Isolation and structural characterization of eight new resin glycosides, calyhedins XVI-XXIII, from the rhizomes of Calystegia hederacea.

Biological effects attributed to resin glycosides, including cytotoxicity against cancer cells and antibacterial, multidrug resistance-modulating, and antiviral activities have been documented. Penta-glycosides composed of calysolic acid A or calyhedic acid A, which are glycosidic acid components of the crude resin glycoside fraction of Calystegia hederacea, have not yet been isolated from this plant. In this study, eight new resin glycosides, termed calyhedins XVI (1)-XXIII (8), were isolated from the rhizomes of C. hederacea. Compounds 1-8 are penta- or hexa-glycosides with macrolactone structures, and their sugar moieties are partially acylated by five organic acids, including 2S-methylbutyric, (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic, and 2R-methyl-3R-hydroxybutyric acids. Compounds 1-5 are the first identified macrocyclic resin glycosides with five monosaccharides obtained from this plant, and 2 and 4 are the first to be characterized as containing calyhedic acid A as the glycosidic acid component. Compounds 1-8 were of the four following macrolactone types: one with a 22-membered ring (5), another with a 23-membered ring (6-8), the third with a 27-membered ring (1, 3), and the fourth with a 28-membered ring (2, 4). Compounds 2-8 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells comparable to that of the positive control, cisplatin.

Difference in Striga-susceptibility is reflected in strigolactone secretion profile, but not in compatibility and host preference in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in two maize cultivars.

Strigolactones released from plant roots trigger both seed germination of parasitic weeds such as Striga spp. and hyphal branching of the symbionts arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Generally, strigolactone composition in exudates is quantitatively and qualitatively different among plants, which may be involved in susceptibility and host specificity in the parasite-plant interactions. We hypothesized that difference in strigolactone composition would have a significant impact on compatibility and host specificity/preference in AM symbiosis. Strigolactones in root exudates of Striga-susceptible (Pioneer 3253) and -resistant (KST 94) maize (Zea mays) cultivars were characterized by LC-MS/MS combined with germination assay using Striga hermonthica seeds. Levels of colonization and community compositions of AM fungi in the two cultivars were investigated in field and glasshouse experiments. 5-Deoxystrigol was exuded exclusively by the susceptible cultivar, while the resistant cultivar mainly exuded sorgomol. Despite the distinctive difference in strigolactone composition, the levels of AM colonization and the community compositions were not different between the cultivars. The present study demonstrated that the difference in strigolactone composition has no appreciable impact on AM symbiosis, at least in the two maize cultivars, and further suggests that the traits involved in Striga-resistance are not necessarily accompanied by reduction in compatibility to AM fungi.

Shoot-derived signals other than auxin are involved in systemic regulation of strigolactone production in roots.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization in one side of split-root sorghum plants systemically reduced root contents of strigolactones in both sides of the split roots. Shoot-derived signals other than auxin appeared to be involved in this process. Strigolactones (SLs) are a novel class of plant hormones regulating both shoot and root architectures and suggested to be functioning downstream of auxin. The levels of SLs in plant tissues and root exudates are regulated by nutrients, especially phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N); however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We examined the effects of N and P fertilization on root contents of two SLs, sorgomol and 5-deoxystrigol, in sorghum plants pre-incubated under N and P free conditions using a split-root system. N and P fertilization to one side of the split-root plants systemically reduced root contents of SLs in both sides of the split roots. The shoot N and P levels increased when one side of the split-root plants was fertilized, while N and P levels in the non-fertilized split roots were unaffected. N fertilization decreased shoot and root IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) levels, while P fertilization did not affect them. IAA applied to the shoot apices increased root contents of 5-deoxystrigol but not that of sorgomol only when the plants were grown under P free conditions. Shoot (leaf) removal dramatically decreased the root contents of SLs but did not affect root IAA levels, and IAA applied to the stumps of leaves could not restore root contents of SLs. Consequently, shoot-derived signals other than auxin are suggested to be involved in the regulation of SL production in roots.