Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a major group of plant hormones that regulate plant growth and development. BRI1, a protein localized to the plasma membrane, functions as a BR receptor and it has been proposed that its k...Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a major group of plant hormones that regulate plant growth and development. BRI1, a protein localized to the plasma membrane, functions as a BR receptor and it has been proposed that its kinase activity has an essential role in BR-regulated plant growth and development. Here we report the isolation and molecular characterization of a new allele of bril, bril-301, which shows moderate morphological phenotypes and a reduced response to BRs under normal growth conditions. Sequence analysis identified a two-base alteration from GG to AT, resulting in a conversion of 989G to 9891 in the BRI1 kinase domain. An in vitro assay of kinase activity showed that bril-301 has no detectable autophosphorylation activity or phosphorylation activity towards the BRI1 substrates TTL and BAK1. Furthermore, our results suggest that bril-301, even with extremely impaired kinase activity, still retains partial function in regulating plant growth and development, which raises the question of whether BRI1 kinase activity is essential for BR-mediated growth and development in higher plants.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To assess the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from selected Tulbaghia species.METHODS: Standard methods were used for preliminary phytochemical analysis. The total phenol...OBJECTIVE: To assess the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from selected Tulbaghia species.METHODS: Standard methods were used for preliminary phytochemical analysis. The total phenolic acid contents of the plant extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoid contents were determined using the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activities.RESULTS: Phytochemical screening showed flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, saponins,and steroids were present in the Tulbaghia species.The total phenolic acid and flavonoid contents varied in the different plant extracts, ranging from4.50 to 11.10 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of fresh material and 3.04 to 9.65 mg of quercetin equivalents per gram, respectively. The IC50 values determined for Tulbaghia alliacea and Tulbaghia violacea based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(0.06 and 0.08 mg/m L, respectively) and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(0.06 and 0.03 mg/m L, respectively) were low and showed they had potential antioxidant activities.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that individual compounds from Tulbaghia species should be isolated for analysis of their antioxidant activity because some compounds may work best when pure.展开更多
基金We thank Prof Joanne Chory (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA) for providing the Arabidopsis bril-101 mutant seeds. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 30070074, 30330040 and 30570161).
文摘Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a major group of plant hormones that regulate plant growth and development. BRI1, a protein localized to the plasma membrane, functions as a BR receptor and it has been proposed that its kinase activity has an essential role in BR-regulated plant growth and development. Here we report the isolation and molecular characterization of a new allele of bril, bril-301, which shows moderate morphological phenotypes and a reduced response to BRs under normal growth conditions. Sequence analysis identified a two-base alteration from GG to AT, resulting in a conversion of 989G to 9891 in the BRI1 kinase domain. An in vitro assay of kinase activity showed that bril-301 has no detectable autophosphorylation activity or phosphorylation activity towards the BRI1 substrates TTL and BAK1. Furthermore, our results suggest that bril-301, even with extremely impaired kinase activity, still retains partial function in regulating plant growth and development, which raises the question of whether BRI1 kinase activity is essential for BR-mediated growth and development in higher plants.
基金Supported by Vaal University of Technology,Private Bag X021,Vanderbijlpark 1900,South Africa
文摘OBJECTIVE: To assess the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from selected Tulbaghia species.METHODS: Standard methods were used for preliminary phytochemical analysis. The total phenolic acid contents of the plant extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoid contents were determined using the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activities.RESULTS: Phytochemical screening showed flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, saponins,and steroids were present in the Tulbaghia species.The total phenolic acid and flavonoid contents varied in the different plant extracts, ranging from4.50 to 11.10 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of fresh material and 3.04 to 9.65 mg of quercetin equivalents per gram, respectively. The IC50 values determined for Tulbaghia alliacea and Tulbaghia violacea based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(0.06 and 0.08 mg/m L, respectively) and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(0.06 and 0.03 mg/m L, respectively) were low and showed they had potential antioxidant activities.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that individual compounds from Tulbaghia species should be isolated for analysis of their antioxidant activity because some compounds may work best when pure.