Proteomic profiling uncovered the cytosolic superoxide dismutase BsSOD1 associated with plant defence in the herbal orchid Bletilla striata.

The herbal orchid Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb.f. has a long cultivation history and has been widely used in medicines and cosmetics. The fungal infection leaf blight (LB) seriously threatens B. striata cultivation. Here, we systemically collected wild B. striata accessions and isolated the accessions with strong resistance against LB. We carried out proteomic profiling analysis of LB-resistant and LB-susceptible accessions, and identified a large number of differentially expressed proteins with significant gene ontology enrichment for 'oxidoreductase activity.' Of the proteins identified in the reactive oxygen species signalling pathway, the protein abundance of the Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase BsSOD1 and its gene expression level were higher in LB-resistant accessions than in LB-susceptible lines. Transient expression of the dismutase fused with yellow fluorescent protein determined that its subcellular localisation is in the cytoplasm. Our study provides new insights into the molecular markers associated with fungal infection in B. striata.

[Chemical constituents from flowers of Gardenia jasminoides].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from flowers of Gardenia jasminoides. METHODS: The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography and their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic techniques (NMR) and physicochemical properties. RESULTS: 15 compounds were isolated from flowers of G. jasminoides, and identified as 5, 7, 3'-trihydroxy-6, 4', 5'-trimethoxyflavone (1), 5, 7, 3', 5'- tetrahydroxy-6, 4'-dymethoxyflavone (2), kaempferol (3), quercetin (4), 3beta,23- dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 3beta,19alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (6), 3beta,19alpha,23-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), emodin (8), physcion (9), crocin-I (10), beta-daucosterol (11), beta-sitosterol (12), stearic acid (13), palmitic acid (14), oleic acid (15). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 - 15 are isolated from flowers of G. jasminoides and compounds 5 and 6 are isolated from genus Gardenia for the first time.

[RAPD analysis on genetic relationships of Erigeron breviscapus germplasm resources].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic relationships of Erigeron breviscapus at the molecular biology level. METHOD: Thirty seven germplasm resources of E. breviscapus which collected from Yunnan, Sichuang and Guizhou province in 2005 were analyzed by Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and cluster analysis based on NTSYS2. RESULT: A total of 10 primers were screened, and 107 bands were amplified, among which 94 (87.85%) bands were found to be polymorphic. Thirty seven germplasm resources of E. breviscapus were clustered into 3 groups at genetic distance 0.36, the I group include in 9 germplasm resources collected from Mile, Qiubei, Luxi, Gejiu, and Yanshan of south east of Yunnan province; the II group included 8 germplasm resources collected from Gucheng, and shangrila of north west of Yunnan province, and Mile and Qiubei of south east of Yunnan province; the III group included in 20 germplasm resources collected from the center of Yunnan province, north east of Yunnan province, Sichuan province, and Guizhou province. CONCLUSION: There were abundant genetic diversity in the germplasm resources of E. breviscapus, and the genetic relationships are closely related to geographical distance where they were collected.

[Study on optimal harvest time of Erigeron breviscapus].

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the optimal harvest time of Erigeron breviscapus. METHOD: The dry matter weight accumulation of different organs in growth process and contents of scutellarin and coffeic acid ester in whole plant of E. breviscapus were determined. RESULT: The number of leaves per plant, the dried weight of single leaf and dry matter weight of whole plant and different organs reached the highest after seedling 130-140 d. The content of scutellarin gradually decreased with growth period, and sharply decreased after seedling 140 d. The content of coffeic acid ester varied irregularly with growth period. CONCLUSION: The optimal harvest time of E. breviscapus is in early bloom period after seedling 130 d.

[Effect of aluminum trichloride on dissociated Ca2+ in Hippocampus neuron cell as well as learning and memory].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aluminum chloride on dissociated Ca(2+) in hippocampus neuron cells in mice and the relationship to the learning and memory. METHODS: Male ICR mice in the three intoxicated groups were administered with the double distilled water containing AlCl(3) (10, 50, 300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) while those in the control group were administered with the double distilled water for 100 days. The methods of behavior toxicology such as Morris swim maze were used for studying the effect of aluminum chloride on the changes of learning and memory in mice. With calcium sensitive fluorescence indicator Fura-2 as the fluorescent probe, the influence of the subchronic exposure to Al on the dissociated Ca(2+) in hippocampus neuron cells was observed. RESULTS: The dissociated Ca(2+) in hippocampus neuron cells in the middle dosage group and the high dosage group [(412.25 +/- 53.20), (467.37 +/- 32.85) times] was lower than those in the control group [(293.91 +/- 32.21) times] respectively (P < 0.01), and correlated positively with the dose and dissociated Ca(2+) (r = 0.861, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the latent period was lengthened (P < 0.05) in the middle dosage and the high dosage group. CONCLUSION: The subchronic exposure to AlCl(3) in mice affects the dissociated Ca(2+) in hippocampus neuron cells. The increase of dissociated Ca(2+) in hippocampus neuron cells may be correlated with the disfunction of cognition in the aluminium intoxicated mice.