Functional Haplotype and eQTL Analyses of Genes Affecting Cadmium Content in Cultivated Rice.

BACKGROUND: Rice is a major food resource for Asian countries including Korea. However, most Asian countries are facing food safety problems due to cropland contamination by heavy metals. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate genetic factors affecting the expression of cadmium (Cd) gene, and to confirm differences in Cd translocation among cultivars because the current molecular understanding of Cd uptake-transport mechanisms remains insufficient. Associations between genotypes and gene expression level of Cd-related genes such as NRAMP, MTP, and HMA gene families in the rice core collection were analyzed at the genomic level. RESULTS: Os01g0956700, Os05g0128400 and Os11g0485200 showed strong associations between expression level and genotype in the rice core collection, the regulatory factors that associated with these genes in cis and trans were founded. The association between the expression level and genotype of the candidate gene (Os01g0611300: metal tolerance protein) predicted to affect Cd content in rice by a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) was also analyzed. Furthermore, as a result of the phylogeny and haplotype analyses of the candidate gene, high-Cd tolerance cultivars were selected. The correlations between Cd and other inorganic components (Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) in the roots, stems, leaves and unpolished grain of selected rice cultivars were analyzed. CONCLUSION: Therefore, these results may be useful for understanding the uptake-transport mechanisms of Cd and other inorganic components via molecular genetics and may help rice breeders develop new low-Cd cultivars in the near future.

Identification and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Peptide Liposome Incorporated Citron Extracts in an in Vitro System.

Abstract: Citrons have been widely used for medicinal purposes for a long time, but the application of citron in the food industry is still restricted. The extensive advantages of nanotechnology in the food industry have greatly broadened the application of foods. In this study, by employing nanotechnology, we prepared citron-extract nanoparticle with an average size of 174.11 ± 3.89 nm, containing protein peptide and/or liposome. In order to evaluate the toxicity of nanoparticles and to ensure food safety, biological cytotoxicity at the cell and genomic levels was also identified to examine the toxicity of citron extracts by using an in vitro system. Our results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of citronliposome was dependent on cell type in high concentrations (1 and 5 mg/mL), selectively against primary human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs), and human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs) in MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Interestingly, for the NIH-3T3 and H9C2 cell lines, cell cytotoxicity was observed with slight genotoxicity, especially from citronpeptide extract for both cell lines. Taken together, our study provides cytotoxicity data on nanoengineered citron extracts according to different cell type as is crucial for further applications.

Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Turmeric Extract Incorporated Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion.

To overcome the drawbacks of conventional drug delivery system, nanoemulsion have been developed as an advanced form for improving the delivery of active ingredients. However, safety evaluation is crucial during the development stage before the commercialization. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of two types of newly developed nanoemulsions. Turmeric extract-loaded nanoemulsion powder-10.6 (TE-NEP-10.6, high content of artificial surfactant Tween 80), which forms the optimal nanoemulsion, and the TE-NEP-8.6 made by increasing the content of natural emulsifier (lecithin) to reduce the potential toxicity of nanoemulsion were cultured with various cells (NIH3T3, H9C2, HepG2, hCPC, and hEPC) and the changes of each cell were observed followed by nanoemulsion treatment. As a result, the two nanoemulsions (TE-NEP-10.6 and TE-NEP-8.6) did not show significant difference in cell viability. In the case of cell line (NIH3T3, H9C2, and HepG2), toxicity was not observed at an experimental concentration of less than 1 mg/mL, however, the cell survival rate decreased in a concentration dependent manner in the case of primary cultured cells. These results from our study can be used as a basic data to confirm the cell type dependent toxicity of nanoemulsion.