified primarily by the stochastic force of genetic drift among subpopulations. Therefore, maintenance of natural variability among subpopulations in fragmented areas is key to conserve the full range of genetic diversity of selfing Zingiber species. For outcrossing Zingiber species, maintenance of large populations is an important factor to enhance genetic diversity. Compared to outcrossing Z. nudicarpum, the subpopulation genetic diversity in selfing Z. corallinum was significantly lower, but the metapopulation genetic diversity did not differ. Most genetic variation resided among subpopulations in selfing Z. corallinum metapopulations, while a significant portion of variation resided either within or among subpopulations in outcrossing Z. nudicarpum, depending on whether the degree of subpopulation isolation surpasses the dispersal ability of pollen and seed. Our study shows that selfing Z. corallinum could maintain high genetic diversity through differentiation intensified primarily by the stochastic force of genetic drift among subpopulations at fine-scale level, but not local adaptation.

Genetic differentiation between two varieties of Oreocharis benthamii (Gesneriaceae) in sympatric and allopatric regions.

The pattern of genetic differentiation between diverging species receives much attention as one of the key observable features of speciation. It has often been suggested that introgression between closely related species occurs commonly where their distributions overlap, leading to their becoming more morphologically and genetically similar, but there are a few opposite results. However, most of these studies have been carried out with animals and separate species; few have looked at intraspecific cases, especially in plants. Here, we conduct a comparative study on patterns of genetic differentiation among populations of two varieties of Oreocharis benthamii in allopatry and sympatry based on ISSR data for 754 individuals from 26 populations, in order to understand the processes leading to speciation. Contrary to expectations, the facultative xenogamy (mixed mating) species O. benthamii has a relatively low genetic diversity within populations (H = 0.1014, I = 0.1528) and high genetic differentiation among populations (G ST = 0.5867, ФST = 0.659), as is typically found for selfing species. Genetic variance between the two varieties in sympatric populations (44%, ФST = 0.444) is significantly more than that in allopatric populations (14%, ФST = 0.138). Consistent with the taxonomical delimitation of the two varieties, all sampled individuals of O. benthamii clustered into two genetic groups. Moreover, the genetic structures of populations of both varieties are correlated with their different geographical origins. Our studies show that significant divergence between sympatric populations of the two varieties could be attributed primarily to reinforcement by genetic divergent selection in sympatry where secondary contact had occurred. The major proportion of the genetic variation in outcrossing and mixed mating plants may exist among populations when the populations are distributed in fragmented habitats, due to the paucity of suitable habitat combined with inefficient seed dispersal mechanism and limited pollinator foraging area that may limit the gene flow.

Comparative studies on population genetic structure of two closely related selfing and outcrossing Zingiber species in Hainan Island.

How mating system impacts the genetic diversity of plants has long fascinated and puzzled evolutionary biologists. Numerous studies have shown that self-fertilising plants have less genetic diversity at both the population and species levels than outcrossers. However, the phylogenetic relationships between species and correlated ecological traits have not been accounted for in these previous studies. Here, we conduct a comparative population genetic study of two closely related selfing and outcrossing Zingiber species, with sympatric distribution in Hainan Island, and obtain a result contrary to previous studies. The results indicate that selfing Z. corallinum can maintain high genetic diversity through differentiation intensified by local adaptation in populations across the species' range. In contrast, outcrossing Z. nudicarpum preserves high genetic diversity through gene exchange by frequent export of pollen within or among populations. Contrary to expectations, the major portion of genetic variation of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum may exist among populations, depending on the dispersal ability of pollen and seed. Our results also reveal that the main factor affecting population structure of selfing Z. corallinum is mountain ranges, followed by a moist climate, while that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum is likely moisture, but not mountain ranges, due to gene flow via pollen.

Oreocharisodontopetala, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guizhou, China.

A new species, Oreocharisodontopetala Q.Fu & Y.Q.Wang from Guizhou Province in southwest China, is described and illustrated, based on morphological comparison with existing species. It is morphologically most similar to O.elegantissima, but can be easily distinguished by its adaxially bullate leaf blade, abaxially conspicuous reticulate veinlets, brown-purple peduncles, triangular adaxial corolla lobes and abaxial corolla lobe margins bearing 4-10 long teeth, glabrous style and shorter stamens with confluent thecae at the apex, as well as leaf epidermal characters.

Vacuum frying of peas: effect of coating and pre-drying.

The objective of the research was to compare the effect of coating with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hot-air and vacuum microwave pre-drying on the physicochemical properties and sensory scores of vacuum-fried peas. The three pre-treatments prior to frying were shown to obviously reduce oil absorption in vacuum-fried peas. Among the three pre-treatments, coating with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for peas produced the lowest oil content products (24.53 %), and the chlorophyll retention was 77.08 %. Vitamin C and breaking force for fried products with vacuum microwave pre-drying were 46.56 µg/100 g (db) and 8.64 N, which were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) better than those of other treatments. However, fried peas treated by hot air pre-drying showed the highest breaking force and lowest chlorophyll retention. All the fried peas had water activity (Aw) values of less than 0.35, indicating that the products have a long shelf life. Sensory scores showed vacuum-fried peas treated by vacuum microwave pre-drying had the highest acceptability.

Critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for treating pancreatic cancer based on the global disease burden.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of pancreatic cancer guidelines with evidence-based methods based on the global burden of disease and to explore its status, distribution, characteristics of theme, and the difference of recommended therapies among various qualities of guidelines, so as to provide a reference for clinical decision. METHODS: The PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 11, 2013), Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP databases, as well as the website of National Guidelines Clearinghouse, Guidelines International Network, and National Institute for Clinical Excellence were systematically reviewed through November 2013 for pancreatic cancer guidelines. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) were applied to assess the methodological quality of the guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 14 relevant guidelines (including 5 evidence-based ones) were identified, involving four continents (Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania), seven counties, and four international organizations. There were only two domains, namely 'scope and purpose' and 'clarity of presentations', getting high average scores (more than 60%) among all 14 guidelines. The mean AGREE domain score in guidelines varies among different areas, and the quality of 5 evidence-based guidelines was superior to that established by consensus. According to AGREE II, 11 guidelines were weakly recommended, while 3 were not recommended due to poor methodological quality. Their subjects of 14 guidelines covered six treatment categories, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, support therapy, radiotherapy, and interventional therapy. CONCLUSION: The overall methodological quality of pancreatic cancer guidelines is suboptimal among different countries or regions. The qualities of evidence-based guidelines are significantly superior to consensus. The chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and support therapy were the predominant choices by guidelines.

The concrete evidence of flexistyly in Plagiostachys: pollination biology of a wild ginger on Hainan Island, China.

Flexistyly in Plagiostachys was first reported by Takano et al., while they provided no detailed study on pollination biology and breeding system. In this study, we tested this suspicion in one species of Plagiostachys (Plagiostachys austrosinensis). Field observations suggested that flexistyly was present in this species, and stigmatic behavior was similar to that reported for Alpinia and Amomum species. Two phenotypes (anaflexistylous and cataflexistylous) occurred in a ratio of 1:1 in natural populations. Anthesis began around 1530-1600 h and lasted for about 24 h. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity remained high throughout the flowering process. Mean nectar volume (4.15-11.30 µL) and mean sugar concentration (>32%) also remained at a high level during the flowering process. No fruit set occurred in unpollinated bagged plants. Two pollinators (Bombus pyrosoma and Vespidae spp.) and one pollen robber (Mutillidae spp.) were found as flower visitors. Fruit set following self-pollination and cross-pollination did not differ significantly in the cataflexistylous morph. Partial self-incompatibility was apparent in the anaflexistylous morph. These results provide the concrete evidence of flexistyly in Plagiostachys and a more thorough understanding of its evolutionary origin in gingers.

Helical tomotherapy for cancer treatment: a rapid health technology assessment.

OBJECTIVES: Helical tomotherapy (HT) can be applied to treat complex malignant cancer with high-precise radiotherapy, and it can reduce the damage to normal tissues and improve treatment effects. But the procurement of HT must be approved by relevant departments of administration affairs. This study, appointed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China and undertook by the National Health Development Research Center and the Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Centre, was aimed to rapidly assess the effectiveness, safety, costs, and applicability of HT, so as to provide currently available best evidence for decision-makers of health policies. METHODS: We electronically searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, and other professional websites. Two reviewer independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, assessed quality, and then performed descriptive analysis. RESULTS: (i) We finally included 150 studies, encompassing 5 HTAs, 18 CCTs, and 127 observational studies. (ii) The included HTAs were published during 2006-2009, providing fairly less evidence of low quality and the results of 145 primary studies showed that: HT had been used mainly in the treatments of 14 kinds of cancer, with low total toxicity and high survival rates. Although the quality of the included studies was poor, there was much evidence about prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, nasopharynx cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer and liver cancer, with enough sample and fairly reliable results in HT efficacy and safety. And (iii) a total of 56 clinical trials were registered in Clinicaltrials.gov, most of which were registered by the occident. Among them, 9 were completed but the results had not been published yet. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of this study showed that, HT is safe and effective in clinic. But the abovementioned conclusion needs to be verified by conducting more high-quality studies with long-term follow-up. The costs of HT in procurement, maintenance, and application are high; and the skills, training, and qualification of operators are required. We suggest that the procurement of HT should be reduced; it should be allocated rationally and effectively used after comprehensive assessment in China's cancer epidemiology characteristics, health resource allocation, disease burden, medical service level, etc.; and also high-quality studies with long-term follow-up should be financially supported on the basis of establishing projects, so as to provide local evidence and consistently guide and improve scientific decision-making.

How to improve bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) juice flavour quality: effect of juice processing and storage on volatile compounds.

To improve the flavour quality of bayberry juice, effects of different raw materials, heat treatment and storage time on the flavour variations were investigated. Changes of total sugar and titratable acids were also monitored. Identification and quantitation of volatile flavour compounds were performed by headspace solid-phase microextraction couped with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The contents of esters, alcohols, total sugar and titratable acidity of the rancid flavour raw juice were 6.03%, 8.24%, 5.56 g/L, 0.18 g/L less than those of pleasing flavour raw juice (PF), while the content of aldehydes was 4.19% higher than that of PF. After 9 months storage, the bayberry juice produced fermentation-like flavours with alcohols increases (11.45%) while esters (14.91%) and total sugar (3.27 g/L) decreases. The results suggested that proper juice processing and storage techniques are critical to the flavour quality of bayberry juice.

High-intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of pancreatic cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with other physical therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, so as to provide reference for clinical application. METHODS: The PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 11, 2013), CBM, CNKI, and WanFang databases were systematically searched up to November 2013. The randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials about the treatment of high-intensity focused ultrasound were included. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened the studies, exacted the data, and assessed the quality. The meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies including 19 randomized controlled trials and four clinical controlled trials were included. Of which 14 studies reported the safety. The results of meta-analyses showed that: the survival rate at 6 months and 12 months, overall efficacy, and clinical benefit rate in high-intensity focused ultrasound plus radiation and chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in groups treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (P < 0.05), gemcitabine (P < 0.05), gemcitabine plus cisplatin (P < 0.05), and gemcitabine plus 5-fluorouracil (P < 0.05). The adverse effect caused by high-intensity focused ultrasound plus other therapy was equal to those in the control group. The major high-intensity focused ultrasound-related adverse effect was skin damage and fever. CONCLUSION: The current evidence suggested that the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound for pancreatic cancer was superior to other therapies. However, the poor quality of trails may reduce the reliability of outcome to some extent. The current evidence suggested that the efficacy of HIFU for pancreatic cancer was superior to other therapies, but with poor quality. Therefore, a standard and unified criterion for the diagnosis and outcome measures of pancreatic cancer is needed, and the quality of study design and implementation should be bettered, so as to improve the high quality of evidence for its clinical application.

Pollen histochemistry and pollen : ovule ratios in Zingiberaceae.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pollen grains of 37 species from 11 genera in the family Zingiberaceae were examined to assess qualitatively starch or lipid contents; the pollen grain and ovule numbers per flower and pollen : ovule ratios were also counted and calculated. Pollen : ovule ratios were studied to reveal patterns of variation in the Zingiberaceae. METHODS: Freshly open flowers with dehiscing anthers were collected at random from plants growing in natural habitats or in botanical gardens. Presence of lipids or starch in pollen grains was tested by Sudan solution and IKI solution, respectively, and examined under a microscope. To estimate the pollen and ovule numbers per flower, one anther from each bud was carefully dissected and all pollen grains were counted; ovaries were carefully dissected out of each flower and counted. Whenever possible, at least 10-15 buds were used in the determination. KEY RESULTS: Thirty-three of all the 37 species examined had starchy pollen. Starch was not found in only four species and lipid was not found in only one species; among the four tribes in subfamily Zingiberoideae, all species of Zingibereae and Globbeae had pollen with no starch, Alpineae and Hedychieae had pollen with and without starch, whereas, all species of subfamily Costoideae had starchy pollen with abundant lipids. The mean pollen : ovule ratios in the members of the Zingiberaceae investigated range from 3.25 +/- 1.56 to 616.52 +/- 117.83. CONCLUSIONS: The pollen nutrition types seemed not related to mating systems. The pollen : ovule ratios in members of the Zingiberaceae with the same breeding system are noticeably lower than those recorded by previous authors. The lower pollen : ovule ratios in this family are presumed to be related to the highly efficient pollination systems, mediated by pollen which can be quite glutinous and the relatively large stigma area. In most of the Alpinia species the anaflexistylous flowers have much larger numbers of pollen grains and higher pollen : ovule ratios than the cataflexistylous flowers. There are significant differences in mean pollen grain numbers and pollen : ovule ratios between different life forms but ovule numbers are approximately the same.

[Inhibition of triclosan to fatty acid synthase from goose uropygial glands and human breast cancer cells in vitro].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It has been indicated that fatty acid synthase (FAS) is abnormally overexpressed in human breast cancer compared with normal human tissue. Inhibition of FAS induces apoptosis of human breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to observe the inhibition of triclosan on FAS from goose uropygial glands for establishing the method and to study the inhibition of triclosan on FAS from human breast cancer SKBr3 cells in vitro. METHODS: The goose uropygial glands FAS was purified by ultra-centrifugation and Superdex PG 200 chromatography; the human breast cancer SKBr3 cell FAS was partially purified by ultra-centrifugation. The FAS was interacted with different concentrations of Triclosan with different times before catalyzing. Then the substrates of FAS were added to the reaction system. The inhibitory activities of triclosan against the FAS were investigated using spectrophotometric assays. RESULTS: In the goose uropygial gland group, FAS was purified as a single band at 250kDa with SDS-PAGE. The inhibitory activities of triclosan(12.5 micromol/L) at 0, 5, and 10 minute on FAS were 26.40%, 28.30%, and 43.93%, respectively. The inhibitory activities of triclosan (25.00 micromol/L) at 0, 5, and 10 minute on FAS were 46.22%, 50.28%, and 97.05%, respectively. The inhibitory activities of triclosan (100.00 micromol/L) at 0, 5, and 10 minute on FAS were 98.11%, 97.75%, and 97.37%, respectively. In human SKBr3 breast cancer cell group, the inhibitory activities of triclosan (25, 50, 100, and 200 micromol/L) at 5 minute on FAS were 20.00%, 26.67%, 60.00%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Triclosan inhibits the FAS from goose uropygial glands and human breast cancer SKBr3 cells. The inhibitory activities depended on the concentrations of triclosan and the interaction times between triclosan and FAS before catalyzing.