Metabolomic Profiling of Nicotiana Spp. Nectars Indicate That Pollinator Feeding Preference Is a Stronger Determinant Than Plant Phylogenetics in Shaping Nectar Diversity

Floral nectar is a rich secretion produced by the nectary gland and is offered as reward to attract pollinators leading to improved seed set. Nectars are composed of a complex mixture of sugars, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, lipids, organic and inorganic acids. This composition is influenced by several factors, including floral morphology, mechanism of nectar secretion, time of flowering, and visitation by pollinators. The objective of this study was to determine the contributions of flowering time, plant phylogeny, and pollinator selection on nectar composition in Nicotiana. The main classes of nectar metabolites (sugars and amino acids) were quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analytical platforms to identify differences among fifteen Nicotiana species representing day- and night-flowering plants from ten sections of the genus that are visited by five different primary pollinators. The nectar metabolomes of different Nicotiana species can predict the feeding preferences of the target pollinator(s) of each species, and the nectar sugars (i.e., glucose, fructose, and sucrose) are a distinguishing feature of Nicotiana species phylogeny. Moreover, comparative statistical analysis indicate that pollinators are a stronger determinant of nectar composition than plant phylogeny

Treatment of suspended solids and organics in boiler feed water using physico-chemical and advanced oxidative processes

Bibliography: 119-129Some pages are in colour

Nectar Analysis Throughout the Genus Nicotiana Suggests Conserved Mechanisms of Nectar Production and Biochemical Action

We have evaluated the floral nectars of nine species from different sections of the genus Nicotiana. These nine species effectively cover the genus. We found that the nectary glands from these different species showed similar developmental regulation with swelling of nectaries during the first half of development and a distinct color change in the nectary gland as development approaches anthesis. When we examined the composition of the nectar from these nine different species we found that they were similar in content. Carbohydrate compositions of these various nectars varied between these species with N. bonariensis showing the highest and N. sylvestris lowest level of sugars. Based upon the amount of carbohydrates, the nectars fell into two groups. We found that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the nectars of each of these species. While all species showed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in nectar, the quantitative amounts of hydrogen peroxide which was very high in N. rustica and N. bonariensis, suggesting be a common characteristic in short flower Nicotiana species. We further found that the antioxidant ascorbate accumulated in nectar and β-carotene accumulated in nectaries. β-carotene was most high in nectaries of N. bonariensis. We also examined the presence of proteins in the nectars of these species. The protein profile and quantities varied significantly between species, although all species have showed the presence of proteins in their nectars. We performed a limited proteomic analysis of several proteins from these nectars and determined that each of the five abundant proteins examined were identified as Nectarin 1, Nectarin 3, or Nectarin 5. Thus, based upon the results found in numerous species across the genus Nicotiana, we conclude that the mechanisms identified are similar to those mechanisms found in previous studies on ornamental tobacco nectars. Further, these similarities are remarkably conserved, throughout the genus Nicotiana

Heat shock reduces HCV replication via regulation of ribosomal L22 in Alu-RNA molecule dependent manner

Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem that affects more than 180 million people worldwide. HCV is associated with several hepatic and other hepatic disorders including malignancies. HCV is a small enveloped positive-single strand RNA virus that belongs to Hepacivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Here we aim to provide a new therapeutic strategy via treatment of infected HepG2 cells with heat shock (HS).Methods: The potential inhibitory effect of HS on HCV replication was assessed by the relative gene expression of NS5A and its corresponding protein by flowcytometry which has been additionally used to monitor other cellular factors.Results: HS treatment of infected HepG2 cells has the ability to disturb HCV replication possibly via stimulation of the Alu non-coding element which inhibits gene expression of ribosomal L22. Ribosomal protein L22 (RPl22) is one of the abundant RNA-binding proteins that are known to facilitate synthesis and translation of viral RNA and to participate in balancing the protein components of the ribosome itself.Conclusion: HS treatment of infected cells leads to up-regulation of long RNA-Alu molecule that regulates the expression of RPL22 and subsequently reduces HCV replication in HepG2 cells

Image_2_Nectar Analysis Throughout the Genus Nicotiana Suggests Conserved Mechanisms of Nectar Production and Biochemical Action.PDF

<p>We have evaluated the floral nectars of nine species from different sections of the genus Nicotiana. These nine species effectively cover the genus. We found that the nectary glands from these different species showed similar developmental regulation with swelling of nectaries during the first half of development and a distinct color change in the nectary gland as development approaches anthesis. When we examined the composition of the nectar from these nine different species we found that they were similar in content. Carbohydrate compositions of these various nectars varied between these species with N. bonariensis showing the highest and N. sylvestris lowest level of sugars. Based upon the amount of carbohydrates, the nectars fell into two groups. We found that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the nectars of each of these species. While all species showed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in nectar, the quantitative amounts of hydrogen peroxide which was very high in N. rustica and N. bonariensis, suggesting be a common characteristic in short flower Nicotiana species. We further found that the antioxidant ascorbate accumulated in nectar and β-carotene accumulated in nectaries. β-carotene was most high in nectaries of N. bonariensis. We also examined the presence of proteins in the nectars of these species. The protein profile and quantities varied significantly between species, although all species have showed the presence of proteins in their nectars. We performed a limited proteomic analysis of several proteins from these nectars and determined that each of the five abundant proteins examined were identified as Nectarin 1, Nectarin 3, or Nectarin 5. Thus, based upon the results found in numerous species across the genus Nicotiana, we conclude that the mechanisms identified are similar to those mechanisms found in previous studies on ornamental tobacco nectars. Further, these similarities are remarkably conserved, throughout the genus Nicotiana.</p

Image_4_Nectar Analysis Throughout the Genus Nicotiana Suggests Conserved Mechanisms of Nectar Production and Biochemical Action.PDF

<p>We have evaluated the floral nectars of nine species from different sections of the genus Nicotiana. These nine species effectively cover the genus. We found that the nectary glands from these different species showed similar developmental regulation with swelling of nectaries during the first half of development and a distinct color change in the nectary gland as development approaches anthesis. When we examined the composition of the nectar from these nine different species we found that they were similar in content. Carbohydrate compositions of these various nectars varied between these species with N. bonariensis showing the highest and N. sylvestris lowest level of sugars. Based upon the amount of carbohydrates, the nectars fell into two groups. We found that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the nectars of each of these species. While all species showed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in nectar, the quantitative amounts of hydrogen peroxide which was very high in N. rustica and N. bonariensis, suggesting be a common characteristic in short flower Nicotiana species. We further found that the antioxidant ascorbate accumulated in nectar and β-carotene accumulated in nectaries. β-carotene was most high in nectaries of N. bonariensis. We also examined the presence of proteins in the nectars of these species. The protein profile and quantities varied significantly between species, although all species have showed the presence of proteins in their nectars. We performed a limited proteomic analysis of several proteins from these nectars and determined that each of the five abundant proteins examined were identified as Nectarin 1, Nectarin 3, or Nectarin 5. Thus, based upon the results found in numerous species across the genus Nicotiana, we conclude that the mechanisms identified are similar to those mechanisms found in previous studies on ornamental tobacco nectars. Further, these similarities are remarkably conserved, throughout the genus Nicotiana.</p

Image_5_Nectar Analysis Throughout the Genus Nicotiana Suggests Conserved Mechanisms of Nectar Production and Biochemical Action.PDF

<p>We have evaluated the floral nectars of nine species from different sections of the genus Nicotiana. These nine species effectively cover the genus. We found that the nectary glands from these different species showed similar developmental regulation with swelling of nectaries during the first half of development and a distinct color change in the nectary gland as development approaches anthesis. When we examined the composition of the nectar from these nine different species we found that they were similar in content. Carbohydrate compositions of these various nectars varied between these species with N. bonariensis showing the highest and N. sylvestris lowest level of sugars. Based upon the amount of carbohydrates, the nectars fell into two groups. We found that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the nectars of each of these species. While all species showed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in nectar, the quantitative amounts of hydrogen peroxide which was very high in N. rustica and N. bonariensis, suggesting be a common characteristic in short flower Nicotiana species. We further found that the antioxidant ascorbate accumulated in nectar and β-carotene accumulated in nectaries. β-carotene was most high in nectaries of N. bonariensis. We also examined the presence of proteins in the nectars of these species. The protein profile and quantities varied significantly between species, although all species have showed the presence of proteins in their nectars. We performed a limited proteomic analysis of several proteins from these nectars and determined that each of the five abundant proteins examined were identified as Nectarin 1, Nectarin 3, or Nectarin 5. Thus, based upon the results found in numerous species across the genus Nicotiana, we conclude that the mechanisms identified are similar to those mechanisms found in previous studies on ornamental tobacco nectars. Further, these similarities are remarkably conserved, throughout the genus Nicotiana.</p

Image_1_Nectar Analysis Throughout the Genus Nicotiana Suggests Conserved Mechanisms of Nectar Production and Biochemical Action.PDF

<p>We have evaluated the floral nectars of nine species from different sections of the genus Nicotiana. These nine species effectively cover the genus. We found that the nectary glands from these different species showed similar developmental regulation with swelling of nectaries during the first half of development and a distinct color change in the nectary gland as development approaches anthesis. When we examined the composition of the nectar from these nine different species we found that they were similar in content. Carbohydrate compositions of these various nectars varied between these species with N. bonariensis showing the highest and N. sylvestris lowest level of sugars. Based upon the amount of carbohydrates, the nectars fell into two groups. We found that hydrogen peroxide accumulated in the nectars of each of these species. While all species showed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in nectar, the quantitative amounts of hydrogen peroxide which was very high in N. rustica and N. bonariensis, suggesting be a common characteristic in short flower Nicotiana species. We further found that the antioxidant ascorbate accumulated in nectar and β-carotene accumulated in nectaries. β-carotene was most high in nectaries of N. bonariensis. We also examined the presence of proteins in the nectars of these species. The protein profile and quantities varied significantly between species, although all species have showed the presence of proteins in their nectars. We performed a limited proteomic analysis of several proteins from these nectars and determined that each of the five abundant proteins examined were identified as Nectarin 1, Nectarin 3, or Nectarin 5. Thus, based upon the results found in numerous species across the genus Nicotiana, we conclude that the mechanisms identified are similar to those mechanisms found in previous studies on ornamental tobacco nectars. Further, these similarities are remarkably conserved, throughout the genus Nicotiana.</p