An Update on the Chemical Constituents and Biological Properties of Selected Species of an Underpinned Genus of Red Algae: Chondrus.

Macroalgae, particularly red seaweeds, have attracted significant attention due to their economic and health benefits. Chondrus, a red algae genus, despite its economic importance, seems to be undervalued. Among all its species, Chondrus crispus has been meticulously documented for its biological properties, and little is known about other species. No comprehensive review of the biological properties of this genus has been acknowledged. Thus, this review aimed to summarize the available information on the chemical constituents and biological properties of a few selected species, including Chondrus crispus, Chondrus ocellatus, Mazzaella canaliculata, and Chondrus armatus. We compiled and discovered that the genus is offering most of the important health-promoting benefits evidenced from in vitro and in vivo studies focused on antimicrobial, immunomodulation, neuroprotection, anti-atopic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, cytoprotective, antioxidant, anti-coagulation, nephroprotective, anti-tumor, and anti-venom activity, which speaks about the potential of this genus. Data on clinical studies are limited. Further, around 105 chemical constituents have been reported from Chondrus spp. Given its significance, further investigation is warranted, in the form of meticulously planned cell, animal, and clinical studies that concentrate on novel health-enhancing endeavors, in order to unveil the full potential of this genus. The review also outlines challenges and future directions.

Extensive characterization of 28 complete chloroplast genomes of Hydrangea species: A perspective view of their organization and phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships.

The tribe Hydrangeeae displays a unique, distinctive disjunct distribution encompassing East Asia, North America and Hawaii. Despite its complex trait variations and polyphyletic nature, comprehensive phylogenomic and biogeographical studies on this tribe have been lacking. To address this gap, we sequenced and characterized 28 plastomes of Hydrangeeae. Our study highlights the highly conserved nature of Hydrangeaceae chloroplast (cp) genomes in terms of gene content and arrangement. Notably, synapomorphic characteristics of tandem repeats in the conserved domain of accD were observed in the Macrophyllae, Chinenses, and Dichroa sections within the Hydrangeeae tribe. Additionally, we found lower expression of accD in these sections using structure prediction and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Phylogenomic analyses revealed the subdivision of the Hydrangeeae tribe into two clades with robust support values. Consistent with polyphyletic relationships, sect. Broussaisia was identified as the basal group in the tribe Hydrangeeae. Our study also provides insights into the phylogenetic relationships of Hydrangea petiolaris in the Jeju and Ulleung Island populations, suggesting the need for further studies with more samples and molecular data. Divergence time estimation and biogeographical analyses suggested that the common ancestors of the tribe Hydrangeeae likely originated from North America and East Asia during the Paleocene period via the Bering Land Bridge, potentially facilitating migration within the tribe between these regions. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of the evolutionary history and biogeography of the tribe Hydrangeeae, shedding light on the dispersal patterns and origins of this intriguing plant group with its unique disjunct distribution.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Evaluating the Nutritional Status of Patients with Cancer.

Patients with cancer need to maintain proper nutritional status to overcome cancer, alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy, and prevent a recurrence. As such, it is necessary to manage nutritional status. This study aimed to develop a dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with cancer and assess the validity of the FFQ. A total of 109 dish items were selected through contribution and variability analyses using the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The FFQ was validated against the average 3-day dietary records of 100 patients with cancer. Pearson correlation coefficients and quartile agreements between FFQ and 3-day dietary records were calculated for intake of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients. Age and energy-adjusted Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.20 (iron) to 0.54 (potassium). The percentage of participants who were classified into the same or adjacent quartile between the FFQ and the 3-day dietary record ranged from 68% (protein) to 81% (energy, dietary fiber). The results suggest that the FFQ is an appropriate tool for assessing nutritional status in Korean cancer patients.

A Review of Recent Studies on the Antioxidant Activities of a Third-Millennium Food: Amaranthus spp.

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) plant commonly refers to the sustainable food crop for the 21st century. The crop has witnessed significant attention in recent years due to its high nutritional value and agronomic advantages. It is a relatively well-balanced cosmopolitan food that is a protector against chronic diseases. Usually, the antioxidant activities of amaranth are held responsible for its defensive behavior. Antioxidant activity of plants, generally, is attributed to their phytochemical compounds. The current interest, however, lies in hydrolysates and bioactive peptides because of their numerous biological functions, including antioxidant effect. While the importance of bioactive peptides has been progressively recognized, an integrated review of recent studies on the antioxidant ability of amaranth species, especially their hydrolysates and peptides has not been generated. Hence, in this review, we summarize studies focused on the antioxidant capacity of amaranth renewal over the period 2015-2020. It starts with a background and overall image of the amaranth-related published reviews. The current research focusing on in vitro, in vivo, and chemical assays-based antioxidant activity of different amaranth species are addressed. Finally, the last segment includes the latest studies concerning free radical scavenging activity and metal chelation capacity of amaranth protein hydrolysates and bioactive peptides.

NCAPH Is Required for Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Non-structural maintenance of chromosomes condensin I complex subunit H (NCAPH) is implicated in correct chromosome condensation and segregation during mitosis. However, the functional role of NCAPH in the pathogenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of NCAPH in NSCLC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A549 and H1299 NSCLC cells were transfected with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) against NCAPH. Subsequently, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, colony-formation assay and flow cytometry analysis were performed to reveal the role of NCAPH in NSCLC cells. In addition, migration and invasion assay were also performed. RESULTS: NCAPH knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase, and prevented colony formation, migration and invasion by NSCLC cells. CONCLUSION: NCAPH is involved in NSCLC progression and development, and may be a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.

ABHD12 Knockdown Suppresses Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Alpha/beta-hydrolase domain containing 12 (ABHD12) is a serine hydrolase that regulates immunological and neurological mechanisms. This study aimed to elucidate the oncogenic effect of ABHD12 on human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ABHD12 expression was confirmed in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cell lines by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. To determine the role of ABHD12, ABHD12 siRNA-suppressed breast cancer cells (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells) were investigated for cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities using MTT assays, EdU assays, colony formation assays, and Boyden chamber assays. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed a higher ABHD12 expression in breast cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Additionally, ABHD12 knockdown was found to inhibit cell growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion in breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: ABHD12 plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Oncogenic Ras downregulates mdr1b expression through generation of reactive oxygen species.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of oncogenic H-Ras on rat mdr1b expression in NIH3T3 cells. The constitutive expression of H-RasV12 was found to downregulate the mdr1b promoter activity and mdr1b mRNA expression. The doxorubicin-induced mdr1b promoter activity of the H-RasV12 expressing NIH3T3 cells was markedly lower than that of control NIH3T3 cells. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the level of H-RasV12 expression and a sensitivity to doxorubicin toxicity. To examine the detailed mechanism of H-RasV12-mediated down-regulation of mdr1b expression, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI) were used. Pretreating cells with either NAC or DPI significantly enhanced the oncogenic H-Ras-mediated down-regulation of mdr1b expression and markedly prevented doxorubicin-induced cell death. Moreover, NAC and DPI treatment led to a decrease in ERK activity, and the ERK inhibitors PD98059 or U0126 enhanced the mdr1b-Luc activity of H-RasV12-NIH3T3 and reduced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that RasV12 expression could downregulate mdr1b expression through intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and ERK activation induced by ROS, is at least in part, contributed to the downregulation of mdr1b expression.

Karyopherin α-2 Mediates MDC1 Nuclear Import through a Functional Nuclear Localization Signal in the tBRCT Domain of MDC1.

Mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1 (MDC1) plays a vital role in DNA damage response (DDR) by coordinating the repair of double strand breaks (DSBs). Here, we identified a novel interaction between MDC1 and karyopherin α-2 (KPNA2), a nucleocytoplasmic transport adaptor, and showed that KPNA2 is necessary for MDC1 nuclear import. Thereafter, we identified a functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) between amino acid residues 1989-1994 of the two Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) carboxyl-terminal (tBRCT) domain of MDC1 and demonstrated disruption of this NLS impaired interaction between MDC1 and KPNA2 and reduced nuclear localization of MDC1. In KPNA2-depleted cells, the recruitment of MDC1, along with the downstream signaling p roteins Ring Finger Protein 8 (RNF8), 53BP1-binding protein 1 (53BP1), BRCA1, and Ring Finger Protein 168 (RNF168), to DNA damage sites was abolished. Additionally, KPNA2-depleted cells had a decreased rate of homologous recombination (HR) repair. Our data suggest that KPNA2-mediated MDC1 nuclear import is important for DDR signaling and DSB repair.

Knockdown of CARD14 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration in Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Caspase recruitment domain family, member 14 (CARD14) is a member of the CARD family of proteins, which play an important role in immune and inflammatory response, and cell survival and proliferation. Here, we identified the role of CARD14 in human breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate CARD14 expression in breast cancer. Using CARD14 knockdown cells by small interfering RNA, colony formation and MTT assays, flow cytometry analyses, and migration assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and migration ability of MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells. RESULTS: CARD14 expression was significantly higher in breast cancer samples than in normal breast samples. CARD14 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration, caused cell cycle arrest at the G1/S boundary, and promoted apoptosis. CONCLUSION: CARD14 regulates the proliferation and migration of MCF7 and SK-BR-3 cells; it is thus, a novel potential therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Efficacy and Safety of Sinetrol-XPur on Weight and Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This study investigated the effect of Sinetrol-XPur on weight and body fat reduction in overweight or obese Korean participants. Among 100 overweight or obese participants enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blinded, controlled study, 86 participants completed the trial. Participants took either two Sinetrol-XPur tablets (450 mg per tablet) or two placebo tablets once a day. Bodyweight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, waist circumference, and various safety parameters were measured. After the 12-week intervention, a significant reduction was observed in the body fat mass (P = .030) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), body weight (P = .002), and BMI (P = .002) compared to the placebo. Body fat percentage (P = .007) by DEXA showed a significant reduction in the Sinetrol-XPur group, but no difference compared to the control group. Abdominal metabolic risks by computed tomography and blood biochemistry analysis were significantly decreased in the Sinetrol-XPur group, but there were no differences between the Sinetrol-XPur and placebo groups. Safety profiles were not different between the two groups. These results suggested that Sinetrol-XPur significantly reduced body weight, body fat mass, and BMI in obese Korean subjects, which confirms the antiobesity effect of Sinetrol-XPur in the Korean population.

Recurrent gene duplication in the angiosperm tribe Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae) inferred from intracellular gene transfer events and heteroplasmic mutations in the plastid matK gene.

The study of intracellular gene transfer may allow for the detection of interesting evolutionary processes such as ancient polyploidization. We compared 24 plastid genomes (plastomes) from tribe Delphinieae, one from tribe Nigelleae and one from tribe Ranunculeae, including five newly sequenced genomes. The functional transfers of the plastids rpl32 and rps16 to the nucleus in tribe Delphinieae were identified. Unexpectedly, we discovered multiple divergent copies of the nuclear-encoded plastid rpl32 in the genus Aconitum. Phylogenetic and synonymous substitution rate analyses revealed that the nuclear-encoded plastid rpl32 underwent two major duplication events. These ancient gene duplication events probably occurred via multiple polyploidization events in Aconitum between 11.9 and 24.7 Mya. Furthermore, our sequence rate analysis indicated that the eight plastid-encoded rpl subunits in Aconitum had a significantly accelerated evolutionary rate compared to those in other genera, suggesting that highly divergent paralogs targeted to the plastid may contribute to an elevated rate of evolution in plastid rpl genes. In addition, heteroplasmy of the plastid matK from two Aconitum species suggested the existence of potentially functional plastid maturases in its plastome. Our results provide insight into the evolutionary history of the tribe Delphinieae.

ID3 regulates the MDC1-mediated DNA damage response in order to maintain genome stability.

MDC1 plays a critical role in the DNA damage response (DDR) by interacting directly with several factors including γ-H2AX. However, the mechanism by which MDC1 is recruited to damaged sites remains elusive. Here, we show that MDC1 interacts with a helix-loop-helix (HLH)-containing protein called inhibitor of DNA-binding 3 (ID3). In response to double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the genome, ATM phosphorylates ID3 at serine 65 within the HLH motif, and this modification allows a direct interaction with MDC1. Moreover, depletion of ID3 results in impaired formation of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced MDC1 foci, suppression of γ-H2AX-bound MDC1, impaired DSB repair, cellular hypersensitivity to IR, and genomic instability. Disruption of the MDC1-ID3 interaction prevents accumulation of MDC1 at sites of DSBs and suppresses DSB repair. Thus, our study uncovers an ID3-dependent mechanism of recruitment of MDC1 to DNA damage sites and suggests that the ID3-MDC1 interaction is crucial for DDR.MDC1 is a key component of the DNA damage response and interacts with several factors such as γ-H2AX. Here the authors show that MDC1 interacts with ID3, facilitating MDC1 recruitment to sites of damage and repair of breaks.

PIG3 Regulates p53 Stability by Suppressing Its MDM2-Mediated Ubiquitination.

Under normal, non-stressed conditions, intracellular p53 is continually ubiquitinated by MDM2 and targeted for degradation. However, in response to severe genotoxic stress, p53 protein levels are markedly increased and apoptotic cell death is triggered. Inhibiting the ubiquitination of p53 under conditions where DNA damage has occurred is therefore crucial for preventing the development of cancer, because if cells with severely damaged genomes are not removed from the population, uncontrolled growth can result. However, questions remain about the cellular mechanisms underlying the regulation of p53 stability. In this study, we show that p53-inducible gene 3 (PIG3), which is a transcriptional target of p53, regulates p53 stability. Overexpression of PIG3 stabilized both endogenous and transfected wild-type p53, whereas a knockdown of PIG3 lead to a reduction in both endogenous and UV-induced p53 levels in p53-proficient human cancer cells. Using both in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assays, we found that PIG3 suppressed both ubiquitination- and MDM2-dependent proteasomal degradation of p53. Notably, we demonstrate that PIG3 interacts directly with MDM2 and promoted MDM2 ubiquitination. Moreover, elimination of endogenous PIG3 in p53-proficient HCT116 cells decreased p53 phosphorylation in response to UV irradiation. These results suggest an important role for PIG3 in regulating intracellular p53 levels through the inhibition of p53 ubiquitination.

c-Fos-dependent miR-22 targets MDC1 and regulates DNA repair in terminally differentiated cells.

Terminally differentiated cells have a reduced capacity to repair double-stranded breaks (DSB) in DNA, however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that miR-22 is upregulated during postmitotic differentiation of human breast MCF-7 cells, hematopoietic HL60 and K562 cells. Increased expression of miR-22 in differentiated cells was associated with decreased expression of MDC1, a protein that plays a key role in the response to DSBs. This downregulation of MDC1 was accompanied by reduced DSB repair, impaired recruitment of the protein to the site of DNA damage following IR. Conversely, inhibiting miR-22 enhanced MDC1 protein levels, recovered MDC1 foci, fully rescued DSB repair in terminally differentiated cells. Moreover, MDC1 levels, IR-induced MDC1 foci, and the efficiency of DSB repair were fully rescued by siRNA-mediated knockdown of c-Fos in differentiated cells. These findings indicate that the c-Fos/miR-22/MDC1 axis plays a relevant role in DNA repair in terminally differentiated cells, which may facilitate our understanding of molecular mechanism underlying the downregulating DNA repair in differentiated cells.

Antioxidant Activities of Functional Beverage Concentrates Containing Herbal Medicine Extracts.

This study investigated the antioxidant activity of functional beverage concentrates containing herbal medicine extracts (FBCH) using various antioxidant assays, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, and reducing power assay. The total polyphenolic content of FBCH (81.45 mg/100 g) was higher than Ssanghwa tea (SHT, 37.56 mg/100 g). The antioxidant activities of FBCH showed 52.92% DPPH and 55.18% ABTS radical scavenging activities at 100 mg/mL, respectively. FBCH showed significantly higher antioxidant activities compared to the SHT (DPPH, 23.43%; ABTS, 22.21%; reducing power optical density; 0.23, P<0.05). In addition, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner following FBCH treatment. These results suggest that the addition of herbal medicine extract contributes to the improved functionality of beverage concentrates.

Diversity of Endophytic Bacteria in a Fern Species Dryopteris uniformis (Makino) Makino and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Potential Against Five Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria.

The fern plant Dryopteris uniformis has traditionally been used in herbal medicine and possesses many biological activities. This study was conducted to explore the endophytic bacterial diversity associated with D. uniformis and evaluate their antibacterial potential against foodborne pathogenic bacteria (FPB). Among 51 isolated endophytic bacteria (EB), 26 EB were selected based on their morphological characteristics and identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. The distribution of EB was diverse in the leaf and the stem/root tissues. When the EB were screened for antibacterial activity against five FPB, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, four EB Bacillus sp. cryopeg, Paenibacillus sp. rif200865, Staphylococcus warneri, and Bacillus psychrodurans had a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity (9.58 ± 0.66 to 21.47 ± 0.27 mm inhibition zone). The butanol solvent extract of B. sp. cryopeg and P. sp. rif200865 displayed effective antibacterial activity against the five FPB, which was evident from the scanning electron microscopy with irregular or burst cell morphology in the EB-treated bacteria compared to smooth and regular cells in case of the control bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged between 250-500 µg/mL and 500-100 µg/mL, respectively. The above outcomes signify the huge prospective of the selected EB in the food industry. Overall, the above results suggested that D. uniformis contains several culturable EB that possess effective antibacterial compounds, and that EB can be utilized as a source of natural antibacterial agents for their practical application in food industry to control the spread of FPB as a natural antibacterial agent.

The oncogenic effects of p53-inducible gene 3 (PIG3) in colon cancer cells.

The p53-inducible gene 3 (PIG3), initially identified as a gene downstream of p53, plays an important role in the apoptotic process triggered by p53-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Recently, several studies have suggested that PIG3 may play a role in various types of cancer. However, the functional significance of PIG3 in cancer remains unclear. Here, we found that PIG3 was highly expressed in human colon cancer cell lines compared to normal colonderived fibroblasts. Therefore, we attempted to elucidate the functional role of PIG3 in colon cancer. PIG3 overexpression increases the colony formation, migration and invasion ability of HCT116 colon cancer cells. Conversely, these tumorigenic abilities were significantly decreased in in vitro studies with PIG3 knockdown HCT116 cells. PIG3 knockdown also attenuated the growth of mouse xenograft tumors. These results demonstrate that PIG3 is associated with the tumorigenic potential of cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo, and could play a key oncogenic role in colon cancer.

p53R2 regulates thioredoxin reductase activity through interaction with TrxR2.

Ribonucleotide reductase small subunit p53R2 is a member of the ribonucleotide reductase family that supplies dNTPs for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA replication and repair. Here, we have identified a mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase 2 (TrxR2) as a novel p53R2-binding protein. We demonstrated a direct interaction between the two, and observed that p53R2 stimulated the enzymatic activity of TrxR in vitro. Moreover, TrxR2 activity was significantly lower in p53R2 knockdown cells, and increased when p53R2 was overexpressed, effects that were independent of p53. Furthermore, p53R2 knockdown suppressed UV-induced TrxR activity. These findings suggest that p53R2 acts as a positive regulator of TrxR2 activity in mitochondria both under normal physiological conditions and during the cellular response to DNA damage.

Phylogenetic Relationships of the Fern Cyrtomium falcatum (Dryopteridaceae) from Dokdo Island Based on Chloroplast Genome Sequencing.

Cyrtomium falcatum is a popular ornamental fern cultivated worldwide. Native to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and Dokdo Island in the Sea of Japan, it is the only fern present on Dokdo Island. We isolated and characterized the chloroplast (cp) genome of C. falcatum, and compared it with those of closely related species. The genes trnV-GAC and trnV-GAU were found to be present within the cp genome of C. falcatum, whereas trnP-GGG and rpl21 were lacking. Moreover, cp genomes of Cyrtomium devexiscapulae and Adiantum capillus-veneris lack trnP-GGG and rpl21, suggesting these are not conserved among angiosperm cp genomes. The deletion of trnR-UCG, trnR-CCG, and trnSeC in the cp genomes of C. falcatum and other eupolypod ferns indicates these genes are restricted to tree ferns, non-core leptosporangiates, and basal ferns. The C. falcatum cp genome also encoded ndhF and rps7, with GUG start codons that were only conserved in polypod ferns, and it shares two significant inversions with other ferns, including a minor inversion of the trnD-GUC region and an approximate 3 kb inversion of the trnG-trnT region. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Equisetum was found to be a sister clade to Psilotales-Ophioglossales with a 100% bootstrap (BS) value. The sister relationship between Pteridaceae and eupolypods was also strongly supported by a 100% BS, but Bayesian molecular clock analyses suggested that C. falcatum diversified in the mid-Paleogene period (45.15 ± 4.93 million years ago) and might have moved from Eurasia to Dokdo Island.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Ampelopsis: Gene Organization, Comparative Analysis, and Phylogenetic Relationships to Other Angiosperms.

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata is an economically important plant that belongs to the Vitaceae family of angiosperms. The phylogenetic placement of Vitaceae is still unresolved. Recent phylogenetic studies suggested that it should be placed in various alternative families including Caryophyllaceae, asteraceae, Saxifragaceae, Dilleniaceae, or with the rest of the rosid families. However, these analyses provided weak supportive results because they were based on only one of several genes. Accordingly, complete chloroplast genome sequences are required to resolve the phylogenetic relationships among angiosperms. Recent phylogenetic analyses based on the complete chloroplast genome sequence suggested strong support for the position of Vitaceae as the earliest diverging lineage of rosids and placed it as a sister to the remaining rosids. These studies also revealed relationships among several major lineages of angiosperms; however, they highlighted the significance of taxon sampling for obtaining accurate phylogenies. In the present study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of A. brevipedunculata and used these data to assess the relationships among 32 angiosperms, including 18 taxa of rosids. The Ampelopsis chloroplast genome is 161,090 bp in length, and includes a pair of inverted repeats of 26,394 bp that are separated by small and large single copy regions of 19,036 bp and 89,266 bp, respectively. The gene content and order of Ampelopsis is identical to many other unrearranged angiosperm chloroplast genomes, including Vitis and tobacco. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on 70 protein-coding genes of 33 angiosperms showed that both Saxifragales and Vitaceae diverged from the rosid clade and formed two clades with 100% bootstrap value. The position of the Vitaceae is sister to Saxifragales, and both are the basal and earliest diverging lineages. Moreover, Saxifragales forms a sister clade to Vitaceae of rosids. Overall, the results of this study will contribute to better support of the evolution, molecular biology and genetic improvement of the plant Ampelopsis.