Two new cytochalasins from the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. GDGJ-77B.

Two new open-chain cytochalasins, xylarchalasins A and B (1 and 2), together with six known analogues (3-8), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. GDGJ-77B from the Chinese medicinal plant Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 2 displayed moderate antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 25 and 12.5 µg/mL, respectively.

Three new andrastin derivatives from the endophytic fungus Penicillium vulpinum.

Three new andrastin derivatives, 10-formyl andrastone A (1), 10-demethylated andrastone A (2) and andrastin G (3), together with four known andrastin analogues (4-7) were isolated from an endophytic fungus Penicillium vulpinum. Their structures were determined by 1 D, 2 D NMR, and the absolute configurations were further determined by experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Compound 5 exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus paratyphosus B with an MIC value of 6.25 µg·mL-1. Compounds 2 and 6 showed remarkable inhibitory activities against Bacillus megaterium with the MIC value of 6.25 µg·mL-1, respectively.

Author Correction: Genome-wide identification of Major Intrinsic Proteins in Glycine soja and characterization of GmTIP2;1 function under salt and water stress.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Genome-wide identification of Major Intrinsic Proteins in Glycine soja and characterization of GmTIP2;1 function under salt and water stress.

In different plant species, aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate water movement by regulating root hydraulic conductivity under diverse stress conditions such as salt and water stresses. To improve survival and yield of crop plants, a detailed understanding of stress responses is imperative and required. We used Glycine soja genome as a tool to study AQPs, considering it shows abundant genetic diversity and higher salt environment tolerance features and identified 62 Gs AQP genes. Additionally, this study identifies major aquaporins responsive to salt and drought stresses in soybean and elucidates their mode of action through yeast two-hybrid assay and BiFC. Under stress condition, the expression analysis of AQPs in roots and leaves of two contrasting ecotypes of soybean revealed diverse expression patterns suggesting complex regulation at transcriptional level. Based on expression analysis, we identify GmTIP2;1 as a potential candidate involved in salinity and drought responses. The overexpression of GmTIP2;1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as in-planta enhanced salt and drought tolerance. We identified that GmTIP2;1 forms homodimers as well as interacts with GmTIP1;7 and GmTIP1;8. This study augments our knowledge of stress responsive pathways and also establishes GmTIP2;1 as a new stress responsive gene in imparting salt stress tolerance in soybean.

Genome-wide sequence characterization and expression analysis of major intrinsic proteins in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Water is essential for all living organisms. Aquaporin proteins are the major facilitator of water transport activity through cell membranes of plants including soybean. These proteins are diverse in plants and belong to a large major intrinsic (MIP) protein family. In higher plants, MIPs are classified into five subfamilies including plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIP), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIP), NOD26-like intrinsic proteins (NIP), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIP), and the recently discovered X intrinsic proteins (XIP). This paper reports genome wide assembly of soybean MIPs, their functional prediction and expression analysis. Using a bioinformatic homology search, 66 GmMIPs were identified in the soybean genome. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences of GmMIPs divided the large and highly similar multi-gene family into 5 subfamilies: GmPIPs, GmTIPs, GmNIPs, GmSIPs and GmXIPs. GmPIPs consisted of 22 genes and GmTIPs 23, which showed high sequence similarity within subfamilies. GmNIPs contained 13 and GmSIPs 6 members which were diverse. In addition, we also identified a two member GmXIP, a distinct 5(th) subfamily. GmMIPs were further classified into twelve subgroups based on substrate selectivity filter analysis. Expression analyses were performed for a selected set of GmMIPs using semi-quantitative reverse transcription (semi-RT-qPCR) and qPCR. Our results suggested that many GmMIPs have high sequence similarity but diverse roles as evidenced by analysis of sequences and their expression. It can be speculated that GmMIPs contains true aquaporins, glyceroporins, aquaglyceroporins and mixed transport facilitators.

Uncovering the salt response of soybean by unraveling its wild and cultivated functional genomes using tag sequencing.

Soil salinity has very adverse effects on growth and yield of crop plants. Several salt tolerant wild accessions and cultivars are reported in soybean. Functional genomes of salt tolerant Glycine soja and a salt sensitive genotype of Glycine max were investigated to understand the mechanism of salt tolerance in soybean. For this purpose, four libraries were constructed for Tag sequencing on Illumina platform. We identify around 490 salt responsive genes which included a number of transcription factors, signaling proteins, translation factors and structural genes like transporters, multidrug resistance proteins, antiporters, chaperons, aquaporins etc. The gene expression levels and ratio of up/down-regulated genes was greater in tolerant plants. Translation related genes remained stable or showed slightly higher expression in tolerant plants under salinity stress. Further analyses of sequenced data and the annotations for gene ontology and pathways indicated that soybean adapts to salt stress through ABA biosynthesis and regulation of translation and signal transduction of structural genes. Manipulation of these pathways may mitigate the effect of salt stress thus enhancing salt tolerance.

[Prograde conduction of the pathway in pre-excitation syndrome may shorten PJ interval].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the PJ interval in the patients with pre-excitation syndrome can be shortened by pathway conduction, and to explore the clinical implications of the prolonged PJ interval. METHODS: 143 patients with single pathway, who experienced successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation, were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 132) with normal atrioventricular and ventricular conduction (sub-divided into 10 subsets further according to the location of the pathway) and Group B (n = 11) with first degree atrioventricular block or with bundle branch block. The ECG images with and without pathway conduction were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The PJ interval in the patients with right posterior pathway or with right septal pathway was shortened significantly after the RF [(226 +/- 18) ms vs (236 +/- 19) ms and (221 +/- 18) ms vs (238 +/- 31) ms respectively, both P < 0.05 ]; (2) The PJ interval in Group B was shortened to different extents. The PJ interval values in 4 patients with first degree atrioventricular block were shortened, but still beyond normal extent. The PJ interval values in 4 patients with bundle branch block were shortened to normal extent. CONCLUSION: If the pre-excitation syndrome patients have normal atrioventricular conduction the PJ interval is normal or the PJ interval may be shortened. If the patients have prolonged atrioventricular conduction, the PJ interval may be shortened by the pathway prograde conduction. PJ interval prolongation indicates atrioventricular conduction delay or ventricular conduction block, but bundle branch block cannot be excluded when the PJ interval is normal.