Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Revealing the Effect of Light on Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Purple Grains of Wheat.

To study the mechanism of anthocyanin-biosynthesis regulation, we examined light-regulated gene expression involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple grains of wheat. Ten kinds of anthocyanins were identified from a purple-grained wheat cultivar by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Libraries constructed from the total RNA of purple grains under light (L) or dark (D) conditions for 15 or 20 days were sequenced. In total, 1874 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in L20 vs L15, 1432 DEGs were identified in D20 vs D15, 862 DEGs were identified in D15 vs L15, and 1786 DEGs were identified in D20 vs L20. DEG functional enrichments suggested that light-signal transduction is critical to anthocyanin biosynthesis. The 911 DEGs referred to as light-regulated DEGs (LDEGs) involved a number of genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis, transcription regulation, sugar- and calcium-signaling pathways, and hormone metabolism. These findings laid the foundation for future studies on the regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple grains of wheat.

Lycorine protects cartilage through suppressing the expression of matrix metalloprotenases in rat chondrocytes and in a mouse osteoarthritis model.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are critical for cartilage destruction in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Thus, identifying novel drugs, which suppress the synthesis of MMPs may facilitate the treatment of OA. The cytotoxicity of lycorine was determined using a CCK8 assay. The effects of lycorine on IL­1ß­induced upregulation of MMPs and activation of mitogen­activated protein kinase pathways were detected by western blot analysis and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Safranin O staining were used to evaluate the effect of lycorine in a mouse anterior cruciate ligament transection model. In the present study, it was demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that lycorine (LY) suppressed interleukin­1ß (IL­1ß)­induced synthesis of MMP­3 and MMP­13 in vitro. Molecular analysis revealed that LY abrogated the phosphorylation of c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK) and the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)­κB signaling pathway caused by IL­1ß stimulation. In addition, in vivo experiments in a mouse anterior cruciate ligament transection model confirmed the protective role of LY on cartilage. Taken together, the data obtained in the present study demonstrated that LY suppressed the IL­1ß­induced expression of MMP­3 and MMP­13 through inhibition of the JNK and NF­κB pathways, suggesting that LY may be used as a potential drug for the treatment of OA.

Lycorine suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and prevents ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis and titanium particle-induced osteolysis in vivo.

Osteoclasts play an important role in diseases involving bone loss. In this study, we assessed the effect of a plant-derived natural alkaloid (lycorine, or LY) on osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro study showed that receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis could be inhibited by LY; this effect was due to inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling via MAP kinase kinases (MKKs). The MAPK agonist anisomycin could partially rescue the inhibitory effect of LY. Furthermore, LY also played a protective role in both a murine ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis model and a titanium particle-induced osteolysis model. These results confirmed that LY was effective in preventing osteoclast-related diseases in vivo. In conclusion, our results show that LY is effective in suppressing osteoclastogenesis and therefore could be used to treat OVX-induced osteoporosis and wear particle-induced osteolysis.

A new pyrrolidine derivative and steroids from an algicolous Gibberella zeae strain.

A new pyrrolidine derivative, 3-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-4-(4'-hydroxyphenoxy)pyrrolidin-2-one (1), and eight known steroids, (22E,24R)-7beta,8beta-epoxy-3beta,5alpha,9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-22-en-6-one (2, a reassigned structure of (22E,24R)-5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-3beta,8beta,14alpha-trihydroxyergosta-22-en-7-one), (22E,24R)-3beta,5alpha,9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (3), (22E,24R)-3beta,5alpha-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (4), (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta/,5alpha,6beta-triol (5), (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,22-dien-3beta-ol (6), (22E,24R)-5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), (22E,24R)-5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (8), and (22E,24R)-1(10 --> 6)-abeo-ergosta-5,7,9,22-tetraen-3alpha-ol (9), were isolated from the cultures of Gibberella zeae, an endophytic fungus isolated from the marine green alga Codium fragile. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against A-549 and BEL-7402 cell lines.