Effects of Chamaecyparis formosensis Matasumura extractives on lipopolysaccharide-induced release of nitric oxide.

Chamaecyparis formaosensis, commonly known as Taiwan red cypress, is native to Taiwan and grows at elevations of 1500-2150 m in Taiwan's central mountains. Many compounds have been identified from different pasts of C. formosensis, but up until now, little research has been done on the link between the constituents of C.

Orchids (Cymbidium spp., Oncidium, and Phalaenopsis).

Recent advances in genetic engineering have made the transformation and regeneration of plants into a powerful tool for orchid improvement. This chapter presents a simple and reproducible Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol and molecular screening technique of transgenics for two orchid species, Oncidium and Phalaenopsis. The target tissues for gene transfer were protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) derived from protocorms, into which constructed foreign genes were successfully introduced.

DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease via electroporation: study of molecular approaches for enhancing VP1 antigenicity.

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) affects susceptible livestock animals and causes disastrous economic impact. Immunization with plasmid expressing VP1 that contains the major antigenic epitope(s) of FMDV as cytoplasmic protein (cVP1) failed to elicit full protection against FMDV challenge.

Materials And Methods: In this study, mice were immunized via electroporation with four cDNA expression vectors that were constructed to express VP1 of FMDV, as cytoplasmic (cVP1), secreted (sVP1), membrane-anchored (mVP1) or capsid precursor protein (P1), respectively, to evaluate whether expression of VP1 in specific subcellular compartment(s) would result in better immune responses.

A comparative analysis of two cDNA clones of the cellulase gene family from anaerobic fungus Piromyces rhizinflata.

Cellulase family and some other glycosyl hydrolases of anaerobic fungi inhabiting the digestive tract of ruminants are believed to form an enzyme complex called cellulosome. Study of the individual component of cellulosome may shed light on understanding the organization of this complex and its functional mechanism. We have analysed the primary sequences of two cellulase clones, cel5B and cel6A, isolated from the cDNA library of ruminal fungus, Piromyces rhizinflata strain 2301.

pho2, a phosphate overaccumulator, is caused by a nonsense mutation in a microRNA399 target gene.

We recently demonstrated that microRNA399 (miR399) controls inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis by regulating the expression of UBC24 encoding a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Transgenic plants overexpressing miR399 accumulated excessive Pi in the shoots and displayed Pi toxic symptoms. In this study, we revealed that a previously identified Pi overaccumulator, pho2, is caused by a single nucleotide mutation resulting in early termination within the UBC24 gene.

Class I and III phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase play distinct roles in TLR signaling pathway.

PI3K involvement has been implicated in the TLR signal pathway. However, the precise roles of the different classes of PI3K in the pathway remain elusive. In this study, we have explored the functions of class I and class III PI3K in the TLR signal pathway using specific kinase mutants and PI3K lipid products.

Immuno-suppressive effect of blocking the CD28 signaling pathway in T-cells by an active component of Echinacea found by a novel pharmaceutical screening method.

AFTIR (after flowing through immobilized receptor) is a novel method for screening herbal extracts for pharmaceutical properties. Using AFTIR, we identified Cynarin in Echinacea purpurea by its selective binding to chip immobilized CD28, a receptor of T-cells, which is instrumental to immune functioning. The results of surface plasma resonance show that binding between immobilized CD28 and Cynarin is stronger than the binding between CD28 and CD80, a co-stimulated receptor of antigen presenting cells.

Proteomic survey of copper-binding proteins in Arabidopsis roots by immobilized metal affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry.

To plants, copper is vitally essential at low concentrations but extremely toxic at elevated concentrations. Plants have evolved a suite of mechanisms that modulate the uptake, distribution, and utilization of copper ions. These mechanisms require copper-interacting proteins for transporting, chelating, and sequestrating copper ions.

Caffeic acid suppresses UVB radiation-induced expression of interleukin-10 and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in mouse.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation present in sunlight causes sustained immune suppression, photocarcinogenesis and photoaging in humans. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a critical role in UVB-induced immune suppression by inhibiting cell-mediated immune reactions. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated in UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis.

Arabidopsis Hsa32, a novel heat shock protein, is essential for acquired thermotolerance during long recovery after acclimation.

Plants and animals share similar mechanisms in the heat shock (HS) response, such as synthesis of the conserved HS proteins (Hsps). However, because plants are confined to a growing environment, in general they require unique features to cope with heat stress. Here, we report on the analysis of the function of a novel Hsp, heat-stress-associated 32-kD protein (Hsa32), which is highly conserved in land plants but absent in most other organisms.

Anti-fungal activity of crude extracts and essential oil of Moringa oleifera Lam.

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the therapeutic properties of the seeds and leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam as herbal medicines. Ethanol extracts showed anti-fungal activities in vitro against dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis. GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition of the essential oil from leaves showed a total of 44 compounds.

Regulation of phosphate homeostasis by MicroRNA in Arabidopsis.

In this study, we reveal a mechanism by which plants regulate inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis to adapt to environmental changes in Pi availability. This mechanism involves the suppression of a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme by a specific microRNA, miR399. Upon Pi starvation, the miR399 is upregulated and its target gene, a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme, is downregulated in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Expression of rumen microbial fibrolytic enzyme genes in probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri.

This study was aimed at evaluating the cloning and expression of three rumen microbial fibrolytic enzyme genes in a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri and investigating the probiotic characteristics of these genetically modified lactobacilli. The Neocallimastix patriciarum xylanase gene xynCDBFV, the Fibrobacter succinogenes beta-glucanase (1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase [EC 3.2.

Local stability identification and the role of key acidic amino acid residues in staphylococcal nuclease unfolding.

Staphylococcal nuclease is a single domain protein with 149 amino acids. It has no disulfide bonds, which makes it a simple model for the study of protein folding. In this study, 20 mutants of this protein were generated each with a single base substitution of glycine for negatively charged glutamic acid or aspartic acid.

Local stability identification and the role of a key aromatic amino acid residue in staphylococcal nuclease refolding.

Staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) is a model protein that contains one domain and no disulfide bonds. Its stability in the native state may be maintained mainly by key amino acids. In this study, two point-mutated proteins each with a single base substitution [alanine for tryptophan (W140A) and alanine for lysine (K133A)] and two truncated fragment proteins (positions 1-139 [SNase(1-139) or W140O] and positions 1-141 [SNase(1-141) or E142O]) were generated.

The distinct effects of a butanol fraction of Bidens pilosa plant extract on the development of Th1-mediated diabetes and Th2-mediated airway inflammation in mice.

Bidens pilosa is claimed to be useful for immune or anti-inflammatory disorders; however, little scientific evidence has been published concerning its function. In this paper, immune disease mouse models were used to study the function of a butanol fraction of B.pilosa.

Differential regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C expression by vernalization in cabbage and Arabidopsis.

Vernalization is required to induce flowering in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var Capitata L.). Since FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) was identified as a major repressor of flowering in the vernalization pathway in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), two homologs of AtFLC, BoFLC3-2 and BoFLC4-1, were isolated from cabbage to investigate the molecular mechanism of vernalization in cabbage flowering.

Cytotoxic triterpenes from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa.

Six triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-12,19-dioxo-13(18)-oleanene (1), 3beta-acetoxy-19(29)-taraxasten-20alpha-ol (2), 3beta-acetoxy-21alpha,22alpha-epoxytaraxastan-20alpha-ol (3), 3,22-dioxo-20-taraxastene (4), 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha,12alpha-epoxy-16-oxo-14-taraxerene (5), 3beta-acetoxy-25-methoxylanosta-8,23-diene (6) along with nine known triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha,12alpha-epoxy-14-taraxerene (7), 3beta-acetoxy-25-hydroxylanosta-8,23-diene (8), oleanonic acid (9), acetylbetulinic acid (10), betulonic acid (11), acetylursolic acid (12), ursonic acid (13), ursolic acid (14), and 3-oxofriedelan-28-oic acid (15) were isolated from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa, and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro cytotoxic efficacy of these triterpenes was investigated using three human cancer cell lines, namely, HONE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells. Compound 8 and pentacyclic triterpenes 9-15 possessing a carboxylic acid functionality at C-28 showed significant cytotoxic activities against the aforementioned cell lines and gave IC50 values in the range 4.

A transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the effect of CpG-ODN on human THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells.

The CpG motif of bacterial DNA (CpG-DNA) is a potent immunostimulating agent whose mechanism of action is not yet clear. Here, we used both DNA microarray and proteomic approaches to investigate the effects of oligodeoxynucleotides containing the CpG motif (CpG-ODN) on gene transcription and protein expression profiles of CpG-ODN responsive THP-1 cells. Microarray analysis revealed that 2 h stimulation with CpG-ODN up-regulated 50 genes and down-regulated five genes.

Comparative studies of the capsid precursor polypeptide P1 and the capsid protein VP1 cDNA vectors for DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a severe livestock disease, and the virus is an interesting target for virology and vaccine studies.

Materials And Methods: Here we evaluated comparatively three different viral antigen-encoding DNA sequences, delivered via two physical means (i.e.

Transgenic tomato plants expressing the Arabidopsis NPR1 gene display enhanced resistance to a spectrum of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Development of effective disease-resistance to a broad-range of pathogens in crops usually requires tremendous resources and effort when traditional breeding approaches are taken. Genetic engineering of disease-resistance in crops has become popular and valuable in terms of cost and efficacy. Due to long-lasting and broad-spectrum of effectiveness against pathogens, employment of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) for the genetic engineering of crop disease-resistance is of particular interest.

Transgenic tomato plants expressing an Arabidopsis thionin (Thi2.1) driven by fruit-inactive promoter battle against phytopathogenic attack.

Tomato is one of the most important crop plants; however, attacks by pathogens can cause serious losses in production. In this report, we explore the potential of using the Arabidopsis thionin (Thi2.1) gene to genetically engineer enhanced resistance to multiple diseases in tomato.

Induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by phytochemicals from Anoectochilus formosanus.

The antitumor activity of Anoectochilus formosanus Hayata (Orchidaceae), a popularly used folk medicine in the treatment of cancers in Asia, was investigated in MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells. Plant extracts of A. formosanus were observed to induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells as evidenced by cell-morphological changes, an early redistribution of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine, and DNA content distribution studies.

Expression of bioactive human interferon-gamma in transgenic rice cell suspension cultures.

We investigated the possibility of producing the therapeutic recombinant cytokine, Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), in transgenic rice cell (Oryza sativa, cultivar TNG67) suspension cultures. We tested expression of two vector constructs, each harboring an alphaAmy3 leader peptide and a C-terminus His 6 tag fused to a human IFN-gamma cDNA, one driven by a sucrose-starvation inducible promoter (rice alphaAmy3 promoter) and the other by a constitutive maize ubiquitin promoter, in rice cell suspensions, introduced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. There was a significant difference in the amounts of recombinant IFN-gamma protein produced by the Ups and Amy cell lines, as cytosolic and secretory proteins respectively.

Polyacetylenic compounds and butanol fraction from Bidens pilosa can modulate the differentiation of helper T cells and prevent autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice.

Compelling evidence suggests that infiltrating CD4+ type I helper T (Th1) cells in the pancreatic islets play a pivotal role in the progression of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. We demonstrate in the present report that a butanol fraction of B. pilosa suppressed the development of diabetes, helped maintain levels of blood sugar and insulin in NOD mice in a dose-dependent manner and elevated the serum IgE levels regulated by Th2 cytokines in NOD mice.