BnaMPK3 Is a Key Regulator of Defense Responses to the Devastating Plant Pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Oilseed Rape.

The disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has traditionally been difficult to control, resulting in tremendous economic losses in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Identification of important genes in the defense responses is critical for molecular breeding, an important strategy for controlling the disease. Here, we report that a B. napus mitogen-activated protein kinase gene, BnaMPK3, plays an important role in the defense against S. sclerotiorum in oilseed rape. BnaMPK3 is highly expressed in the stems, flowers and leaves, and its product is localized in the nucleus. Furthermore, BnaMPK3 is highly responsive to infection by S. sclerotiorum and treatment with jasmonic acid (JA) or the biosynthesis precursor of ethylene (ET), but not to treatment with salicylic acid (SA) or abscisic acid. Moreover, overexpression (OE) of BnaMPK3 in B. napus and Nicotiana benthamiana results in significantly enhanced resistance to S. sclerotiorum, whereas resistance is diminished in RNAi transgenic plants. After S. sclerotiorum infection, defense responses associated with ET, JA, and SA signaling are intensified in the BnaMPK3-OE plants but weakened in the BnaMPK3-RNAi plants when compared to those in the wild type plants; by contrast the level of both H2O2 accumulation and cell death exhibits a reverse pattern. The candidate gene association analyses show that the BnaMPK3-encoding BnaA06g18440D locus is a cause of variation in the resistance to S. sclerotiorum in natural B. napus population. These results suggest that BnaMPK3 is a key regulator of multiple defense responses to S. sclerotiorum, which may guide the resistance improvement of oilseed rape and related economic crops.

Synthesis, DNA interaction and anticancer activity of copper(II) complexes with 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine derivatives.

Three novel copper(II) complexes CuL(1)Cl2 (1) (L(1)=4'-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'- 2″-terpyridine), CuL(2)Cl2 (2) (L(2)=4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'-2″-terpyridine) and CuL(3)Cl2 (3) (L(3)=4'-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,2':6'-2″-terpyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Absorption spectral titration experiments, ethidium bromide displacement assays, and cyclic voltammetric experiments were carried out and the results suggested that these complexes bound to DNA through an intercalative mode. Moreover, these complexes were found to cleave pBR322 DNA efficiently in the presence of glutathione (GSH), and exhibited good anticancer activity against HeLa, Hep-G2 and BEL-7402 cell lines. Nuclear chromatin cleavage was also observed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining assays and comet assays. These results demonstrated that these three Cu(II) complexes caused DNA damage and induced the apoptosis of HeLa cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed the participation of reactive oxygen species which can be trapped by reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical scavengers and ROS sensors.

Colorimetric and luminescent dual-signaling responsive probing of thiols by a ruthenium(II)-azo complex.

A dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex linked via a reducible azo group [Ru(bpy)2(azobpy)Ru(bpy)2]Cl4 (Ru2azo, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, azobpy=4,4″-azobis (2,2'-bipyridine)) was adopted as a probe for thiols. Results showed that Ru2azo could selectively and effectively react with biological thiols (such as cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione) with a 10(-7)M detection limit. After it reacted with thiols, the original gray color of Ru2azo solution immediately turned yellow and the luminescence significantly enhanced, showing "naked-eye" colorimetric and "off-on" luminescent dual-signaling response for thiols. Mechanism studies demonstrated that Ru2azo reacted with thiols undergoing a two-electron transfer process, forming the azo(2-) anion product.

Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA interaction and anticancer activity of tridentate copper(II) complexes.

Three new tridentate copper(II) complexes [Cu(dthp)Cl(2)] (1) (dthp=2,6-di(thiazol-2-yl)pyridine), [Cu(dmtp)Cl(2)] (2) (dmtp=2,6-di(5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)pyridine) and [Cu(dtp)Cl(2)] (3) (dtp=2,6-di(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized. Crystal structure of complex 1 shows that the complex existed as distorted square pyramid with five co-ordination sites occupied by the tridentate ligand and the two chlorine anions. Ethidium bromide displacement assay, viscosity measurements, circular dichroism studies and cyclic voltammetric experiments suggested that these complexes bound to DNA via an intercalative mode. Three Cu(II) complexes were found to efficiently cleave DNA in the presence of sodium ascorbate, and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and hydrogen peroxide were proved to contribute to the DNA cleavage process. They exhibited anticancer activity against HeLa, Hep-G2 and BEL-7402 cell lines. Nuclear chromatin cleavage has also been observed with AO/EB staining assay and the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The results demonstrated that three Cu(II) complexes cause DNA damage that can induce the apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells.

Synthesis, DNA-binding and topoisomerase inhibitory activity of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes.

Two ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(bfipH)](2+) (1) and [Ru(phen)(2)(bfipH)](2+) (2) have been synthesized and characterized. The DNA-binding behaviors of complexes were studied by using spectroscopic and viscosity measurements. Results suggested that the two complexes bind to DNA in an intercalative mode. Complexes 1 and 2 can efficiently photocleave pBR322 DNA in vitro under irradiation, singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) was proved to contribute to the DNA photocleavage process. Topoisomerase inhibition and DNA strand passage assay confirmed that two Ru(II) complexes acted as efficient dual inhibitors of topoisomerases I and II. In MTT cytotoxicity studies, two Ru(II) complexes exhibited antitumor activity against BEL-7402, HeLa, MCF-7 tumor cells. The AO/EB staining assay indicated that Ru(II) complexes could induce the apoptosis of HeLa cells.