Quantifying herbicide dose-response and resistance in <i>Echinochloa</i> spp. by measuring root length in growth pouches

Zhang, C. J.,Lim, S. H.,Kim, J. W.,Song, J. S.,Yook, M. J.,Nah, G.,Valverde, B. E.,Kim, D. S. Canadian Science Publishing 2015 Canadian journal of plant science. Revue canadienn Vol.95 No.6

<P> Zhang, C. J., Lim, S. H., Kim, J. W., Song, J. S., Yook, M. J., Nah, G., Valverde, N. E. and Kim, D. S. 2015. Quantifying herbicide dose-response and resistance in Echinochloa spp. by measuring root length in growth pouches. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1181-1192. The aim of the presented study was to develop a bioassay for rapid diagnosis of herbicide dose-response and resistance in Echinochloa. Pre-germinated seeds of Echinochloa spp. were incubated in growth pouches (18 cm×16.5 cm) containing herbicide solutions in a range of concentrations. Shoot and root lengths were measured after 6 d of incubation. Dose-responses estimated by measuring root lengths in the growth pouches were well-described by the log-logistic dose-response model and similar to those estimated by a whole-plant assay. Accurate dose-response curves were successfully generated for several herbicides with different modes of action, suggesting that the growth pouch method can be used for herbicide bioassays. The suitability of the growth pouch method for rapid diagnosis of acetyl coenzyme-A carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor resistance in Echinochloa spp. was also tested. For cyhalofop-butyl, resistant and susceptible biotypes were discriminated at 180-300 mg a.i. L<SUP>−1</SUP> and 80-120 mg a.i. L<SUP>−1</SUP> for barnyardgrass (E. crus-galli) and late watergrass (E. oryzicola), respectively. For penoxsulam, the discriminatory dosage was 350-500 mg a.i. L<SUP>−1</SUP> for barnyardgrass and 650-1000 mg a.i. L<SUP>−1</SUP> for late watergrass. The method was further used to identify late watergrass biotypes resistant and susceptible to two other ALS inhibitors, azimsulfuron and bispyribac-sodium. Our results show that the growth pouch method can be reliably used in herbicide dose-response studies and to diagnose herbicide resistance in Echinochloa spp., with significant time and cost savings compared with conventional whole-plant assays. </P>

China Spallation Neutron Source: Accelerator Design Iterations and R&D Status

J. Wei,C.-D. Deng,C.-H. Wang,C.-T. Shi,H. Sun,H.-F. Ouyang,H.-M. Qu,H.-Y. Dong,J. Li,J. Zhang,J.-S. Cao,J.-Y. Tang,L. Dong,L.-L. Wang,Q. Qin,Q.-B. Wang,S. Wang,S.-N. Fu,S.-X Fang,T. -G. Xu,W. Kang,Y.- 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.I

The China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) is a high-power, accelerator-based project currently under preparation. The accelerator complex consists of an H$^-$ ion source, an H$^-$ linac, a rapid-cycling proton synchrotron, and the transport lines. During the past year, the design of most accelerator systems went through major iterations, and initial research and developments was started on the prototyping of several key components.

Wall stretch and thromboxane A2 activate NO synthase (eNOS) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via H2O2 and Akt-dependent phosphorylation

Kim, H. J.,Yoo, H. Y.,Jang, J. H.,Lin, H. Y.,Seo, E. Y.,Zhang, Y. H.,Kim, S. J. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Pfl ugers Arch Vol.468 No.4

<P>Pulmonary arteries (PAs) have high compliance, buffering the wide ranges of blood flow. Here, we addressed a hypothesis that PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) express nitric oxide synthases (NOS) that might be activated by mechanical stress and vasoactive agonists. In the myograph study of endothelium-denuded rat PAs, NOS inhibition (L-NAME) induced strong contraction (96 % of 80 mM KCl-induced contraction (80K)) in the presence of 5 nM U46619 (thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) analogue) with relatively high basal stretch (2.94 mN, S(+)). With lower basal stretch (0.98 mN, S(-)), however, L-NAME application following U46619 (TXA(2)/L-NAME) induced weak contraction (27 % of 80K). Inhibitors of nNOS and iNOS had no such effect in S(+) PAs. In endothelium-denuded S(+) mesenteric and renal arteries, TXA(2)/L-NAME-induced contraction was only 18 and 21 % of 80K, respectively. Expression of endothelial-type NOS (eNOS) in rat PASMCs was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Even in S(-) PAs, pretreatment with H2O2 (0.1-10 mu M) effectively increased the sensitivity to TXA(2)/L-NAME (105 % of 80K). Vice versa, NADPH oxidase inhibitors, reactive oxygen species scavengers, or an Akt inhibitor (SC-66) suppressed TXA(2)/L-NAME-induced contraction in S(+) PAs. In a human PASMC line, immunoblot analysis showed the following: (1) eNOS expression, (2) Ser(1177) phosphorylation by U46619 and H2O2, and (3) Akt activation (Ser(473) phosphorylation) by U46619. In the cell-attached patch clamp study, H2O2 facilitated membrane stretch-activated cation channels in rat PASMCs. Taken together, the muscular eNOS in PAs can be activated by TXA(2) and mechanical stress via H2O2 and Akt-mediated signaling, which may counterbalance the contractile signals from TXA(2) and mechanical stimuli.</P>

Evaluation of mango saponin in broilers: effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and plasma biochemical indices

Y.N. Zhang,J. Wang,B. Qi,S.G. Wu,H.R. Chen,H.Y. Luo,D.J. Yin,F.J. Lu,H.J. Zhang,G.H. Qi 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.8

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine whether mango saponin (MS) could be used as a feed additive in broiler chicks by evaluating growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and plasma biochemical indices. Methods: A total of 216 1-d-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly assigned into three dietary treatments supplemented with 0 (control), 0.14% (MS 0.14%), or 0.28% (MS 0.28%) MS. Each treatment had six replicates (cages) with 12 chicks each. The feeding trial lasted for six weeks. Results: Compared with the control, dietary supplemented with 0.14% or 0.28% MS increased average daily weight gain of chicks in the grower (22 to 42 d) and the whole (1 to 42 d) phases, and the final body weight of chicks on d 42 was higher in MS supplemented groups (p<0.05). Lower L45 min* (lightness) and L24 h* values, lower b24 h* (yellowness) value, and higher a45 min* (redness) and a24 h* values of the breast muscle were observed in chicks fed with 0.28% MS on d 42 (p<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity in plasma increased in MS 0.14% group on d 21 (p<0.001). Lower contents of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride were observed in chicks fed with 0.28% MS on d 21 and d 42, whereas the group supplemented with 0.14% MS only decreased plasma triglyceride content on d 21 (p<0.05). The glucose content in plasma decreased in MS 0.28% group on d 42 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Overall, MS could be used as a feed additive in broiler chicks, and the supplemental level of 0.28% MS in diet could improve growth performance, meat quality, and plasma lipid metabolism in broiler chicks.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Hainanmycin on Protein Degradation and Populations of Ammonia-producing Bacteria In vitro

Wang, Z.B.,Xin, H.S.,Wang, M.J.,Li, Z.Y.,Qu, Y.L.,Miao, S.J.,Zhang, Y.G. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.5

An in vitro fermentation was conducted to determine the effects of hainanmycin on protein degradation and populations of ammonia-producing bacteria. The substrates (DM basis) for in vitro fermentation consisted of alfalfa hay (31.7%), Chinese wild rye grass hay (28.3%), ground corn grain (24.5%), soybean meal (15.5%) with a forage: concentrate of 60:40. Treatments were the control (no additive) and hainanmycin supplemented at 0.1 (H0.1), 1 (H1), 10 (H10), and 100 mg/kg (H100) of the substrates. After 24 h of fermentation, the highest addition level of hainanmycin decreased total VFA concentration and increased the final pH. The high addition level of hainanmycin (H1, H10, and H100) reduced (p<0.05) branched-chain VFA concentration, the molar proportion of acetate and butyrate, and ratio of acetate to propionate; and increased the molar proportion of propionate, except that for H1 the in molar proportion of acetate and isobutyrate was not changed (p>0.05). After 24 h of fermentation, H10 and H100 increased (p<0.05) concentrations of peptide nitrogen and AA nitrogen and proteinase activity, and decreased (p<0.05) $NH_3$-N concentration and deaminase activity compared with control. Peptidase activitives were not affected by hainanmycin. Hainanmycin supplementation only inhibited the growth of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, which is one of the species of low deaminative activity. Hainanmycin supplementation also decreased (p<0.05) relative population sizes of hyper-ammonia-producing species, except for H0.1 on Clostridium aminophilum. It was concluded that dietary supplementation with hainanmycin could improve ruminal fermentation and modify protein degradation by changing population size of ammonia-producing bacteria in vitro; and the addition level of 10 mg/kg appeared to achieve the best results.

Reduction-responsive monoolein cubic phase containing hydrophobically modified poly(ethylene imine) and dithiodipropionic acid

Zhang, H.,Kim, J.C. Elsevier 2016 Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engi Vol.506 No.-

<P>Reduction-responsive MO cubic phase was prepared by including hydrophobically modified poly(ethylene imine) (HmPEI) and dithiodipropionic acid(DTPA) in the water channel of cubic phase. HmPEI(1:2) and HmPEI(1:5) were synthesized by a condensation reaction using reaction mixtures whose hexanoyl chloride to PEI molar ratio was 1:2 and 1:5, respectively. On the H-1 NMR spectrum, the PEI to hexanoyl chloride molar ratio of HmPEI(1:2) and HmPEI(1:5) was evaluated to be 1:1.0 and 1:5.1, respectively. The light scattering intensity of PEI solution was negligible, but the light scattering intensity of HmPEI solution was significantly high, possibly due to the micellization. On the plot of concentration-dependent air/water interfacial tension, HmPEI with more hydrocarbon chains (HmPEI(1:5)) showed lower minimum interfacial tension and higher surface activity. MO cubic phases containing HmPEI and DTPA were prepared by hydrating MO melt with the mixture aqueous solution of HmPEI and DTPA. The cubic phases exhibited lamellar bilayers on TEM photos, and HmPEI and DTPA had little effect on the lamellar structure. The phase transition temperature of MO cubic phase, determined by polarized optical microscopy, was about 63.5 degrees C, and HmPEI and DTPA had no significant effect on the phase transition temperature. This was in accordance with the result obtained with differential scanning calorimetry. The release profiles of Auramine O loaded in MO cubic phase containing HmPEI and DTPA resembled 1st order release. The release degree increased upon the addition of dithiothreitol, possibly because the disulfide bond of DTPA was cleaved and the network of HmPEI and DTPA was broken down by the reducing agent. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Global Histone H4 Acetylation of IGF1 and GH Genes in Lungs of Somatic Cell Cloned Calves

Zhang, L.,Wang, S.H.,Fan, B.L.,Dai, Y.P.,Fei, J.,Li, N. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.8

Histone acetylation modification is one key mechanism in the regulation of gene activation. In this study, we investigated the global levels of histone H4 acetylation of insulin like growth factor I (IGF1) and growth hormone (GH) genes in the lungs of two somatic cell cloned calves. Data showed the levels of histone H4 acetylation of IGF1 and GH genes vary widely within different gene regions, and, in almost all regions of the two genes, acetylation levels are lower in the aberrant clone than in the normal clone. Thus we suggest that inefficient epigenetic reprogramming in the clone may affect the balance between acetylation and deacetylation, which will affect normal growth and development. These findings will also have implications for improvement of cloning success rates.

Cloning and characterization of a thermostable H₂O-forming NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Zhang, Y.W.,Tiwari, M.K.,Gao, H.,Dhiman, S.S.,Jeya, M.,Lee, J.K. IPC Science and Technology Press ; Elsevier Scienc 2012 Enzyme and microbial technology Vol.50 No.4

NADH oxidase (Nox) catalyzes the conversion of NADH to NAD<SUP>+</SUP>. A previously uncharacterized Nox gene (LrNox) was cloned from Lactobacillus rhamnosus and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1359bp, capable of encoding a polypeptide of 453 amino acid residues. The molecular mass of the purified LrNox enzyme was estimated to be ∼50kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 100kDa by gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer. The enzyme had optimal activity at pH 5.6 and temperature 65<SUP>o</SUP>C, and k<SUB>cat</SUB>/K<SUB>m</SUB> of 3.77x10<SUP>7</SUP>s<SUP>-1</SUP>M<SUP>-1</SUP>, the highest ever reported. Heat inactivation studies revealed that LrNox had high thermostability, with a half-life of 120min at 80<SUP>o</SUP>C. Molecular dynamics simulation studies shed light on the factors contributing to the high activity of LrNox. Although the properties of Nox from several microorganisms have been reported, this is the first report on the characterization of a recombinant H<SUB>2</SUB>O-forming Nox with high activity and thermostability. The characteristics of the LrNox enzyme could prove to be of interest in industrial applications such as NAD<SUP>+</SUP> regeneration.

Deoxynivalenol exposure induces autophagy/apoptosis and epigenetic modification changes during porcine oocyte maturation

Han, J.,Wang, Q.C.,Zhu, C.C.,Liu, J.,Zhang, Y.,Cui, X.S.,Kim, N.H.,Sun, S.C. Academic Press 2016 Toxicology and applied pharmacology Vol.300 No.-

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a widespread trichothecene mycotoxin which contaminates agricultural staples and elicits a complex spectrum of toxic effects on humans and animals. It has been shown that DON impairs oocyte maturation, reproductive function and causes abnormal fetal development in mammals; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigate the possible reasons of the toxic effects of DON on porcine oocytes. Our results showed that DON significantly inhibited porcine oocyte maturation and disrupted meiotic spindle by reducing p-MAPK protein level, which caused retardation of cell cycle progression. In addition, up-regulated LC3 protein expression and aberrant Lamp2, LC3 and mTOR mRNA levels were observed with DON exposure, together with Annexin V-FITC staining assay analysis, these results indicated that DON treatment induced autophagy/apoptosis in porcine oocytes. We also showed that DON exposure increased DNA methylation level in porcine oocytes through altering DNMT3A mRNA levels. Histone methylation levels were also changed showing with increased H3K27me3 and H3K4me2 protein levels, and mRNA levels of their relative methyltransferase genes, indicating that epigenetic modifications were affected. Taken together, our results suggested that DON exposure reduced porcine oocytes maturation capability through affecting cytoskeletal dynamics, cell cycle, autophagy/apoptosis and epigenetic modifications.

Taxonomy of fungal complex causing red-skin root of Panax ginseng in China

Xiao H. Lu,Xi M. Zhang,Xiao L. Jiao,Jianjun J. Hao,Xue S. Zhang,Yi Luo,Wei W. Gao 고려인삼학회 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.3

Background: Red-skin root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) significantly reduces the quality and limits theproduction of ginseng in China. The disease has long been thought to be a noninfectious physiologicaldisease, except one report that proved itwas an infectious disease. However, the causal agents have not beensuccessfully determined. In the present study, we were to reveal the pathogens that cause red-skin disease. Methods: Ginseng roots with red-skin root symptoms were collected from commercial fields in NortheastChina. Fungi were isolated from the lesion and identified based on morphological characters alongwith multilocus sequence analyses on internal transcription spacer, b-tubulin (tub2), histone H3 (his3),and translation elongation factor 1a (tef-1a). Pathogens were confirmed by inoculating the isolates inginseng roots. Results: A total of 230 isolates were obtained from 209 disease samples. These isolates were classifiedinto 12 species, including Dactylonectria sp., D. hordeicola, Fusarium acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. solani,F. torulosum, Ilyonectria mors-panacis, I. robusta, Rhexocercosporidium panacis, and three novel speciesI. changbaiensis, I. communis, and I. qitaiheensis. Among them, I. communis, I. robusta, and F. solani had thehighest isolation frequencies, being 36.1%, 20.9%, and 23.9%, respectively. All these species isolated werepathogenic to ginseng roots and caused red-skin root disease under appropriate condition. Conclusion: Fungal complex is the causal agent of red-skin root in P. ginseng.