Cardenolide Increase in Foxglove During Stresses Corresponds to Cholesterol and Phytosterol Biosynthesis

Cardenolides are a group of steroidal metabolites found in Digitalis lanata with potent cardioactive effects on animals. In plants, cardenolides are involved in various stress responses. However, the molecular mechanism of cardenolide increase during stresses is mostly unknown. Here we show that cardenolides were increased upon methyl jasmonate (MJ), sorbitol, potassium (KCl) chloride, and salicylic acid analog (BTH: 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) treatments. However, the expression of three known genes for cardenolide biosynthesis did not correlate well with these increases. Specifically, the expression of progesterone-5β-reductases (P5βR and P5βR2) did not correlate with cardenolide increase. The expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) correlated with cardenolide levels only during the BTH treatment. Mining the D. lanata transcriptome identified genes involved in cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis: SSR1 (sterol sidechain reductase), SMO1, and SMO3 (sterol methyl oxidase). Surprisingly, the expression of all three genes correlated well with the cardenolide increase after BTH treatment. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SSR1 is likely involved in both cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis. In addition, SMO1 is likely specific to phytosterol biosynthesis, and SMO3 is specific to cholesterol biosynthesis. These results suggest that both cholesterol and phytosterol are involved in cardenolide biosynthesis. In summary, this work shows that cardenolides are important for stress responses in D. lanata and revealed a novel relationship between phytosterol and cardenolide biosynthesis.

A Review of the Pharmacological Characteristics of Vanillic Acid

A dihydroxybenzoic acid analog used as a flavoring agent is vanillic acid (4hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid). It's a form of vanillin that has been oxidized. It's also a step in the process of making vanillin from Ferulic Acid. Vanillic acid has seen a lot of press because of its many uses in the cosmetics, fruit, flavorings, cigarettes,alcohols, drinks, and polymer sectors. It's said to have effective antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. The pharmacological impact on oxidative stress-induced neuro-degeneration, on the other hand, have not been thoroughly examined. The pharmacological properties of vanillic Acid lead to its possible use in the treatment of various diseases. Keywords: Vanillic acid, Pharmacological Potential, wound healing, Antioxidants

Evaluating the Effect of Ionic Strength on PNA:DNA Duplex Formation Kinetics

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a unique synthetic nucleic acid analog that has been adopted for use in many biological applications. These applications rely upon the robust Franklin-Watson-Crick base pairing...

Design and Synthesis of a New Orthogonally Protected Glutamic Acid Analog and Its Use in the Preparation of High Affinity Polo-like Kinase 1 Polo-box Domain – binding Peptide Macrocycles

Targeting protein – protein interactions (PPIs) has emerged as important area of discovery for anticancer therapeutic development. In the case of phospho-dependent PPIs, such as the polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1)...

Effects of a Salicylic Acid Analog on Aphis gossypii and Its Predator Chrysoperla carnea on Melon Plants

The salicylic acid analog BTH (benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic-acid S-methyl ester) induces systemic acquired resistance by promoting plant resistance against numerous plant pathogens and some insect pests. The objective of the research was to evaluate the activation of plant defenses with BTH on melon (Cucumis melo L., Cucurbitaceae) and its effects on the herbivore Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and on the aphid predator Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Under laboratory conditions, plants were sprayed with BTH (50 g/ha) zero (B0), four (B4), and seven (B7) days prior exposure to insects. B0 treatment resulted in 100% mortality of aphid nymphs and disrupted adult feeding behavior (recorded by electrical-penetration-graphs technique), by prolonging the time to reach the phloem, requiring more probes to first salivation and reducing ingestion activities. There were no effects on feeding behavior of A. gossypii fed on B4 plants but on its life history because fewer nymphs were born, intrinsic rate of natural growth decreased, and mortality increased. There were no effects on biological parameters of aphids reared on B7 plants. Prey consumption by C. carnea larvae when predated A. gossypii fed on BTH-treated plants was not different among treatments. Therefore, BTH enhances the suppression of A. gossypii in the short term, without negative effects on the predatory larva C. carnea, which makes this plant strengthener a useful tool to be considered in integrated pest management programs.