Microscopic Analyses of Fruit Cell Plastid Development in Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) during Fruit Ripening

Plastids are sites for carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation, but detailed information on fruit plastid development and its relation to carotenoid accumulation remains largely unclear. Here, using Baisha (BS; white-fleshed) and Luoyangqing (LYQ; red-fleshed) loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), a detailed microscopic analysis of plastid development during fruit ripening was carried out. In peel cells, chloroplasts turned into smaller chromoplasts in both cultivars, and the quantity of plastids in LYQ increased by one-half during fruit ripening. The average number of chromoplasts per peel cell in fully ripe fruit was similar between the two cultivars, but LYQ peel cell plastids were 20% larger and had a higher colour density, associated with the presence of larger plastoglobules. In flesh cells, chromoplasts could be observed only in LYQ during the middle and late stages of ripening, and the quantity on a per-cell basis was higher than that in peel cells, but the size of chromoplasts was smaller. It was concluded that chromoplasts are derived from the direct conversion of chloroplasts to chromoplasts in the peel, and from de novo differentiation of proplastids into chromoplasts in flesh. The relationship between plastid development and carotenoid accumulation is discussed.

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Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals a series of single nucleotide polymorphism between red- and white-fleshed loquats (Eriobotrya japonica)

Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding ◽

10.17221/43/2016-cjgpb ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 97-106

Author(s):

S. Sun ◽

J. Li ◽

D. Chen ◽

H. Xie ◽

M. Tu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stages ◽

De Novo ◽

Average Length ◽

Carotenoid Biosynthesis ◽

Expression Level ◽

Eriobotrya Japonica ◽

Carotenoid Content ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Fruit Samples

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is an economically important crop and red-fleshed cultivars have a much higher carotenoid content than white-fleshed cultivars. We used Illumina RNA-seq technology to gain a global overview of the loquat transcriptome from a mixture of fruit samples at different developmental stages for both red-fleshed and white-fleshed loquat. A total of 94.98 million paired-end short reads were obtained and 61 586 unigenes were generated from de novo assembly with an average length of 817 bp. Among these unigenes, 44 710 unigenes were annotated by blast against Nr, Swissprot, GO, COG and KEGG databases. For these annotated unigenes, 123 biosynthesis pathways were predicted by mapping these unigenes to the reference canonical pathways and 41 unigenes were predicted to be involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression level of the LCYB gene was higher in red-fleshed loquat and the CRTRB gene had a higher expression level in white-fleshed loquat. Comparative analysis of the two transcriptomes revealed 2396 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between red- and white-fleshed loquats. The majority of SNPs identified between the two loquat cultivars were nonsense mutations and one out of eleven SNPs in candidate genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis was a sense mutation. This suggests that the analysis based on transcriptomes can reveal key genes related to the carotenoid biosynthesis and more carotene in red-fleshed loquat cultivars may result from both more carotene produced by the higher expression of LCYB genes and less carotene converted because of the low expression of the CRTRB gene. All these results from the transcriptome analysis will be useful for the elucidation of genetic differences between red- and white-fleshed loquat fruits and further functional analysis for genes responsible for carotenoid accumulation.

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Transcriptomic analysis reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation in blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) fruit

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.1139/cjps-2020-0118 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xuan Gao ◽

Qiang Chen ◽

Yan Yang ◽

Bo Zhu ◽

Jiaxin Xiao

Keyword(s):

Fruit Ripening ◽

Fruit Development ◽

Late Stage ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

De Novo ◽

Anthocyanin Biosynthesis ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Vaccinium Ashei ◽

Late Stages ◽

Biosynthesis Regulation

Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) is a popular fruit due to its high anthocyanin content. This study aimed to analyze the transcriptome profile of V. ashei cv. ‘Brightwell’ fruits at different stages of development. A total of 314.26 GB of clean data were obtained and de novo assembled into 254,196 unigenes. In comparisons between the early and late stages of fruit ripening, 27 genes (including PAL, CHS, F3H, F3ʹH, F3ʹ5ʹH, LDOX, etc.) were found to cover the main steps in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. Most of these genes were highly expressed in the late stage of fruit development, suggesting that anthocyanin mainly accumulate in the late stage. During the late stage of fruit development, most structural and regulatory genes such as F3ʹ5ʹH and F3ʹH, which are involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, were upregulated, causing the fruit to turn blue. Decreased expression of a large number of chloroplast-related genes during the fruit ripening period could explain why the green fruit color fades over time. Additionally, abscisic acid and ethylene may play positive roles in promoting fruit ripening and anthocyanin accumulation. This research reveals the transcriptomic characteristics of immature and mature fruits and enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation in blueberry fruit.

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The Rubisco small subunits in the green algal genus Chloromonas provide insights into evolutionary loss of the eukaryotic carbon-concentrating organelle, the pyrenoid

BMC Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1186/s12862-020-01733-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Matsuzaki ◽

Shigekatsu Suzuki ◽

Haruyo Yamaguchi ◽

Masanobu Kawachi ◽

Yu Kanesaki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Biology ◽

De Novo ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Plant Evolution ◽

Reaction Products ◽

Photosynthetic Organisms ◽

Green Algal ◽

Interesting Study ◽

Algal Genus ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Pyrenoids are protein microcompartments composed mainly of Rubisco that are localized in the chloroplasts of many photosynthetic organisms. Pyrenoids contribute to the CO2-concentrating mechanism. This organelle has been lost many times during algal/plant evolution, including with the origin of land plants. The molecular basis of the evolutionary loss of pyrenoids is a major topic in evolutionary biology. Recently, it was hypothesized that pyrenoid formation is controlled by the hydrophobicity of the two helices on the surface of the Rubisco small subunit (RBCS), but the relationship between hydrophobicity and pyrenoid loss during the evolution of closely related algal/plant lineages has not been examined. Here, we focused on, the Reticulata group of the unicellular green algal genus Chloromonas, within which pyrenoids are present in some species, although they are absent in the closely related species. Results Based on de novo transcriptome analysis and Sanger sequencing of cloned reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products, rbcS sequences were determined from 11 strains of two pyrenoid-lacking and three pyrenoid-containing species of the Reticulata group. We found that the hydrophobicity of the RBCS helices was roughly correlated with the presence or absence of pyrenoids within the Reticulata group and that a decrease in the hydrophobicity of the RBCS helices may have primarily caused pyrenoid loss during the evolution of this group. Conclusions Although we suggest that the observed correlation may only exist for the Reticulata group, this is still an interesting study that provides novel insight into a potential mechanism determining initial evolutionary steps of gain and loss of the pyrenoid.

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Preface

Pure and Applied Chemistry ◽

10.1351/pac20067808iv ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 78 (8) ◽

pp. iv

Author(s):

Richard J. Cogdell

Keyword(s):

International Symposium ◽

De Novo ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Carotenoid Biosynthesis ◽

Annual Growth Rate ◽

Chemical Company ◽

Cellular Processes ◽

Poster Sessions ◽

14Th International Symposium ◽

Oral Communications

The 14th International Symposium on Carotenoids was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 17-22 July 2005, under the chairmanship of Dr. George Britton. The International Symposium on Carotenoids is the official symposium for the International Carotenoid Society (http://carotenoidsociety.org), which supported the symposium as did IUPAC. Financial support was gratefully received from DSM Nutritional Products, BASF Ag, Cognis Deutschland, Fuji Chemical Company Ltd., Inexa Industria Extractora CA, Valensa International, Nu Skin International Inc., Cargill Inc., The Alcon Foundation Inc., Kemin Health, Access Business Group, and LycoRed Natural Products Industries Ltd.The first International Symposium took place in Trondheim, Norway in 1966, and such meetings have continued at three-year intervals since then. Over that period of almost 40 years, the carotenoids field has expanded tremendously and diversified into many fields of study, especially human nutrition and health. There have also been continued advances in our understanding of the roles of carotenoids in photosynthesis and photochemistry, the regulation of their formation, de novo chemical synthesis, and the analytical techniques available for detailed structural analyses. The commercial importance of carotenoids has also significantly increased over the years; the current market was estimated to be around $887 million for 2004 and is expected to rise at an average annual growth rate of 2.9 % to just over $1 billion.These areas were fully reflected in the 220 invited lectures, oral communications, and poster sessions. The seven articles that appear in this issue embody the themes of the symposium, namely:- Carotenoids and Health: a series of themed sessions focusing on protection against disease, the eye, molecular and cellular processes, and nutrition- Carotenoid Oxidation and Breakdown Products and Metabolites- Carotenoids in Photosynthesis- Carotenoid Biosynthesis- Commercial Production and Applications- Carotenoids and Nature: ecology, etc.- Molecular Interactions of CarotenoidsFinally, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to a most successful symposium, including the local organizing committee, and look forward to the next meeting in 2008, which will be held in Okinawa, Japan and will be chaired by Prof. Hideki Hashimoto.Richard J. CogdellPeter M. BramleyConference Editors

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Effects of Cultivar and Ethanol Disinfection on Aseptic Germination of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Seeds

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci11979-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

pp. 941-945

Author(s):

Kunkun Li ◽

Weiqi Dong ◽

Yun Zhao ◽

Hongxia Xu ◽

Junwei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Detrimental Effect ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Fruit Tree ◽

Final Concentration ◽

Eriobotrya Japonica ◽

Seedling Height ◽

Disinfection Procedure ◽

Aba Content ◽

Subtropical Fruit ◽

The Relationship

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is an economically important subtropical fruit tree, originating and commercially produced mainly in China and Japan. The aseptic seed germination of 13 loquat cultivars, including 9 white-fleshed cultivars and 4 red-fleshed ones, was studied, and the relationship between the germination rate and the content of endogenous ABA in seeds was explored. The germination rate and the seedling height at 80 days after sowing of white-fleshed cultivars were generally higher than that of red-fleshed ones. The ABA content in seeds was generally lower in white-fleshed cultivars, and the ABA content negatively correlated with the germination rate at 80 days after sowing. A moderate detrimental effect of 75% ethanol disinfection on aseptic germination of loquat seeds was observed, especially, for the cultivar Dahongpao, and the germination rate and seedling height were reduced by around half and one-third, respectively. The addition of plant preservative mixture (PPM) to the germination medium at a final concentration of 25 mg·L−1 effectively controlled contamination when the 75% ethanol disinfection procedure was omitted.

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Manipulation of Environmental Stress Towards Lutein Production in Chlorella fusca Cell Culture

Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences ◽

10.29169/1927-5951.2019.09.05.3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 251-257

Author(s):

Rashidi Othman ◽

Norazian Mohd. Hassan ◽

Ainaa Eliah Abu Bakar ◽

Nur Hidayah Noh ◽

Nurrulhidayah Ahmad Fadzillah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Culture ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Environmental Stress ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Metabolic Flux ◽

Experimental System ◽

Carotenoid Biosynthesis ◽

Chlorella Fusca ◽

Carotenoid Accumulation ◽

Media Formulation

All carotenoids originate from a single, common precursor, phytoene. The colour of carotenoids is determinedby desaturation, isomerization, cyclization, hydroxylation and epoxidation of the 40-carbon phytoene. The conjugated double-bond structure and nature of end ring groups confer on the carotenoids properties such as colour and antioxidant activity. Algae may become major sources of carotenoids but the extent of environmental stress and genetic influences on algae carotenoid biosynthesis are poorly understood. Carotenoid biosynthesis can be influenced by many aspects and is liable to geometric isomerization with the existence of oxygen, light and heat which affect the colour degradation and oxidation. Therefore, in this study carotenoid biogenesis is investigated in cell culture of Chlorella fusca as a potential model system for rapid initiation, and extraction of carotenoids by providing stringent control of genetic, developmental and environmental factors. The value of this experimental system for investigating key factors controlling the carotenoid accumulation is then tested by assessing the effects of environmental variables, such as drought stress, light intensity, nutrient strength and media formulation on carotenoid accumulation. Our findings revealed that the conversion of violaxanthin to lutein is due to irradiance stress condition, nutrient strength as well as drought stress. As a result, manipulation of environmental variables will up-regulate lutein concentration. This reaction will restrict the supply of precursors for ABA biosynthesis and the algae cell culture responds by increasing carotenogenic metabolic flux to compensate for this restriction. In conclusion, selecting the appropriate algae species for the appropriate environmental conditions is not only important for yield production, but also for nutritional value quality of carotenoid.

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Metabolism-driven post-translational modifications of H3K9 in early bovine embryos

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-21-0134 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 162 (3) ◽

pp. 181-191

Author(s):

Jessica Ispada ◽

Aldcejam Martins da Fonseca Junior ◽

Otávio Luiz Ramos Santos ◽

Camila Bruna de Lima ◽

Erika Cristina dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

De Novo ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Developmental Model ◽

Bovine Embryos ◽

Acetyl Coa ◽

Post Translational Modifications ◽

The Relationship ◽

Different Levels

Metabolic and molecular profiles were reported as different for bovine embryos with distinct kinetics during the first cleavages. In this study, we used this same developmental model (fast vs slow) to determine if the relationship between metabolism and developmental kinetics affects the levels of acetylation or tri-methylation at histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9ac and H3K9me3, respectively). Fast and slow developing embryos presented different levels of H3K9ac and H3K9me3 from the earliest stages of development (40 and 96 hpi) and up to the blastocyst stage. For H3K9me3, both groups of embryos presented a wave of demethylation and de novo methylation, although it was more pronounced in fast than slow embryos, resulting in blastocysts with higher levels of this mark. The H3K9ac reprogramming profile was distinct between kinetics groups. While slow embryos presented a wave of deacetylation, followed by an increase in this mark at the blastocyst stage, fast embryos reduced this mark throughout all the developmental stages studied. H3K9me3 differences corresponded to writer and eraser transcript levels, while H3K9ac patterns were explained by metabolism-related gene expression. To verify if metabolic differences could alter levels of H3K9ac, embryos were cultured with sodium-iodoacetate (IA) or dichloroacetate (DCA) to disrupt the glycolytic pathway or increase acetyl-CoA production, respectively. IA reduced H3K9ac while DCA increased H3K9ac in blastocysts. Concluding, H3K9me3 and H3K9ac patterns differ between embryos with different kinetics, the second one explained by metabolic pathways involved in acetyl-CoA production. So far, this is the first study demonstrating a relationship between metabolic differences and histone post-translational modifications in bovine embryos.

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Impacts of soil moisture on de novo monoterpene emissions from European beech, Holm oak, Scots pine, and Norway spruce

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-12-177-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 177-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

C. Wu ◽

I. Pullinen ◽

S. Andres ◽

G. Carriero ◽

S. Fares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

De Novo ◽

European Beech ◽

Holm Oak ◽

Factorial Approach ◽

Moisture Dependence ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mild Drought

Abstract. Impacts of soil moisture on de novo monoterpene (MT) emissions from Holm oak, European beech, Scots pine, and Norway spruce were studied in laboratory experiments. The volumetric water content of the soil, Θ, was used as the reference quantity to parameterize the dependency of MT emissions on soil moisture and to characterize the severity of the drought. When Θ dropped from 0.4 m3 × m−3 to ~0.2 m3 × m−3 slight increases of de novo MT emissions were observed but with further progressing drought the emissions decreased to almost zero. In most cases the increases of MT emissions observed under conditions of mild drought were explainable by increases of leaf temperature due to lowered transpirational cooling. When Θ fell below certain thresholds, MT emissions decreased simultaneously with Θ and the relationship between Θ and MT emissions was approximately linear. The thresholds of Θ (0.044–0.19 m3 × m−3) were determined, as well as other parameters required to describe the soil moisture dependence of de novo MT emissions for application in the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature, MEGAN. A factorial approach was found appropriate to describe the impacts of Θ, temperature, and light. Temperature and Θ influenced the emissions largely independently from each other, and, in a similar manner, light intensity and Θ acted independently on de novo MT emissions. The use of Θ as the reference quantity in a factorial approach was tenable in predicting constitutive de novo MT emissions when Θ changed on a time scale of days. Empirical parameterization with Θ as a reference was only unsuccessful when soil moisture changed rapidly

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