Expressed sequence tag analysis of khat (Catha edulis) provides a putative molecular biochemical basis for the biosynthesis of phenylpropylamino alkaloids

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) is a flowering perennial shrub cultivated for its neurostimulant properties resulting mainly from the occurrence of (S)-cathinone in young leaves. The biosynthesis of (S)-cathinone and the related phenylpropylamino alkaloids (1S,2S)-cathine and (1R,2S)-norephedrine is not well characterized in plants. We prepared a cDNA library from young khat leaves and sequenced 4,896 random clones, generating an expressed sequence tag (EST) library of 3,293 unigenes. Putative functions were assigned to > 98% of the ESTs, providing a key resource for gene discovery. Candidates potentially involved at various stages of phenylpropylamino alkaloid biosynthesis from L-phenylalanine to (1S,2S)-cathine were identified

Usage of treated rice straw with exogenous anaerobic bacterial enzymes (ZAD) for Ossimi sheep

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to verify the potential benefits of growing green barley on anaerobic enzyme (ZAD) treated rice straw. In addition, the work intended to investigate the effect of this treatment on digestibility parameters in Ossimi sheep. A complete random design was used to distribute twelve mature male of Ossimi sheep (45.0+0.5kg wt.) on the following treatments: Rice straw with grown barley (RSGB) without either ZAD or orange pulp (control, T1), RSGB plus ZAD (T2), RSGB plus orange pulp (T3) and RSGB+ZAD+orange pulp (T4). The obtained results could be summarized as follow:1.Significant decreases were observed in %CF from 38.09 for T1 to 32.01 and 30.02 for rations T4 and T2 respectively (P<0.05). Percentage values of NDF were 70.01, 72.10 and 76.01 for rations T4, T2 and T1 respectively (P<0.05); while %ADF values were 50.05, 52.10 and 58.10 for rations T4, T2 and T1 respectively (P<0.05) %ADL was 6.01 for T4 versus 8.01for T1. Significant increases in %CP content to 7.96, 7.10, 7.95 were observed for rations T4, T3, T2 respectively compared to the control ration which was 5.75 (P<0.05).2.Adding ZAD to RSGB significantly increased (P<0.05) %TDN to 55.02 and 59.02 for treatments T2 and T4 respectively and increased digestibility coefficients of CP to 72.43 and 77.70 respectively.3.Rams fed rations T2, T3 and T4 had significantly higher values of ruminal ammonia-N 3h post feeding values were 25.41, 25.03, 25.96mg/100ml respectively and total volatile fatty acids 3h. Post feeding values were 8.20, 8.13 and 8.26meq/100ml respectively.4.Adding either ZAD, orange pulp or both to RSGB significantly increased (p<.05) plasma total protein values were 6.43, 6.23, 5.82g/dl for treatments T4, T3, and T2 respectively, while treating rations with ZAD reflected low level of GPT 6h. Post feeding values were 20.64 and 20.61 for treatments T2 and T4 respectively versus T1 (20.90μ/l).It could be concluded that the anaerobic enzyme matrix (ZAD) improved the nutritive value of soilless green barley and improved their digestibility coefficients in Ossimi sheep