Extracts Of Seedlings Research Articles

Wheat Seedlings as Food Supplement to Combat Free Radicals: An In Vitro Approach.

The present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of 5 organic solvent extracts (petroleum ether, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol) of wheat grains, 3, 5 and 7 days old wheat seedlings. To determine the antioxidant activity of five extracts of four different samples, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content and ferrous reducing power ability were carried out. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect of chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of 3 days old wheat seedlings was higher than wheat grains. Chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 3 days old wheat seedlings exhibited higher 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging effcet than extracts of other samples. The phenolic content was high in chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extract of 5 days old wheat seedlings. When compared with wheat grain, reducing power ability was high in chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extract of wheat seedlings, especially in 3 and 5 days old wheat seedlings. From the above results, it was concluded that chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extract of 3, 5 and 7 days old wheat seedlings showed better antioxidant activity than the wheat grain extracts. Hence, the results of the present study suggest the intake of wheat seedlings as a food supplement to combat the diseases caused by free radicals.

Metabolism of excised embryos of Lupinus luteus L. V. Extract of yellow lupin seedlings as nitrogen source for cultured embryos

Metabolism of excised embryos of Lupinus luteus L. V. Extract of yellow lupin seedlings as nitrogen source for cultured embryos

Genotypes of Fraxinus excelsior with different susceptibility to the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus and their response to the phytotoxin viridiol – A metabolomic and microscopic study

Eight European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) genotypes with different known susceptibility to Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus were tested against the phytotoxin viridiol and their response described at the microscopic and metabolomic level. All ash genotypes were sensitive to the toxin and necrosis was detectable after 24h. Among the three viridiol concentrations used in the experiment, the lowest concentration (14.7μM) yielded markedly lower mean damage scores compared to those resulting from seedlings tested at higher dosages. The highest damage scores were associated with the susceptible ash clones S-101, S-106 and S-125, but also with resistant clone R-104. Three resistant clones (R-131, R-121, and R-118) had lower mean damage scores compared to susceptible clones. Wilting of leaves was more common 48h after treatment and more pronounced on seedlings with high damage scores. The resulting lesions generally lacked browning of tissue and displayed only surface disruption of cells in direct contact with the toxin. A delay in symptom development was evident on all five resistant clones tested with the two higher concentrations of viridiol. LC-HRMS and MS/MS analyses of ash seedling extracts suggest several secoiridoid compounds as well as compounds related to abscisic acid (ABA) to be produced in response to viridiol. ABA-cysteine and xanthoxin were found at significantly higher concentrations in susceptible clones compared to resistant clones after treatment with viridiol, suggesting a primary role of ABA in response to stress. The results observed in this study suggest that genetic resistance to H. pseudoalbidus among ash genotypes may be explained, in part, by the varied response to phytotoxins produced by the fungus.

Preparative studies on the isolation of an enzyme associated with carthamin synthesis in Carthamus tinetorius L.

Preliminary operations for the isolation of an enzyme associated with cathamin synthesis (carthamin-synthesizing enzyme) were done with a soluble extract of safflower seedlings. Ethanol and acetone seriously affected the solubility and the activity of the enzyme. Ammonium sulfate fractionation, calcium acetate precipitation and protamine sulfate treatment were all useful techniques for removing inert protein from the crude extract however, the activity of the carthamin-synthesizing enzyme could not be separated from that of native polyphenol oxidase or peroxidase. Partial purification of the carthamin-synthesizing enzyme could be achieved by filtration of a crude extract through Sephadex G-100 gel after treating it with ammonium sulfate, calcium acetate and protamine sulfate. -the purified enzyme reacted possitively with precarthamin at pH 4.8 in 50.0 mM acetate buffer. The synthesized product was identified as carthamin by checking its R<sub>f</sub> values on silica gel plates developed with three different developing solvents and UV absorption spectral pattern in methanol. The enzyme sample was unstable on storage and stabilization of the sample was tested by applying many procedures. Carthamin-synthesizing enzyme had low affinity to celite 535. No carthamin was found in an incubation medium containing precarthamin and an authentic sample of polyphenol oxidase or peroxidase. Carthamin could not be converted to any blackish catabolites through polyphenol oxidase- or peroxidase-catalyzed oxidative reaction. Changes in the activities of three different enzymes, carthamin-synthesizing enzyme, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, were investigated in the extract from both etiolated and green seedlings of safflower and the data were discussed in relation to the catalytic properties of the enzymes.

Molecular chaperone function of Arabidopsis thaliana phloem protein 2-A1, encodes a protein similar to phloem lectin

Although several phloem sap proteins have been identified from protein extracts of heat-treated Arabidopsis seedlings using FPLC gel filtration columns, many of the physiological roles played by these proteins remain to be elucidated. We functionally characterized a phloem protein 2-A1, which encodes a protein similar to phloem lectin. Using a bacterially expressed recombinant protein of AtPP2-A1, we found that it performs dual functions, showing both molecular chaperone activity and antifungal activity. mRNA expression of the AtPP2-1 gene was induced by diverse external stresses such as pathogens, and other signaling molecules, such as ethylene. These results suggest that the AtPP2-A1 molecular chaperone protein plays a critical role in the Arabidopsis defense system against diverse external stresses including fungal pathogenic attack and heat shock.

Evaluating the plant growth promoting ability of thermotolerant bacteria and cyanobacteria and their interactions with seed spice crops

The potential of eight thermotolerant bacteria (seven Bacillus spp. and one actinobacterium Kocuria sp.) and two cyanobacteria (Anabaena laxa and Calothrix elenkinii) as plant growth promoting (PGP) agents was evaluated with seed spices – coriander, cumin and fennel, under controlled conditions in potting mix fortified with microbial cultures. Amendment with Anabaena brought about 25% enhanced germination in cumin over control, while Calothrix enhanced root/shoot length significantly in all the three crops, especially fennel. Fortification with microbes led to 30–50% increase in shoot/root length, which was reflected as two–three fold enhancement in the vigour index of the plants. Among the bacterial strains, T4 (Bacillus pumilus) was most promising in terms of PGP traits in fennel and cumin crop. Plant dry weight and peroxidase activity of shoots and roots were enhanced by 5–10-folds in all the microbe inoculated treatments, with highest values in Calothrix treated coriander seedlings. β-1,3 endoglucanase activity showed twofold enhancement in shoots from Anabaena inoculated coriander seedlings. The fungicidal activity of the root extracts from the bacteria treated treatments of coriander seedlings against Macrophomina phaseolina was highest, while root extracts of fennel seedlings were able to show largest zones of inhibition against Fusarium moniliforme. This study highlighted the promise of fortification with both heterotrophic and photosynthetic microbes in plant growth promotion, and their significant role in enhancing and eliciting peroxidase/endoglucanase enzyme and fungicidal activity of plant extracts of seed spices.

.بإضافة تراكيز من حامض الساليسليك خارج الجسم الحي L graecum- foenum Trigonella تحفيز إنتاج بعض مركبات األيض الثانوي في كالس نبات الحلبة

The effect of adding different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/l) on the production of some secondary metabolites in callus of Trigonella foenum- graecum L. plant was studied. The quality and quantity of phytochemicals were investigated using methanol extracts of hypocotyls seedlings in vivo, in vitro. Calli were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Callus was initiated on dissected hypocotyls explants using Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium supplemented with Benzyl adenine (BA) at 1.5 mg/l with 0.5 2

Analysis of tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphotyrosine-binding proteins in germinating seeds from Scots pine

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation in angiosperms has been implicated in various physiological processes, including seed development and germination. In conifers, the role of tyrosine phosphorylation and the mechanisms of its regulation are yet to be investigated. In this study, we examined the profile of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in Scots pine seeds at different stages of germination. We detected extensive protein tyrosine phosphorylation in extracts from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dormant seeds. In addition, the pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation was found to change significantly during seed germination, especially at earlier stages of post-imbibition which coincides with the initiation of cell division, and during the period of intensive elongation of hypocotyls. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of phosphotyrosine signaling, we employed affinity purification and mass spectrometry for the identification of pTyr-binding proteins from the extracts of Scots pine seedlings. Using this approach, we purified two proteins of 10 and 43kDa, which interacted specifically with pTyr-Sepharose and were identified by mass spectrometry as P. sylvestris defensin 1 (PsDef1) and aldose 1-epimerase (EC:5.1.3.3), respectively. Additionally, we demonstrated that both endogenous and recombinant PsDef1 specifically interact with pTyr-Sepharose, but not Tyr-beads. As the affinity purification approach did not reveal the presence of proteins with known pTyr binding domains (SH2, PTB and C2), we suggest that plants may have evolved a different mode of pTyr recognition, which yet remains to be uncovered.

Pea Seedling Amine Oxidase Application: an Emerging Antihistamine Strategy in Tuna Fish

Despite the known antihistaminic effects of PSAO, this enzyme remains unrecognized as an antihistamine additive in the food industry. The objective of this study was to ascertain the plausible histamine-degrading effects of a new food-grade additive (pea seedling extract) in tuna fish. PSAO was purified from cultured pea seedlings via ionexchange and size-exclusion chromatography. SDS-PAGE results indicated that the PSAO subunit has an apparent molecular weight of about 95 kDa. To evaluate the optimized conditions for antihistaminic activity of the enzyme, the reaction of PSAO and histamine was carried out in KPi buffer under conditions relevant to the fish processing industry. 1 unit mL-1 of PSAO significantly reduced the histamine content at pH 7.0 but not at pH 5.0. Accordingly, its antihistaminic activity was assessed in homogenized skipjack tuna fish (Katsuwonus pelamis) using an ion-paired HPLC method. The results showed that PSAO can reduce 87.14% of the histamine content of the tuna fish at pH 7.0, 37°C. This study indicates that PSAO - purified or even filtrate of pea seedling homogenate - can degrade histamine, which suggests practical application of this enzyme in fish processing industry.

EFFECT OF POTENTIAL ALLELOPATHIC EGYPTIAN RICE CULTIVARS AGAINST Echinochloa crus-galli AND Echinochloa colonum

With the burgeoning population of the world, achieving the food security has become a challenge to mankind; as a result only yield maximization is becoming the last word of modern agriculture. Although this approach is satisfying the food demand to almost a desirable extent, but is directly and indirectly causing negative impact on quality of the product, environment and overall human health. This system is mostly based on the use of heavy doses of herbicides to control weeds. Therefore, these experiments were conducted in order to investigatea quick seedling test for allelopathic potential of rice cultivars [Egyptian Jasmine (E. Jasmine) and sakha 104] and allelopathic potential of methanol extract of rice cultivars seedlings and as sown rice cultivars on seed germination %, growth and anatomical parameters of the two tested rice weeds (Echinochloa crus-galli and Echinochloacolonum). The obtained results indicated that, reduction in seed germination %, growth parameters of the two tested rice weeds were recorded by methanol extract of allelopathic rice cultivar (E. Jasmine) and as sown with rice cultivars application. Anatomical changes were obtained in the both rice weeds treated with methanol extract of rice cultivar(E. Jasmine). This may led to avoid or at least reduce the frequent use of herbicides in rice crop production sector. These results suggest that rice plant methanol extract may be a source of natural herbicide (bioherbicide).

Constitutive and Inducible Resistance to <I>Atherigona soccata</I> (Diptera: Muscidae) in <I>Sorghum bicolor</I>

Host plant resistance is one of the important components for minimizing the losses because of sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Diptera: Muscidae) attack. Therefore, we studied the constitutive and inducible biochemical mechanisms of resistance to A. soccata in a diverse array of sorghum genotypes to identify lines with diverse mechanisms of resistance to this insect. Fifteen sorghum genotypes with different levels of resistance to A. soccata were evaluated. Methanol extracts of 10-d old damaged and undamaged sorghum seedlings were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Association between peak areas of the identified and unidentified compounds with parameters measuring A. soccata resistance was determined through correlation analysis. Amounts of p-hydroxy benzaldehyde and the unidentified compounds at RTs 24.38 and 3.70 min were associated with susceptibility to A. soccata. Genotypes exhibiting resistance to A. soccata were placed in four groups, and the lines showing constitutive and/or induced resistance to A. soccata with different combinations of biochemical factors potentially could be used for increasing the levels of resistance to A. soccata in sorghum.

Isolation and characterisation of a NBS-LRR resistance gene analogue from pearl millet

Plant resistance (R) proteins belonging to nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat (NBS–LRR) family are mainly involved in recognition of effectors secreted by pathogens. Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br] is one of the most drought tolerant cereals, staple food crop of the semi-arid tropics but is highly susceptible to the downy mildew disease caused by oomycetous Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc) schroet. Earlier studies have identified several resistance gene analogues (RGAs) in pearl millet which may be involved in resistance against downy mildew. Of these, a clone RGPM213 was shown to have more than 60% identity with R-proteins coding for NBS–LRR-like protein kinase. The exact nature and function of the R-protein encoded by this gene was not known. In the present study, the cDNA of RGPM213 encompassing NBS–LRR region was inserted into an expression vector pRSET-A and transformed into BL21 E.coli cells. The expressed recombinant fusion protein with a His tag was purified using nickel affinity purification and it had a molecular weight of 35 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Immunoaffinity purification using antibodies raised against this recombinant R-protein identified two proteins of molecular weights 55 kDa and 66 kDa from pearl millet seedling extracts. Peptide mass fingerprinting of these proteins followed by homology search in database revealed similarity of the 55 kDa protein with a protein kinase from Brassica oleracia containing serine/ threonine kinase domain.

Accumulation of Isochorismate-derived 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic 3-O-β-d-Xyloside in Arabidopsis Resistance to Pathogens and Ageing of Leaves

An intricate network of hormone signals regulates plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Salicylic acid (SA), derived from the shikimate/isochorismate pathway, is a key hormone in resistance to biotrophic pathogens. Several SA derivatives and associated modifying enzymes have been identified and implicated in the storage and channeling of benzoic acid intermediates or as bioactive molecules. However, the range and modes of action of SA-related metabolites remain elusive. In Arabidopsis, Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1) promotes SA-dependent and SA-independent responses in resistance against pathogens. Here, we used metabolite profiling of Arabidopsis wild type and eds1 mutant leaf extracts to identify molecules, other than SA, whose accumulation requires EDS1 signaling. Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry of isolated and purified compounds revealed 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) as an isochorismate-derived secondary metabolite whose accumulation depends on EDS1 in resistance responses and during ageing of plants. 2,3-DHBA exists predominantly as a xylose-conjugated form (2-hydroxy-3-beta-O-D-xylopyranosyloxy benzoic acid) that is structurally distinct from known SA-glucose conjugates. Analysis of DHBA accumulation profiles in various Arabidopsis mutants suggests an enzymatic route to 2,3-DHBA synthesis that is under the control of EDS1. We propose that components of the EDS1 pathway direct the generation or stabilization of 2,3-DHBA, which as a potentially bioactive molecule is sequestered as a xylose conjugate.

Correlation Network Analysis reveals a sequential reorganization of metabolic and transcriptional states during germination and gene-metabolite relationships in developing seedlings of Arabidopsis

BackgroundHolistic profiling and systems biology studies of nutrient availability are providing more and more insight into the mechanisms by which gene expression responds to diverse nutrients and metabolites. Less is known about the mechanisms by which gene expression is affected by endogenous metabolites, which can change dramatically during development. Multivariate statistics and correlation network analysis approaches were applied to non-targeted profiling data to investigate transcriptional and metabolic states and to identify metabolites potentially influencing gene expression during the heterotrophic to autotrophic transition of seedling establishment.ResultsMicroarray-based transcript profiles were obtained from extracts of Arabidopsis seeds or seedlings harvested from imbibition to eight days-old. 1H-NMR metabolite profiles were obtained for corresponding samples. Analysis of transcript data revealed high differential gene expression through seedling emergence followed by a period of less change. Differential gene expression increased gradually to day 8, and showed two days, 5 and 7, with a very high proportion of up-regulated genes, including transcription factor/signaling genes. Network cartography using spring embedding revealed two primary clusters of highly correlated metabolites, which appear to reflect temporally distinct metabolic states. Principle Component Analyses of both sets of profiling data produced a chronological spread of time points, which would be expected of a developmental series. The network cartography of the transcript data produced two distinct clusters comprising days 0 to 2 and days 3 to 8, whereas the corresponding analysis of metabolite data revealed a shift of day 2 into the day 3 to 8 group. A metabolite and transcript pair-wise correlation analysis encompassing all time points gave a set of 237 highly significant correlations. Of 129 genes correlated to sucrose, 44 of them were known to be sucrose responsive including a number of transcription factors.ConclusionsMicroarray analysis during germination and establishment revealed major transitions in transcriptional activity at time points potentially associated with developmental transitions. Network cartography using spring-embedding indicate that a shift in the state of nutritionally important metabolites precedes a major shift in the transcriptional state going from germination to seedling emergence. Pair-wise linear correlations of transcript and metabolite levels identified many genes known to be influenced by metabolites, and provided other targets to investigate metabolite regulation of gene expression during seedling establishment.

Modulation of quorum sensing controlled behaviour of bacteria by growing seedling, seed and seedling extracts of leguminous plants.

Effect of growing seedling, seeds and seedlings extracts from seven leguminous plants (Pisum sativum, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Cajanus cajan, Lentil culinaris, Cicer arietinum and Trigonella foenum graecum) were screened for their ability to influence quorum sensing controlled pigment production in Chromobacterium violaceum indicator strains (CV12472 and CVO26). Germinating seedling and seedling extracts of only P. sativum (pea) showed inhibition of violacein production. Interestingly, the T. foenum graecum (fenugreek) seed extracts enhances the pigment production. Quorum sensing regulated swarming motility in Pseudomonas aerugionsa PAO1 was reduced by pea seedling extract while enhanced by the fenugreek seed extracts. These findings suggest that plant metabolites of some legumes interact actively with bacterial quorum sensing and could modulate its associated functions.

Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and toxicological studies of Ghagra shak (Xanthium strumarium L.) growing in Bangladesh

The present study describes the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and toxicological evaluations of Xanthium strumarium L. growing in Bangladesh. In toxicity evaluation on rats, the methanol extract of seedlings showed mortality, while both seedling and mature plant extracts raised the serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase values and produced significant abnormalities in the histopathology of liver and kidney of rats. On the other hand, the aqueous soluble fraction of methanol extract of mature plant (LC50 = 0.352 microg/mL) and methanol crude extract of seedlings (LC50 = 0.656 microg/mL) demonstrated significant toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. A total of four compounds were purified and characterized as stigmasterol (1), 11-hydroxy-11-carboxy-4-oxo-1(5),2(Z)-xanthadien-12,8-olide (2), daucosterol (3) and lasidiol-10-anisate (4). The present study suggests that X. strumarium is toxic to animal.

Pattern Recognition Receptors Require N-Glycosylation to Mediate Plant Immunity

N-Glycans attached to the ectodomains of plasma membrane pattern recognition receptors constitute likely initial contact sites between plant cells and invading pathogens. To assess the role of N-glycans in receptor-mediated immune responses, we investigated the functionality of Arabidopsis receptor kinases EFR and FLS2, sensing bacterial translation elongation factor Tu (elf18) and flagellin (flg22), respectively, in N-glycosylation mutants. As revealed by binding and responses to elf18 or flg22, both receptors tolerated immature N-glycans induced by mutations in various Golgi modification steps. EFR was specifically impaired by loss-of-function mutations in STT3A, a subunit of the endoplasmic reticulum resident oligosaccharyltransferase complex. FLS2 tolerated mild underglycosylation occurring in stt3a but was sensitive to severe underglycosylation induced by tunicamycin treatment. EFR accumulation was significantly reduced when synthesized without N-glycans but to lesser extent when underglycosylated in stt3a or mutated in single amino acid positions. Interestingly, EFR(N143Q) lacking a single conserved N-glycosylation site from the EFR ectodomain accumulated to reduced levels and lost the ability to bind its ligand and to mediate elf18-elicited oxidative burst. However, EFR-YFP protein localization and peptide:N-glycosidase F digestion assays support that both EFR produced in stt3a and EFR(N143Q) in wild type cells correctly targeted to the plasma membrane via the Golgi apparatus. These results indicate that a single N-glycan plays a critical role for receptor abundance and ligand recognition during plant-pathogen interactions at the cell surface.

Zymographic assay of plant diamine oxidase on entrapped peroxidase polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A study of stability to proteolysis

A zymographic assay of diamine oxidase (DAO, histaminase, EC 1.4.3.6), based on a coupled peroxidase reaction, and its behavior at proteolysis in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions, are described. The DAO activity from a vegetal extract of Lathyrus sativus seedlings was directly determined on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoretic gels containing entrapped horseradish peroxidase, with putrescine as substrate of histaminase and ortho-phenylenediamine as co-substrate of peroxidase. The accumulation of azo-aniline, as peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation product, led to well-defined yellow-brown bands on gels, with intensities corresponding to the enzymatic activity of DAO. After image analysis of gels, a linear dependency of DAO content (Coomassie-stained protein bands) and of its enzymatic activity (zymographic bands) with the concentration of the vegetal extract was obtained. In simulated gastric conditions (pH 1.2, 37 °C), the DAO from the vegetal extract lost its enzymatic activity before 15 min of incubation, either in the presence or absence of pepsin. The protein pattern (Coomassie-stained) revealed that the DAO content from the vegetal extract was kept almost constant in the simulated intestinal fluid (containing pancreatin or not), with a slight diminution in the presence of pancreatic proteases. After 10 h of incubation at 37 °C, the DAO enzymatic activity from the vegetal extract was 44.7% in media without pancreatin and 13.6% in the presence of pancreatin, whereas the purified DAO retained only 4.65% of its initial enzymatic activity in the presence of pancreatin. FigureFigure Zymographic assay of DAO with peroxidase included in polyacrylamide gels

EFFECT OF THERMAL PROCESSING ON THE PHENOLIC ASSOCIATED HEALTH-RELEVANT FUNCTIONALITY OF SELECTED LEGUME SPROUTS AND SEEDLINGS

ABSTRACT The effect of thermal processing on modification of phenolics-linked functionality of the sprout and seedling extracts of select legumes was investigated. Health-relevant functionality for type 2 diabetes-related α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, hypertension-related angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE 1) inhibition and ulcer-related Helicobacter pylori inhibition was investigated. Thermal processing via autoclaving resulted in tissue browning, leading to higher total phenolic content and free radical scavenging-linked antioxidant activity. Thermal processing also improved the type 2 diabetes-related functionality. Fenugreek had the highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, followed by soybean, fava bean and mung bean. The H. pylori inhibitory activity of all extracts improved substantially after thermal processing with direct correlation to phenolic content and related antioxidant activity. The ACE 1 inhibitory activity and levo-dihydroxy phenylalanine content of most extracts declined with thermal processing. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Thermal processing by autoclaving improved the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in fava bean, mung bean, fenugreek, and soybean sprouts and seedlings. It improved diabetes-related α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and ulcer-related Helicobacter pylori inhibitory activity. It reduced the cognitive function-related levo-dihydroxy phenylalanine content and hypertension-related angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 inhibitory activity. Therefore, diet designs for chronic disease management will have to consider thermal processing-linked modification of bioactive ingredient profiles.

Nutrient starvation differentially regulates the autophagy-related gene GmATG8i in soybean seedlings

Autophagy functions in bulk degradation of proteins and organelles for nutrient recycling. Recent evidence suggests that a set of autophagy-related (ATG) genes are induced under starvation, senescence and various abiotic stresses. To understand how these genes function in plants, expression profiles of soybean ATG homologs, GmATG8s, GmATG4, GmATG9, GmATG12 and GmATG18a, were examined using seedlings of Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Fukuyutaka) subjected to various nutrient conditions. Among them, GmATG8i mRNA was induced at higher level than any other ATGs under starvation. Immuoblot with a specific antibody raised against GmAtg8i indicated that endogenous GmAtg8i associates to microsomes of soybean seedling extracts. In the presence of vacuolar protease inhibitors, significant accumulation of anti- GmAtg8i was observed and mRNA level of GmATG8i increased in higher level than in the absence of the inhibitors. These results suggest that in soybean gene expression of ATG8i is regulated by both environmental nutrient conditions and intracellular nutrient recycling via proteolysis in vacuole.