scholarly journals PSII Activity Was Inhibited at Flowering Stage with Developing Black Bracts of Oat

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5258
Author(s):  
Bei Liu ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Ming Sun ◽  
Manli Li ◽  
Xiqing Ma ◽  
...  

The color of bracts generally turns yellow or black from green during cereal grain development. However, the impact of these phenotypic changes on photosynthetic physiology during black bract formation remains unclear. Two oat cultivars (Avena sativa L.), ‘Triple Crown’ and ‘Qinghai 444’, with yellow and black bracts, respectively, were found to both have green bracts at the heading stage, but started to turn black at the flowering stage and become blackened at the milk stage for ‘Qinghai 444’. Their photosynthetic characteristics were analyzed and compared, and the key genes, proteins and regulatory pathways affecting photosynthetic physiology were determined in ‘Triple Crown’ and ‘Qinghai 444’ bracts. The results show that the actual PSII photochemical efficiency and PSII electron transfer rate of ‘Qinghai 444’ bracts had no significant changes at the heading and milk stages but decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at the flowering stage compared with ‘Triple Crown’. The chlorophyll content decreased, the LHCII involved in the assembly of supercomplexes in the thylakoid membrane was inhibited, and the expression of Lhcb1 and Lhcb5 was downregulated at the flowering stage. During this critical stage, the expression of Bh4 and C4H was upregulated, and the biosynthetic pathway of p-coumaric acid using tyrosine and phenylalanine as precursors was also enhanced. Moreover, the key upregulated genes (CHS, CHI and F3H) of anthocyanin biosynthesis might complement the impaired PSII activity until recovered at the milk stage. These findings provide a new insight into how photosynthesis alters during the process of oat bract color transition to black.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 466
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz Kęska ◽  
Jacek Marcinkiewicz ◽  
Łukasz Gierz ◽  
Żaneta Staszak ◽  
Jarosław Selech ◽  
...  

The continuous development of computer technology has made it applicable in many scientific fields, including research into a wide range of processes in agricultural machines. It allows the simulation of very complex physical phenomena, including grain motion. A recently discovered discrete element method (DEM) is used for this purpose. It involves direct integration of equations of grain system motion under the action of various forces, the most important of which are contact forces. The method’s accuracy depends mainly on precisely developed mathematical models of contacts. The creation of such models requires empirical validation, an experiment that investigates the course of contact forces at the moment of the impact of the grains. To achieve this, specialised test stations equipped with force and speed sensors were developed. The correct selection of testing equipment and interpretation of results play a decisive role in this type of research. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the force sensor dynamic properties’ influence on the measurement accuracy of the course of the plant grain impact forces against a stiff surface. The issue was examined using the computer simulation method. A proprietary computer software with the main calculation module and data input procedures, which presents results in a graphic form, was used for calculations. From the simulation, graphs of the contact force and force signal from the sensor were obtained. This helped to clearly indicate the essence of the correct selection of parameters used in the tests of sensors, which should be characterised by high resonance frequency.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong He ◽  
Qianqian Lu ◽  
Yuting He ◽  
Yaxiu Wang ◽  
Ninan Zhang ◽  
...  

Chinese cabbage is an important vegetable mainly planted in Asian countries, and mining the molecular mechanism responsible for purple coloration in Brassica crops is fast becoming a research hotspot. In particular, the anthocyanin accumulation characteristic of purple heading Chinese cabbage, along with the plant’s growth and head developing, is still largely unknown. To elucidate the dynamic anthocyanin biosynthesis mechanism of Chinese cabbage during its development processes, here we investigated the expression profiles of 86 anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and corresponding anthocyanin accumulation characteristics of plants as they grew and their heads developed, between purple heading Chinese cabbage 11S91 and its breeding parents. Anthocyanin accumulation of 11S91 increased from the early head formation period onward, whereas the purple trait donor 95T2-5 constantly accumulated anthocyanin throughout its whole plant development. Increasing expression levels of BrMYB2 and BrTT8 together with the downregulation of BrMYBL2.1, BrMYBL2.2, and BrLBD39.1 occurred in both 11S91 and 95T2-5 plants during their growth, accompanied by the significantly continuous upregulation of a phenylpropanoid metabolic gene, BrPAL3.1; a series of early biosynthesis genes, such as BrCHSs, BrCHIs, BrF3Hs, and BrF3’H; as well as some key late biosynthesis genes, such as BrDFR1, BrANS1, BrUF3GT2, BrUF5GT, Br5MAT, and Brp-Cout; in addition to the transport genes BrGST1 and BrGST2. Dynamic expression profiles of these upregulated genes correlated well with the total anthocyanin contents during the processes of plant growth and leaf head development, and results supported by similar evidence for structural genes were also found in the BrMYB2 transgenic Arabidopsis. After intersubspecific hybridization breeding, the purple interior heading leaves of 11S91 inherited the partial purple phenotypes from 95T2-5 while the phenotypes of seedlings and heads were mainly acquired from white 94S17; comparatively in expression patterns of investigated anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, cotyledons of 11S91 might inherit the majority of genetic information from the white type parent, whereas the growth seedlings and developing heading tissues of 11S91 featured expression patterns of these genes more similar to 95T2-5. This comprehensive set of results provides new evidence for a better understanding of the anthocyanin biosynthesis mechanism and future breeding of new purple Brassica vegetables.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gonzalez-Mendoza ◽  
Benjamín Valdez-Salas ◽  
Erick Bernardo-Mazariegos ◽  
Olivia Tzintzun-Camacho ◽  
Federico Gutiérrez-Miceli ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) of copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) from Justicia spicigera on the photochemical efficiency and phenol pattern of Prosopis glandulosa. In this study, the existence of localized surface plasmon resonance absorption associated with the nano-sized nature of Ag, Cu and Cu/Ag particles was confirmed by the presence of a single peak around 487, 585, and 487/580 nm respectively. Zeta potential and electrophoretic mobility were found to be 0.2 mV and 0.02 μmcm/(Vs) for synthesized NPs indicating less stability and thus tendency to agglomerate, and broad distribution of particles. Cu-NPs and Cu/Ag-NPs demonstrate that the dispersed phase is stable and has a minimum particle size at zeta potentials above –30 mV. Changes in phenolic compounds, total chlorophyll, and photochemical efficiency in leaves exposed to Ag, Cu and Cu/Ag phyto-nanoparticles were evaluated up to 72 hours. The results revealed that Ag-NP and Cu-NP from J. spicigera at 100 mg/L showed significant reduction in chlorophyll, epidermal polyphenol content and photochemical efficiency of P. glandulosa. In contrast, the application of bimetallic Cu/Ag-NP from J. spicigera showed a positive impact on physiological parameters of P. glandulosa after 72 h of exposure.


Hematology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy N. Roy

Abstract Inflammation arising from various etiologies, including infection, autoimmune disorders, chronic diseases, and aging, can promote anemia. The anemia of inflammation (AI) is most often normocytic and normochromic and is usually mild. Characteristic changes in systemic iron handling, erythrocyte production, and erythrocyte life span all contribute to AI. The preferred treatment is directed at the underlying disease. However, when the inflammatory insult is intractable, or the cause has not been diagnosed, there are limited options for treatment of AI. Because anemia is a comorbid condition that is associated with poor outcomes in various chronic disease states, understanding its pathogenesis and developing new tools for its treatment should remain a priority. Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide has taken center stage in recent years as a potent modulator of iron availability. As the technology for quantitative hepcidin analysis improves, hepcidin's role in various disease states is also being revealed. Recent insights concerning the regulatory pathways that modify hepcidin expression have identified novel targets for drug development. As the field advances with such therapeutics, the analysis of the impact of normalized hemoglobin on disease outcomes will confirm whether anemia is a reversible independent contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with inflammatory diseases.


Author(s):  
Fara Aninha Fernandes ◽  
Georgi V Chaltikyan

The advent of digital technology in healthcare presents opportunities for the improvement of healthcare systems around the world and the move towards value-based treatment. However, this move must be accompanied by strong legal and regulatory frameworks that will not only facilitate but encourage the good use of technology. The goal of the study was to assess the amenability and furtherance of regulatory frameworks in digital health by evaluating and comparing the processes, effectiveness and outcomes of these frameworks in the European Union and United States. Methods: This study incorporated two research methodologies. The first was a research of current legal and regulatory frameworks in digital health in the European Union and United States. A comprehensive online search for publications was carried out which included laws, regulations, policies, green papers, guidelines and recommendations. This research was complemented with interviews of five purposively sampled key informants in the legal and regulatory landscape. Results: Mind-maps revealed key features and challenges of the digital health field in the topics of the current state of regulation of digital health in the EU, Germany and US, regulatory pathways for digital health devices, protection and privacy of health data, mobile health validation, risk-based classification of medical devices, regulation of clinical decision support systems, telemedicine, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, reimbursement for digital health services and liability for digital health products. The experts expressed and explained key points where current regulation is deficient. The review of the legal frameworks revealed deficiencies which provide opportunities and recommendations to further develop and strengthen the regulatory landscape. Conclusions: A key element to a robust regulatory framework is the ability to ensure trust and confidence in using digital health technology. Technology must measure the impact on quality of life and burden of disease and not merely involve the collection of data.


The production of cereals in the United Kingdom has increased steadily over recent years from 12.6 million tonnes in 1964 to 21.8 million tonnes in 1982. During this period, the United Kingdom’s accession to the E.E.C. in 1973 caused a reverse in the milling industry’s policy of including only a small proportion of home-grown wheat with imported wheat in breadmaking grists. Home-grown wheat is now the major constituent of mass produced bread. Since the passing of the Plant Varieties Rights Act in 1964, plant breeders have been able to collect royalties on the sale of seed of their varieties; this led within a decade to a large number of high yielding varieties on offer to the farmer. Thus during the period of adjustment to home-grown wheat after 1973, the milling industry had to select from a wide range of varieties of different milling and baking qualities. Selection was aided by the offer of a ‘premium’ (extra payment) for wheat of the right variety. The millers’ problem then was to be able to check that the wheat received was of the variety claimed by the supplier. Investigations of the heterogeneity ofgliadins by electrophoresis had been conducted by several workers, but a refined procedure was developed that used starch gel electrophoresis that was able to distinguish most varieties of wheat grown in France and the E.E.C. Different electrophoretic patterns were obtained from individual grains of different varieties: grains of the same variety gave similar patterns irrespective of growth environment. Subsequent developments of variety identification by electrophoresis have improved the resolution and time of analysis. Use of electrophoresis to check the varietal composition of grain being supplied to a British miller revealed that contracts that specified varietal content were usually, but not always, complied with. It was found that the miller was able to seek financial reimbursement from his supplier to compensate for the poorer grade of wheat received in about one in eight deliveries from France; and in about one in seven deliveries from the British farmer. Farmers have now adjusted to growing, storing and supplying varieties separately, such that the current frequency of erroneous grain delivery is about one in 50. The impact of variety identification by electrophoresis in barley trading has been less than in wheat trading. This is partly because it is sometimes possible to verify a purchase through examination of grain morphology, and partly because the alternative electrophoretic analysis is often impractical, because of frequently large numbers of barley varieties carrying identical hordein proteins.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike Cordes ◽  
Eva Lenker ◽  
Lea J Spille ◽  
Toni Weinhage ◽  
Dominik Bettenworth ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The inhibition of Janus kinases (JAKs) and subsequent signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) by tofacitinib represents a new therapeutic strategy in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as clinical trials have led to approval of tofacitinib for ulcerative colitis (UC) and hint at a possible efficacy for Crohn`s disease (CD). However, the impact of tofacitinib on cellular response of monocytes, which are key players in inflammatory responses, has not been investigated so far. We aimed to analyze JAK/STAT-inhibition by tofacitinib in monocytes of IBD patients and healthy controls. Methods Primary monocytes of IBD patients with active disease and healthy controls (n = 18) were analyzed for cytokine expression and phenotype after granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)/interferon (IFN)γ-stimulation and tofacitinib pretreatment (1–1000 nM) and capacity to induce Foxp3+-regulatory T cells (Tregs) in cocultures. In total, 20 UC patients and 21 CD patients were included. Additionally, dose-dependent inhibition of JAK/STAT-phosphorylation was analyzed in controls. Results Pro-inflammatory costimulation with GM-CSF/IFNγ resulted in significant tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and interleukin (IL)-6 increase, whereas IL-10 expression decreased in monocytes. Tofacitinib modulated the responses of activated monocytes toward a regulatory phenotype through reduced TNFα and IL-6 secretion and enhanced Treg induction in cocultures. However, in monocytes from active IBD patients, higher tofacitinib dosages were needed for blockade of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Tofacitinib induced stronger regulatory phenotypes in monocytes of UC patients, including more effective inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways and better restoration of anti-inflammatory mechanisms as compared with CD-derived monocytes. Conclusion Tofacitinib dose-dependently reprograms monocytes toward a more regulatory cell type. This beneficial effect possibly results from selective JAK/STAT-blockade by adequate tofacitinib dosage with inhibition of pro-inflammatory responses and permission of a balance-shift toward regulatory pathways.


2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 2112-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Wargo

ABSTRACTMost sequenced bacteria possess mechanisms to import choline and glycine betaine (GB) into the cytoplasm. The primary role of choline in bacteria appears to be as the precursor to GB, and GB is thought to primarily act as a potent osmoprotectant. Choline and GB may play accessory roles in shaping microbial communities, based on their limited availability and ability to enhance survival under stress conditions. Choline and GB enrichment near eukaryotes suggests a role in the chemical relationships between these two kingdoms, and some of these interactions have been experimentally demonstrated. While many bacteria can convert choline to GB for osmoprotection, a variety of soil- and water-dwelling bacteria have catabolic pathways for the multistep conversion of choline, via GB, to glycine and can thereby use choline and GB as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. In these choline catabolizers, the GB intermediate represents a metabolic decision point to determine whether GB is catabolized or stored as an osmo- and stress protectant. This minireview focuses on this decision point inPseudomonas aeruginosa, which aerobically catabolizes choline and can use GB as an osmoprotectant and a nutrient source.P. aeruginosais an experimentally tractable and ecologically relevant model to study the regulatory pathways controlling choline and GB homeostasis in choline-catabolizing bacteria. The study ofP. aeruginosaassociations with eukaryotes and other bacteria also makes this a powerful model to study the impact of choline and GB, and their associated regulatory and catabolic pathways, on host-microbe and microbe-microbe relationships.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document