Establishment and optimization of sliver staining differential display of microtubers from Pinellia ternata in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In this study, orthogonal design was used to optinize DDRT-PCR amplification system on Pinellia ternata microtubers in vitro in five factors four levels respectively.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>P. ternata stems and microtubers in vitro were selected as explants. The effects of five kinds of factors were studied by orthogonal design method including emplate cDNA, Mg2+, dNTPs, primers and Taq DNA polymerase, and in order to establish the optimum DDRT-PCR system of P. ternata microtubers in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>A satisfactory DDRT-PCR technique system for P. ternata microtubers in vitro with desirable repeatability and polymorphic bands was established. In a total volume of 20 microL DDRT-PCR system, it contained 10 x buffer, 150 micromol L(-1) dNTPs, 2 micromol L(-1) anchor primer, 1 micromol L(-1) arbitrary primer, 2.5 mmol L(-1) Mg2+, 0.6 U Taq DNA polymerase and 2.5 microg template cDNA. The effect of the five factors was in sequence of Taq DNA polymerase > template cDNA > dNTPs > Mg2+ > Primers. The optimum DDRT-PCR system will provide scientific reference basis for studying effecting character of P. ternata microtubers associated with genes expression.</p>

Efficient method for extraction of high quality RNA from microtubers of Pinellia ternata in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To extract RNA from Pinellia ternata and lay a foundation for studying the formation mechanism of P. ternata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By modifying the method recommended by Guanidinium for extracting total RNA from plant tissues rich in phenolic and polysaccharidic compounds, a simple and convenient method for extraction of total RNA from the tubers, stems and leaves of P. ternate containing abundant polyphenols and polysaccharides was established. High concentrated p-mercaptoethanol was added in the RNA extracted buffer to remove polyphenols, phenol and chloroform were used to eliminate proteins, and isopropanol and sodium acetate were used to precipitate polysaccharides.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The A260/A230 value of RNA extracted with improved method were all over 2.0 and the values of A260/A280 were between 1.7 and 2.0. The electrophoresis bands were cleared on agarosegel and integrity of RNA was good.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that RNA obtained from the tubers, stems and leaves of P. ternate with this method had high purity and quality and could be used in molecular biological research, as DDRT-PCR and reverse Northern blotting analysis directly. This method is simple, economic, stable performance, and has a good repeatability as well as is suitable for extracting total RNA of medicinal plants with high concentrations of phenolics and polysaccharides.</p>

Levels of amino acids in cerebral spinal fluid in children with cerebral palsy / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of amino acids in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in children with spastic or athetotic cerebral palsy (CP) by examining CSF levels of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and aspartate (ASP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CSF samples were obtained from 13 children with spastic CP, from 14 children with athetotic CP, and from 10 children without central nervous system and infectious diseases (control group). CSF levels of Glu, GABA and ASP were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CSF levels of GABA, ASP and Glu in the control group were 13.04+/-2.19, 10.21+/-0.45 and 8.41+/-2.26 micromol/L, respectively. Compared with the control group, CSF GABA levels in the spastic and the athetotic CP groups (8.02+/-2.03 and 10.01+/-2.68 micromol/L respectively) significantly decreased (P<0.01), whereas CSF levels of Glu (20.99+/-8.15 and 28.77+/-17.62 micromol/L respectively) and Asp (13.53+/-3.93 and 14.02+/-2.88 micromol/L respectively) in the spastic and the athetotic CP groups significantly increased (P<0.01). There were statistical differences in the GABA level between the spastic and the athetotic CP groups (P<0.05). In children with spastic CPCSF Glu level was positively correlated to muscle tension.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CSF excitatory amino acid levels increased, while CSF inhibitory amino acid levels decreased in children with CP. There were differences for CSF amino acid levels in different types of CP. The changes of amino acid levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of CP.</p>