Germplasm resources, genetic diversity, functional genes, genetic breeding, and prospects of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit: a review

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been widely used in China, Japan and Korea to relieve cough, vomiting, and inflammation. This review summarizes the recent research focus on germplasm resources, genetic diversity, functional genes, genetic breeding and prospects of P. ternata. The impact of germplasm resources and biogeography are the key factors of the effects of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, avoiding the medical negligence caused by using the confused medicine. Genetic diversity and genetic breeding are the basis of germplasm improvement. A virus-free technique of tissue culture is used to rapid propagation of P. ternata, promoting the production of seedlings without season restrictions. Functional gene research is the theoretical basis and target of germplasm improvement. Many genes, such as PtsHSP17.2 and PtSAD have been confirmed to play an important role in heat stress, guiding the selection and breeding of heat-resistant and drought-resistant P. ternata resources. Still, some problems exist in the production of P. ternata, presenting a challenge in breeding and cultivation. We summarize previous studies here and propose directions for further study to advance the research in the production of P. ternata

Alkali extraction and physicochemical characterization of hemicelluloses from young bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel)

Two hemicellulose fractions were obtained by extraction of one-month- old young bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel). The fractionation procedure employed 2% NaOH as extractant, followed by filtration, acidification, precipitation, and washing with 70% ethanol solution. The total yield was 26.2%, based on the pentosan content in bamboo. The physicochemical properties were determined and sugar composition analysis showed that the hemicelluloses consisted mainly of xylose, arabinose, galactose, and a small amount of uronic acid. Furthermore, based on FT-IR and NMR spectra analyses, the structure of hemicelluloses was determined to be mainly arabinoxylans linked via (1→4)-β-glycosidic bonds with branches of arabinose and 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid. The molecular weights were 6387 Da and 4076 Da, corresponding to the hemicelluloses HA and HB. Finally, the thermal stability was elucidated using the TG-DTG method. The obtained results can provide important information for understanding young bamboo and the hemicelluloses in it

Effects of Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Communities of Fermented Soybean Products on the Formation of Biogenic Amines

The study was carried out to evaluate the contents of common biogenic amines, microbial community diversity and physicochemical indicators of seven samples of fermented liquid soybean products and seven samples of fermented solid soybean products. The results showed that the total amount of biogenic amines in defatted soy sauce, steamed fish soy sauce and oyster reduced salt soy sauce were all higher than 8 000 mg/L and significantly higher than those in the other samples (P < 0.05). The pH and Kjeldahl nitrogen contents of the samples were negatively correlated with the total content of biogenic amines, while water activity (factor loading 0.413), total acid content (factor loading 0.399) and salinity (factor loading 0.330) had a greater positive effect on the production of biogenic amines. Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. were positively and negatively correlated with the content of biogenic amines, respectively. The results of the study provide a theoretical basis for the development of relevant standards

Flood Risk Analysis of Different Climatic Phenomena during Flood Season Based on Copula-Based Bayesian Network Method: A Case Study of Taihu Basin, China

We propose a flood risk management model for the Taihu Basin, China, that considers the spatial and temporal differences of flood risk caused by the different climatic phenomena. In terms of time, the probability distribution of climatic phenomenon occurrence time was used to divide the flood season into plum rain and the typhoon periods. In terms of space, the Taihu Basin was divided into different sub-regions by the Copula functions. Finally, we constructed a flood risk management model using the Copula-based Bayesian network to analyze the flood risk. The results showed the plum rain period occurs from June 24 to July 21 and the typhoon period from July 22 to September 22. Considering the joint distribution of sub-region precipitation and the water level of Taihu Lake, we divided the Taihu Basin into three sub-regions (P-I, P-II, and P-III) for risk analysis in the plum rain period. However, the Taihu Basin was used as a whole for flood risk analysis in the typhoon period. Risk analysis indicated a probability of 2.4%, and 0.8%, respectively, for future adverse drainage during the plum rain period and the typhoon period, the flood risk increases rapidly with the rising water level in the Taihu Lake

Structural Features of Lignin and Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel)

Understanding the structural features of lignin (L) and lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCC) in bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) is important in order to expand the use of bamboo biomass. In this study, L and LCC were isolated from four-year-old mature bamboo using an organic solvent as an extractant. The structural features of L and LCC were characterized via UV-vis, FT-IR, NMR, sugar composition analysis, and alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation. L and LCC contained almost the same structural units: guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S), p-hydroxybenzoate substructures (PB), β-O-4’ substructures (A), 3-O-acetyl-(1→4)-linked- β-D-xylopyranosyl (βXyl3), (1→4)-linked-α(β)-D-xylopyranosyl (α(β)Xyl), and 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronic acid (MeGlcA(1→4)). The contents of the units varied between L and LCC. Carbohydrates linked with lignin in L and LCC mainly consisted of xylans. The sugar units of carbohydrates linked with lignin in LCC were determined to be of xylose (76.98%), arabinose (4.08%), glucose (6.47%), mannose (6.34%), altrose (3.69%), galactose (1.75%), and ribose (0.69%). The S (75.80%) and G (24.20%) units with a high S/G ratio of 3.13 were the main structural elements of lignin associated with carbohydrates in LCC

Distribution, Quantification and Toxicity of Cinnamaldehyde in Electronic Cigarette Refill Fluids and Aerosols

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution, concentration and toxicity of cinnamaldehyde in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) refill fluids and aerosols. Methods The distribution and concentration of cinnamaldehyde were determined in 39 e-cigarette refill fluids plus 6 duplicates using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A cinnamaldehyde toxicity profile was established for embryonic and adult cells using a live cell imaging assay, immunocytochemistry, the comet assay and a recovery assay. Results Twenty of the 39 refill fluids contained cinnamaldehyde at concentrations that are cytotoxic to human embryonic and lung cells in the MTT assay. Cinnamon Ceylon aerosol produced in a cartomizer-style e-cigarette was cytotoxic. Cinnamon Ceylon aerosols and refill fluid aerosols (80% propylene glycol or cinnamaldehyde/propylene glycol) made using a tank/boxmod e-cigarette were more cytotoxic at 5 V than 3 V. Using GC/MS, aerosols produced at 5 V contained 10 additional peaks not present in aerosol generated at 3 V. One of these, 2,3-butandione (diacetyl), was confirmed with an authentic standard. Cinnamaldehyde depolymerised microtubules in human pulmonary fibroblasts. At concentrations that produced no effect in the MTT assay, cinnamaldehyde decreased growth, attachment and spreading; altered cell morphology and motility; increased DNA strand breaks; and increased cell death. At the MTT IC50 concentration, lung cells were unable to recover from cinnamaldehyde after 2 hours of treatment, whereas embryonic cells recovered after 8 hours. Conclusions Cinnamaldehyde-containing refill fluids and aerosols are cytotoxic, genotoxic and low concentrations adversely affect cell processes and survival. These data indicate that cinnamaldehyde in e-cigarette refill fluids/aerosols may impair homeostasis in the respiratory system

Presentation_1_Identification of a Novel EF-Loop in the N-terminus of TRPM2 Channel Involved in Calcium Sensitivity.pdf

<p>As an oxidative stress sensor, transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel is involved in many physiological and pathological processes including warmth sensing, ischemia injury, inflammatory diseases and diabetes. Intracellular calcium is critical for TRPM2 channel activation and the IQ-like motif in the N-terminus has been shown to be important by mediating calmodulin binding. Sequence analysis predicted two potential EF-loops in the N-terminus of TRPM2. Site-directed mutagenesis combining with functional assay showed that substitution with alanine of several residues, most of which are conserved in the typical EF-loop, including D267, D278, D288, and E298 dramatically reduced TRPM2 channel currents. By further changing the charges or side chain length of these conserved residues, our results indicate that the negative charge of D267 and the side chain length of D278 are critical for calcium-induced TRPM2 channel activation. G272I mutation also dramatically reduced the channel currents, suggesting that this site is critical for calcium-induced TRPM2 channel activation. Furthermore, D267A mutant dramatically reduced the currents induced by calcium alone compared with that by ADPR, indicating that D267 residue in D267–D278 motif is the most important site for calcium sensitivity of TRPM2. In addition, inside-out recordings showed that mutations at D267, G272, D278, and E298 had no effect on single-channel conductance. Taken together, our data indicate that D267–D278 motif in the N-terminus as a novel EF-loop is critical for calcium-induced TRPM2 channel activation.</p