Caffeic Acid <i>O</i>-Methyltransferase Gene Family in Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) with Transcriptional Analysis under Biotic and Abiotic Stresses and the Role of <i>MiCOMT1</i> in Salt Tolerance

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) participates in various physiological activities in plants, such as positive responses to abiotic stresses and the signal transduction of phytohormones. In this study, 18 COMT genes were identified in the chromosome-level reference genome of mango, named MiCOMTs. A phylogenetic tree containing nine groups (I-IX) was constructed based on the amino acid sequences of the 71 COMT proteins from seven species. The phylogenetic tree indicated that the members of the MiCOMTs could be divided into four groups. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that all MiCOMT genes have particularly high expression levels during flowering. The expression levels of MiCOMTs were different under abiotic and biotic stresses, including salt and stimulated drought stresses, ABA and SA treatment, as well as Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection, respectively. Among them, the expression level of MiCOMT1 was significantly up-regulated at 6–72 h after salt and stimulated drought stresses. The results of gene function analysis via the transient overexpression of the MiCOMT1 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that the MiCOMT1 gene can promote the accumulation of ABA and MeJA, and improve the salt tolerance of mango. These results are beneficial to future researchers aiming to understand the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of MiCOMT genes

Glochodpurnoid B from <i>Glochidion puberum</i> Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Glochidpurnoids A and B (1 and 2), two new coumaroyl or feruloyl oleananes, along with 17 known triterpenoids (3–19) were obtained from the stems and twigs of Glochidion puberum. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, chemical methods, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. All compounds were screened for cytotoxicity against the colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116, and 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, and 17 showed remarkable inhibitory activities (IC50: 0.80–2.99 μM), being more active than the positive control 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The mechanistic study of 2, the most potent compound, showed that it could induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis and improve the sensitivity of HCT-116 cells to 5-FU

Use of Psychrotolerant Lactic Acid Bacteria (<i>Lactobacillus</i> spp. and <i>Leuconostoc</i> spp.) Isolated from Chinese Traditional Paocai for the Quality Improvement of Paocai Products

To improve the quality of Chinese traditional Paocai, two psychrotolerant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from Paocai, and the quality of Chinese Paocai product using these two strains as starter cultures was compared to a control sample fermented with aged brine at 10 °C. The results suggested that the physicochemical and sensory features of Paocai fermented with psychrotolerant LAB were more suitable for industrial applications. The nitrite content of Paocai fermented with psychrotolerant LAB was 1 mg/kg, which was significantly lower than that of the control Paocai (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Low-temperature fermentation with the starter cultures of psychrotolerant LAB could effectively prevent overacidity and over-ripening of the Paocai products. Additionally, Paocai fermented with psychrotolerant LAB harbored relatively simple microbial flora as revealed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. This study provides a basis for improving the quality of Chinese traditional Paocai and the large-scale production of low-temperature Chinese traditional Paocai products

Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA corroborates the origin of Tibetan chickens

<div><p>Chicken is the most common poultry species and is important to human societies. Tibetan chicken (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) is a breed endemic to China that is distributed mainly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, its origin has not been well characterized. In the present study, we sequenced partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 239 and 283 samples from Tibetan and Sichuan indigenous chickens, respectively. Incorporating 1091 published sequences, we constructed the matrilineal genealogy of Tibetan chickens to further document their domestication history. We found that the genetic structure of the mtDNA haplotypes of Tibetan chickens are dominated by seven major haplogroups (A-G). In addition, phylogenetic and network analyses showed that Tibetan chickens are not distinguishable from the indigenous chickens in surrounding areas. Furthermore, some clades of Tibetan chickens may have originated from game fowls. In summary, our results collectively indicated that Tibetan chickens may have diverged from indigenous chickens in the adjacent regions and hybridized with various chickens.</p></div

Genetic diversity indices of Tibetan and lowland fowls.

<p>Genetic diversity indices of Tibetan and lowland fowls.</p

Geographical distribution of the major clades of different populations.

<p>Geographical distribution of the major clades of different populations.</p

Phylogenetic tree of control region haplotypes constructed by Bayesian method.

<p>Values in parentheses are Bayesian posterior probability of haplogroups (if haplogroups with more than one individual) identified by Liu et al [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0172945#pone.0172945.ref017" target="_blank">17</a>] and Miao et al [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0172945#pone.0172945.ref002" target="_blank">2</a>]. Only Bayesian posterior probability of the clade higher than 0.5 are indicated above branches. Red lines: red jungle fowls (RJFs); dark green lines: Yunnan indigenous chickens (YN); pink lines: Sichuan indigenous chickens (SC); blue lines: Qinghai indigenous chickens (QH); yellow lines: Xinjiang indigenous chickens (XJ) and light green lines: Tibetan chickens (Ti).</p

Maximum parsimony median-joining network of Tibetan chickens with (A) and without the chickens of adjacent regions (B).

<p>The domestic clades (A-H) are labeled. Node sizes are proportional to haplotype frequencies. The lines linking the nodes are proportional to the mutation steps. Black nodes indicate inferred steps not identified in the sampled populations. Colors within the circles represent chickens from different localities.</p