5 Essential Weight Loss Foods

According to Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity, there are five foods that will help you restore your body's ability to use energy and help you become your healthy weight.

1. Millet

A well-balanced diet should consist of whole grains instead of refined grains like white rice and pasta, and millet is a beneficial and delicious staple of this category of food. This non-glutinous grain is over 10-percent protein, has high amounts of fiber and B-complex vitamins, and because it isn't an acid forming food, is easy to digest.

2. Asparagus

When losing weight, it's important to favor chlorophyll-rich foods, including asparagus. Asparagus is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with folate, vitamins A, C, and K, and fiber. Asparagus also contains a carbohydrate known as inulin (not to be confused with insulin) that promotes healthy bacteria in the large intestine - which in turn promotes a healthier digestive function.

3. Pomegranates

Eating a balanced diet to lose weight should include eating fresh fruits, and pomegranates are a wonderful example of a healthy, nutritious fruit that has antioxidant properties and will help prevent cancer. While the benefits of drinking pomegranate juice have gained a lot of attention recently, you will be more likely to lose weight by eating the fruit fresh to increase your fiber intake and keep the calories down.

4. Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees and are considered an essential ingredient in the tasty Italian mixture pesto. Chinese medicine uses pine nuts to improve gastrointestinal tract and digestive functions, and pine nut oil is even used for appetite suppression. Pine nuts and other nuts are a tasty part of a well-balanced diet intended for weight loss.

5. Green Tea

It has been found that consuming large amounts of coffee and caffeine can lead to food cravings, increase one's appetite, and induce stress-related eating. Green tea is a wonderful alternative to coffee in that it does provide a little caffeine but also contains beneficial antioxidants. So drink up!

Source: health.yahoo.com

Studies on improved Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in two indica rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 carrying binary vector pCAMBIA 1301 was used for transformation in two economically important highly recalcitrant indica rice cultivars HKR-46 and HKR-126. High concentrations of acetosyringone in the agrobacterium culture and co-cultivation medium proved to be indispensable for successful transformation. Embryogenic scutellar calli were used for transformation studies. Binary vector pCAMBIA 1301 have been proved efficient for transformation. The percent transient GUS expression found to be higher in cutivar HKR-126 (44.4%) as compared to HKR-46 (28.9%). The percent recovery of hygromycin resistant calli after 4-6 weeks on selection medium was maximum in HKR-126 (52.6%).

Source: African Journal of Biotechnology (2004) vol. 3, p. 572-575

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of Maize Embryos Using a Standard Binary Vector System

We have achieved routine transformation of maize (Zea mays) using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens standard binary (non-super binary) vector system. Immature zygotic embryos of the hybrid line Hi II were infected with A. tumefaciens strain EHA101 harboring a standard binary vector and cocultivated in the presence of 400 mg L1 L-cysteine. Inclusion of L-cysteine in cocultivation medium lead to an improvement in transient -glucuronidase expression observed in targeted cells and a significant increase in stable transformation efficiency, but was associated with a decrease in embryo response after cocultivation. The average stable transformation efficiency (no. of bialaphos-resistant events recovered per 100 embryos infected) of the present protocol was 5.5%. Southern-blot and progeny analyses confirmed the integration, expression, and inheritance of the bar and gus transgenes in R0, R1, and R2 generations of transgenic events. To our knowledge, this represents the first report in which fertile, stable transgenic maize has been routinely produced using an A. tumefaciens standard binary vector system.

Source: Plant Physiol. (2002) vol. 129, p. 13–22

Tamarind

Common Name: Tamarind
Genus Species: Tamarindus indica
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: East Africa
Cultivated: India, Southeast Asian, West Indies

In India, Thailand, Cambodia, Southern Europe and Latin America, tamarind is a popular cooking and condiment flavor. The tree originated in Africa, but now it is cultivated mainly in South India and in the Caribbean.

A flavouring agent made from the leaf and fruit of the tamarind tree. The fruit is shaped like a long bean, inside which is a sour pulp. The pulp can be pressed to form a 'cake' or processed to make a paste. Small pieces of tamarind cake can be broken off and infused to create an acidic liquid flavouring used in Asian and Caribbean cooking. The sour fruit pulp contains tartaric acid; its taste goes well with meat and vegetable dishes, and it is used in marinades, vindaloos, curries, chutneys and Worcestershire sauce.

Tamarind is also used in drinks and in refreshing confectionary preparations. Tamarind juice is also available and some Asian supermarkets may sell tamarind pods, which can be eaten raw.

An improved Agrobacterium -mediated transformation protocol for recalcitrant elite indica rice cultivars

We report here a high-efficiency transformation protocol for recalcitrant indica rice cultivars IR64 and IR72 with the selectable marker genehph and thegusA reporter gene. Factors that favor high-efficiency transformation were found to be use of 2-month-old mature seed-derived embryogenic calli, maltose as a source of carbon, a higher concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and both phytagel and agar as gelling agents. The putative transgenic (T0) plants were analyzed for integration of the transgene through polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting analyses. Various factors thought to be responsible for increased transformation efficiency are discussed.

Source: Plant Molecular Biology Reporter (2005) vol. 23, p. 67-73

Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of the genome-sequenced poplar clone, nisqually-1 ( Populus trichocarpa )

The US Department of Energy recently released a 6.8X draft of the genome sequence for Nisqually-1, a genotype of black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). To improve its utility for functional genomics research, having an efficient means for transformation and regeneration is necessary. To examine several parameters known to affect the transformation rate, we cocultivated leaf disc and stem explants with a strain ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens harboring a binary plasmid vector containing genes for both neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) and β-glucuronidase (GUS). Shoot regeneration from stem explants was observed in the presence of kanamycin when thidiazuron was incorporated in the selection medium. Transformation efficiency was influenced by the level of thidiazuron to which explants were exposed during the early stages of shoot induction. Histochemical assays revealed expression of theGUS gene in leaf, stem, and root tissues of transgenic plants. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of both selectable marker and reporter genes in all lines that stained positive for β-glucuronidase activity. By use of our modified protocol, transgenic plants were recovered within 6 mo at an efficiency of 6%, adequate to produce a large number of transgenic events with modest effort.

Source: Plant Molecular Biology Reporter (2004) vol. 22, p. 1-9.

Investigation of substrate binding and product stereochemistry issues in two linoleate 9-lipoxygenases

Herein we characterize the Arabidopsis thaliana AtLOX1 and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) LOXA proteins as linoleate 9S-lipoxygenases (9-LOX), and use the enzymes to test a model that predicts a relationship between substrate binding orientation and product stereochemistry. The cDNAs were heterologously expressed in E. coli and the proteins partially purified by nickel affinity chromatography using a N-terminal (His)(6)-tag. Both enzymes oxygenated linoleic acid almost exclusively to the 9S-hydroperoxide with turnover numbers of 300-400/s. AtLOX1 showed a broad range of activity over the range pH 5-9 (optimal at pH 6); tomato LOXA also showed optimal activity around pH 5-7 dropping off more sharply at pH 9. Site-directed mutagenesis of a conserved active site Ala (Ala562 in AtLOX1, Ala 564 in tomato LOXA, and typically conserved as Ala in S-LOX and Gly in R-LOX), revealed that substitution with Gly led to the production of a mixture of 9S- and 13R-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acids from linoleic acid. To follow up on earlier reports of 9-LOX metabolism of anandamide (van Zadelhoff et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 248:33-38, 1998), we also tested this substrate with the mutants, which produced predictable shifts in product profile, including a shift from the prominent 11S-hydroperoxy derivative of wild-type to include the 15R-hydroperoxide. These results conform to a model that predicts a head-first substrate binding orientation for 9S-LOX. We also found that linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine is not a 9S-LOX substrate, which is consistent with this conclusion.

Source: Lipids (2008) vol. 43, p. 979-987

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of an elite indica rice for insect resistance

In India, rice occupies the largest area among all crops and accounts for as much as 21 % of the total cropped area. Rice plants are prone to attack from many pests and pathogens. Among them coleopteran pests are well known for causing extensive damage. Sitophilus oryzae causes severe damage to rice seeds during storage. Alpha amylase inhibitor gene isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds was introduced into Basmati rice (PB1) through Agrobacterium -mediated transformation. A total of 174 hygromycin-resistant plants were regenerated. Most of these plants were GUS-positive. PCR analysis and Southern hybridization confirmed the presence of 4.9 kb alpha amylase inhibitor gene in transformed plants. Western blot confirmed presence of alpha amylase inhibitor protein. Results of the bioassay study revealed significant reduction in survival rate of rice weevil, S. oryzae reared on transgenic rice seeds.

Source: Current Science, Vol 90 (2006) Page 829-835

Efficient transformation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) mediated by Agrobacterium and sequence analysis of the boundaries of the T-DNA

A large number of morphologically normal, fertile, transgenic rice plants were obtained by co-cultivation of rice tissues with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The efficiency of transformation was similar to that obtained by the methods used routinely for transformation of dicotyledons with the bacterium. Stable integration, expression and inheritance of transgenes were demonstrated by molecular and genetic analysis of transformants in the R0, R1 and R2 generations. Sequence analysis revealed that the boundaries of the T-DNA in transgenic rice plants were essentially identical to those in transgenic dicotyledons. Calli induced from scutella were very good starting materials. A strain of A. tumefaciens that carried a so-called 'super-binary' vector gave especially high frequencies of transformation of various cultivars of japonica rice that included Koshihikari, which normally shows poor responses in tissue culture.

Source: The Plant Journal (1994) vol. 6, p. 271-282

Benefits of Biotechnology

• Protection of the environment: Scientists have made some foods, such as papayas and potatoes, more resistant to disease. These crops need less chemical spray to protect them from harmful insects or viruses, which is better for water and wildlife. Other crops are protected from herbicides that are used to control weeds, thus allowing farmers to conserve soil by tilling the ground less often.

• Greater Crop Yields: Farmers can use biotechnology to help plants survive, warding off insects and better tolerance to herbicides. This allows a better harvest from these hardier plants.

• Better Tasting, Fresher Foods: Sweeter peppers and tomatoes that ripen more slowly are examples of how biotechnology can produce fresher and better tasting food.

• Grow more food on less land: By the year 2050, the earth’s population is estimated to be nine billion people. Using biotechnology, farmers can produce more crops on the land they already have. This way, countries do not have to devote more land to farming. In turn, developing countries can benefit most, since they will have the largest population growth.

• Keep food safe to eat: Scientists can more accurately find unwanted viruses and bacteria that may be present in food. This will cause an even lower risk of food-borne illnesses. Some types of fungus, which can be found in corn, release substances that can harm animals that eat them. These substances are already regulated in the United States, and biotechnology provides another tool that can help further reduce the amount of these substances in corn.

• New food varieties: Biotechnology can extend advances in cross-breeding, allowing for new food varieties. For example, seedless melons and mini avocadoes. Farmers can also develop food with better flavor and a better nutrient profile.

The Lipoxygenase pathway

Lipid peroxidation is common to all biological systems, both appearing in developmentally and environmentally regulated processes of plants. The hydroperoxy polyunsaturated fatty acids, synthesized by the action of various highly specialized forms of lipoxygenases, are substrates of at least seven different enzyme families. Signaling compounds such as jasmonates, antimicrobial and antifungal compounds such as leaf aldehydes or divinyl ethers, and a plant-specific blend of volatiles including leaf alcohols are among the numerous products. Cloning of many lipoxygenases and other key enzymes within the lipoxygenase pathway, as well as analyses by reverse genetic and metabolic profiling, revealed new reactions and the first hints of enzyme mechanisms, multiple functions, and regulation. These aspects are reviewed with respect to activation of this pathway as an initial step in the interaction of plants with pathogens, insects, or abiotic stress and at distinct stages of development.

Source: Annual review of plant biology (2002) vol. 53, p. 275-297

The Jasmonate Signal Pathway

Plant responses to many biotic and abiotic stresses are orchestrated locally and systemically by signaling molecules known as the jasmonates (JAs). JAs also regulate such diverse processes as pollen maturation and wound responses in Arabidopsis.
The JA signal pathway involves several signal transduction events: the perception of the primary wound or stress stimulus and transduction of the signal locally and systemically; the perception of this signal and induction of JA biosynthesis; the perception of JA and induction of responses; and finally, integration of JA signaling with outputs from the SA, ethylene, and other signaling pathways.

Source: The Plant Cell (2002) vol. 14, p. S153-S164

Which Fruits and Vegetables Are the Most Toxic?

10 most toxic conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (in order of pesticide toxicity levels):

- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet Bell Peppers (11 different pesticides found on a single pepper)
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Lettuce
- Grapes
- Pears (86 percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides)

10 least toxic conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (in descending order of pesticide toxicity levels):

- Cabbage
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Asparagus (7 percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides)
- Sweet Peas
- Mangoes
- Pineapples
- Sweet Corn
- Avocado
- Onions (1 pesticide found on a single onion)

Source: Health.msn.com

Lipoxygenase biocatalysis: a survey of asymmetric oxygenation

Lipoxygenases are a group of non-heme iron containing dioxygenases catalyzing the addition of molecular oxygen to poly unsaturated fatty acids in a stereospecific as well as regiospecific way and involved in the biosynthesis of inflammatory mediators, in cell differentiation and atherogenesis. Synthetic use of lipoxygenase over the last decade for total synthesis of several natural products, e.g. 6(R)-lopoxin A, 5(S)-HPETE, (R) and (S) coriolide is discussed in this review. In the second part of the review we have discussed on the LOX biocatalysis of unnatural substrates mimicking natural substrates, lipoxygenase biocatalysis in non-conventional media, the use of immobilized LOX and biocatalysis with engineered lipoxygenase. The factors governing the regiospecificity as well as stereospecificity of LOX biocatalysis will also be discussed here. From the synthetic chemist’s point of view, the asymmetric oxygenation reaction of unnatural substrates has a tremendous potential. The products of these reactions are important chiral building blocks for the total synthesis of numerous biological active natural products.

Source: Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic (2003) vol. 26, p. 3-28

A New 9-Lipoxygenase cDNA from Developing Rice Seeds

We isolated a novel C9 position specific lipoxygenase (r9-LOX1) cDNA from developing rice seeds. The enzymatic features of r9-LOX1 resembled those of rice LOX-L3 known to be contained in rice germ and to have C9-specific LOX activity. However, the expression level of the r9-LOX1 gene was higher in imbibed seeds rather than developing seeds. A homology search against the rice nucleotide database revealed the r9-LOX1 gene to be on rice chromosome 3 (accession number AC093017). The restriction enzyme map of the reported genomic sequence agreed with the result of the Southern blot analysis for the r9-LOX1. The enzyme could be useful for in vitro synthesis of 9,10-ketol-octadecadienoic acid.

Source: Plant and Cell Physiology (2003) vol. 44, p. 1168-1175

FeatuDefects in Allene Oxide Synthase and 12-Oxa-Phytodienoic Acid Reductase Alter the Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea

Jasmonic acid and its methyl ester are signalling molecules involved in regulating development and stress responses in plants. 12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid, a precursor in jasmonic acid biosynthesis, is also biologically active. Both oxylipins accumulate after pathogen infection. To understand the function of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid vs. jasmonic acid in plant pathogen interactions, the susceptibility of the dde2 mutant, defective in 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthesis and the opr3 mutant, which synthesizes 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid but not jasmonic acid was investigated. dde2 and opr3 were more resistant to Pseudomonas syringae. The effect was stronger in the dde2 mutant as in opr3 indicating that both oxylipins regulate pathogen resistance to P. syringae. dde2 was more susceptible to Botrytis cinerea suggesting that 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid is important in mediating the defence against B. cinerea. Expression of Pr1 and Pr2 was increased in both mutants after mock infiltration but not or only slightly enhanced after P. syringae infection.

Source: Journal of Phytopathology (2006) vol. 154 , p. 740 - 744

Recent developments in biochemistry of the plant lipoxygenase pathway

Lipoxygenase (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) is a dioxygenase enzyme widespread in aerobic organisms, including plants. The enzyme oxygenates methylene interrupted polyenoic fatty acids, converting them into hydroperoxides. The predominant substrates of LOXs in plants are linoleic and linolenic acids. Specificities of LOX action and availability of enzymes of hydroperoxide metabolism detemine the diversity of the LOX pathway products. Increasing evidence in the literature demonstrates the great physiological importantance of the plant LOX pathway products.

Source: Progress in Lipid Research (1998) vol. 37 , p. 317-352

Divinyl ether synthesis in garlic bulbs

Formation of 13-lipoxygenase-derived divinyl ethers has been described in garlic bulbs. Here, the identification of a cDNA from garlic is described, which encodes for an enzyme that corresponds to divinyl ether synthases (DES). The recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to metabolize 13-hydroperoxy as well as 9-hydroperoxy linole(n)ic acid to etherole(n)ic and colnele(n)ic acid, respectively. This biochemical feature classifies it as a member of the CYP74C subfamily of cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Product analysis after incubation of purified recombinant enzyme and fatty acid hydroperoxides revealed the formation of a mixture of different cis/trans isomers with one isomer often dominant. RNA blot analyses showed a constitutive expression of DES transcripts predominant in below-ground organs of garlic. By exogenous application of salicylic acid and sorbitol, but not by methyljasmonate, the transcript was also induced in leaves. Whereas the prominent divinyl ether in garlic was the 13-lipoxygenase-derived etheroleic acid, analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis expressing garlic DES showed that 9-lipoxygenase-derived colnelenic acid dominated 24 h after wounding. These data indicate that the product pattern of this DES from garlic depends on the substrate availability and that the enzyme is the first member in the group of 9/13-DES.

Source: J Exp Bot. (2008) vol. 59, p. 907-915

Animals and Plants as National Symbols of Cambodia

1. Kouprey (Bos sauveli) is the National Mammal of Cambodia
2. Giant Ibis (Pseudibis gigantea) is the National Bird of Cambodia
3. Royal Turtle (Batagur baska) is the National Reptile of Cambodia
4. Giant Mekong Barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) is the National Fish of Cambodia
5. Sugar Palm (Borassus flabellifer) is the National Tree of Cambodia
6. Rumdul (Mitrella mesnyi) is the National Flower of of Cambodia
7. Chicken Egg Banana (Musa aromatica) is the National Fruit of Cambodia

[PDF Full text]

Adapted from Forestry Administration of Cambodia

Best fuel for your workout

Good food choices to fuel your workout include high-carbohydrate, low-fat snacks such as:

- a banana with yogurt;

- a whole-wheat toasted bagel with fruit spread; or

- a quick bowl of instant oatmeal.

After your workout, it’s essential to refuel your body with a carbohydrate-protein blend, such as:

- a peanut butter sandwich;

- a small handful of walnuts or almonds; or

- a fruit smoothie with some protein powder.

Don't forget to drink water before, during and after your workout to avoid dehydration.

7 Foods to Keep You Young

There are many foods that you are eating everyday. Seven foods here can keep you younger and long life are Olive oil, Yogurt, Fish, Chocolate, Nuts, Wine, and Blueberries.

Source: Health.msn.com

Jasmonates as signals in the wound response

Plant responses to wounding and herbivore attack are orchestrated by complex signaling pathways that link the production of chemical and physical signals at the wound site to activation of gene expression and other cellular processes. The systemic nature of many wound-induced responses provides an attractive opportunity to study intercellular signaling pathways that operate over long distances within the plant. Genetic dissection of the wound-response pathway in tomato indicates that (1) systemin and its precursor protein, prosystemin, are upstream components of an intercellular signaling cascade that requires the biosynthesis and action of jasmonic acid (JA); and (2) physiological processes regulated by this pathway confer host resistance to a broad spectrum of plant invaders. Grafting experiments conducted with mutants defective in systemic wound signaling indicate that systemin functions at or near the wound site to trigger the production of JA, which in turn acts non-cell autonomously to promote systemic defense responses. The location of JA biosynthetic enzymes within the companion cell-sieve element complex of vascular bundles, together with the accumulation of JA in vascular tissues, support a role for jasmonates as phloem-mobile signals. The recent discovery of enzymes involved in the metabolism of JA to volatile methyl-JA and bioactive JA-amino acid conjugates has potential implications for the mechanism by which JA promotes wound signaling. Species-specific differences in the mechanism of wound signaling appear to reflect the way in which the wound-induced jasmonate pathway is regulated by other signals including systemin, cell wall-derived oligosaccharides, ethylene, and insect-derived elicitors. Adding to the complexity of the wound-induced jasmonate cascade are wound-signaling pathways that operate independently of JA.

Source: Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2004) vol. 23 , p. 223-237

Oxylipin metabolism in response to stress

Oxylipins comprise a group of biologically active compounds whose structural diversity is generated by the coordinate action of lipases, lipoxygenases, and a group of cytochromes P450 that are specialized for the metabolism of hydroperoxy fatty acids. Research on oxylipins has focused mainly on the biosynthesis of the plant signaling molecule jasmonic acid, and its role in the regulation of developmental and defense-related processes. Recent genetic studies indicate that metabolic precursors of jasmonate are active as signals in their own right, and that the synthesis and perception of jasmonates is critical for wound-induced systemic defense responses. Increasing evidence indicates that the collective biological importance of oxylipins in plants is comparable to that of the eicosanoid family of lipid mediators in animals.

Source: Current opinion in plant biology (2002) vol. 5, p. 230-236

From plant genomics to breeding practice

New alleles are constantly accumulated during intentional cropselection. The molecular understanding of these alleles hasstimulated new genomic approaches to mapping quantitativetrait loci (QTL) and haplotype multiplicity of the genes concerned. A limited number of quantitative trait nucleotides responsible forQTL variation have been described, but an acceleration in theirrate of discovery is expected with the adoption of linkagedisequilibrium and candidate gene strategies for QTL finemapping and cloning. Additional layers of regulatory variationhave been studied that could also contribute to the molecularbasis of quantitative genetics of crop traits. Despite thisprogress, the role of marker-assisted selection in plant breedingwill ultimately depend on the genetic model underlyingquantitative variation.

Source: Current opinion in biotechnology (2003) vol. 14, p. 214-219

Detection of a pathway from linoleate to a novel cyclopentenone: cis-12-oxo-10-phytoenoic acid in sunflower roots

The lipoxygenase pathway in sunflower roots was studied in vitro. A preliminary incubation of linoleic acid with 15 000 g supernatant of homogenate of sunflower roots (1.5-6 days after germination) revealed the predominant activity of 13-lipoxygenase. The exogenously added linoleic acid 13-hydroperoxide is further utilized through two competing pathways. One of them is directed towards formation of the ketodiene (9Z,11E)-13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid. The second pathway, which is controlled by allene oxide synthase, leads to the formation of an alpha-ketol and a novel cyclopentenone, rac-cis-12-oxo-10-phytoenoic acid (12-oxo-PEA) via a short-lived allene oxide. Unexpectedly, the cyclopentenone 12-oxo-PEA is the predominant allene oxide synthase product. Identification of cis-12-oxo-PEA was confirmed by its UV, mass, (1)H NMR and 2D-COSY spectral data. The highest yield of 12-oxo-PEA is observed in very young roots (1.5-2 days after germination). The results of methanol-trapping experiments demonstrate that both 12-oxo-PEA and alpha-ketol are formed through the unstable allene oxide intermediate, (9Z)-12,13-epoxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid, which is the primary product of allene oxide synthase. Since 12-oxo-PEA is a jasmonate congener, its biosynthesis in plants might be of physiological importance.

Source: Chembiochem. (2007) vol. 18, p. 2275-2280

Oxygenation of arachidonoyl lysophospholipids by lipoxygenases from soybean, porcine leukocyte, or rabbit reticulocyte

Oxygenation of arachidonoyl lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) or arachidonoyl lysophosphatidic acid (lysoPA) by lipoxygenase (LOX) was examined. The oxidized products were identified by HPLC/UV spectrophotometry/mass spectrometry analyses. Straight-phase and chiral-phase HPLC analyses indicated that soybean LOX-1 and rabbit reticulocyte LOX oxygenated arachidonoyl lysophospholipids mainly at C-15 with the S form as major enantiomer, whereas porcine leukocyte LOX oxygenated at C-12 with the S form. Next, the sequential exposure of arachidonoyl-lysoPC to soybean LOX-1 and porcine leukocyte LOX afforded two major isomers of dihydroxy derivatives with conjugated triene structure, suggesting that 15(S)-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoyl derivatives were converted to 8,15(S)-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoyl derivatives. Separately, arachidonoyl-lysoPA, but not arachidonoyl-lysoPC, was found to be susceptible to double oxygenation by soybean LOX-1 to generate a dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoyl derivative. Overall, arachidonoyl lysophospholipids were more efficient than arachidonic acid as LOX substrate. Moreover, the catalytic efficiency of arachidonoyl-lysoPC as substrate of three lipoxygenases was much greater than that of arachidonoyl-lysoPA or arachidonic acid. Taken together, it is proposed that arachidonoyl-lysoPC or arachidonoyl-lysoPA is efficiently oxygenated by plant or animal lipoxygenases, C12- or C15-specific, to generate oxidized products with conjugated diene or triene structure.

Source: J Agric Food Chem. (2008) vol. 56, p. 1224-1232

The New Superfruits

For Perfect Blood Pressure
- Good: Bananas
- Better: Fresh figs

To Protect Your Heart and Fight Disease
- Good: Red grapes
- Better: Lychee

For Beautiful Skin
- Good: Orange
- Better: Guava

To Lower Cholesterol
- Good: Apples
- Better: Asian pears

To Fight Cancer
- Good: Watermelon
- Better: Papaya

Source: Health.msn.com

Basic Conversation in Korean

GM crops on trial: Technological development as a real-world experiment

Through the European controversy over agricultural biotechnology, genetically modified (GM) crops have been evaluated for an increasingly wide range of potential effects. As the experimental phase has been extended into commercial practices, the terms for product approval have become more negotiable and contentious. To analyse the regulatory conflicts, this paper links three theoretical perspectives: issue-framing, agri-environmental discourses, and technological development as a real-world experiment.

Agri-biotechnological risks have been framed by contending discourses, which attribute moral meanings to the agricultural environment. Agri-biotech proponents have emphasised eco-efficiency benefits, which can remedy past environmental damage, while critics have framed ‘uncontrollable risks’ in successively broader ways through ominous metaphors of environmental catastrophe. Regulatory authorities have translated those metaphors into measurable biophysical effects. They anticipate and design commercial use as a ‘real-world experiment’, by assigning greater moral-legal responsibility to agro-industrial operators who handle GM products.

Expert-regulatory debate reflexively considers the social discipline necessary to prevent harm, now more broadly defined than before. Official procedures undergo tensions between predicting, testing and prescribing operator behaviour. In effect, GM crops have been kept continuously ‘on trial’.

Source: Futures (2007) vol. 39, p. 408-431

Oxylipin Pathway in Rice and Arabidopsis

Plants have evolved complex signaling pathways to coordinate responses to developmental and environmental information. The oxylipin pathway is one pivotal lipid-based signaling network, composed of several competing branch pathways, that determines the plant's ability to adapt to various stimuli. Activation of the oxylipin pathway induces the de novo synthesis of biologically active metabolites called "oxylipins". The relative levels of these metabolites are a distinct indicator of each plant species and determine the ability of plants to adapt to different stimuli. The two major branches of the oxylipin pathway, allene oxide synthase (AOS) and hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) are responsible for production of the signaling compounds, jasmonates and aldehydes respectively. Here, we compare and contrast the regulation of AOS and HPL branch pathways in rice and Arabidopsis as model monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous systems. These analyses provide new insights into the evolution of JAs and aldehydes signaling pathways, and the complex network of processes responsible for stress adaptations in monocots and dicots.

Source: Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (2007) vol. 49, p. 43-51

5 Foods That Feed Cholesterol

5 Foods That Feed Cholesterol:

1. Whole-milk dairy products
2. Processed meats
3. Fast-food fries
4. Tropical oils
5. Baked goods

Source: Health.msn.com

Lipases for biotechnology

Lipases constitute the most important group of biocatalysts for biotechnological applications. The high-level production of microbial lipases requires not only the efficient overexpression of the corresponding genes but also a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing their folding and secretion. The optimisation of industrially relevant lipase properties can be achieved by directed evolution. Furthermore, novel biotechnological applications have been successfully established using lipases for the synthesis of biopolymers and biodiesel, the production of enantiopure pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and flavour compounds.

Source: Current opinion in biotechnology, Vol 13, 2002, Pages 390-397

Rice octadecanoid pathway

Plant jasmonic acid (JA) and structurally similar animal prostaglandins play pivotal roles in regulating cellular responses against environmental cues, including the innate immune response(s). In plants, JA and its immediate precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) are synthesized by the octadecanoid pathway, which employs at least five enzymes (lipase, lipoxygenase, allene oxide synthase and cyclase, and OPDA reductase), in addition to the enzymes involved in the beta-oxidation steps. Genetic, molecular, and biochemical analyses have led to the identification of almost all the genes of the octadecanoid pathway in Arabidopsis--a model dicotyledonous plant. In this regard, rice (Oryza sativa L.)--an important socio-economic monocotyledonous model research plant--remains poorly characterized. Until now, no gene has been specifically associated with this pathway. It is therefore of utmost importance to identify, characterize, and assign the pathway specific genes in rice. In this review, we have surveyed the rice genome, extracted a large number of putative genes of the octadecanoid pathway, and discussed their relationship with the known pathway genes from other plant species. Moreover, the achievements made so far on the rice octadecanoid pathway have also been summarized to reflect the contribution of rice towards extending our knowledge on this critical pathway in plants.

Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol 317, 2004, Pages 1-15

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of plants: biology and biotechnology

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is the dominant technology used for the production of genetically modified transgenic plants. Extensive research aimed at understanding and improving the molecular machinery of Agrobacterium responsible for the generation and transport of the bacterial DNA into the host cell has resulted in the establishment of many recombinant Agrobacterium strains, plasmids and technologies currently used for the successful transformation of numerous plant species. Unlike the role of bacterial proteins, the role of host factors in the transformation process has remained obscure for nearly a century of Agrobacterium research, and only recently have we begun to understand how Agrobacterium hijacks host factors and cellular processes during the transformation process. The identification of such factors and studies of these processes hold great promise for the future of plant biotechnology and plant genetic engineering, as they might help in the development of conceptually new techniques and approaches needed today to expand the host range of Agrobacterium and to control the transformation process and its outcome during the production of transgenic plants.

Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology, Volume 17, 2006, Pages 147-154

5 Foods That Fight Cholesterol

There’s no denying that a healthy diet is the first line of defense against rising cholesterol. “If you eat a predominantly plant-based diet—with lots of fruits and vegetables plus some fish—you are on the right track to keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level,” says Lisa Dorfman, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. That said, certain so-called super-foods can actually help lower bad cholesterol and/or increase the good cholesterol. Ideally, you want to shoot for total cholesterol under 200, with LDL (the bad one) under 110 and HDL (the good one) greater than 35.

Try to incorporate more of these foods into your daily diet:

1. Almonds
2. Oatmeal
3. Fish
4. Red wine
5. Soy

Source: Health.msn.com

8 Foods You Should Eat Every Day

We should eat 8 foods every day are
1. Spinach
2. Yogurt
3. Tomatoes
4. Carrots
5. Blueberries
6. Black Beans
7. Walnuts
8. Oats

Source: Health.msn.com

Transgenic Rice Breeding for Abiotic Stress Tolerance-Present and Future

Environmental stresses and the continuing deterioration of arable land, along with an explosive increase in world population, pose serious threats to global agricultural production and food security. Improving the tolerance of the major crop plants to abiotic stresses has been a main goal in agriculture for a long time. As rice is considered one of the major crops, the development of new cultivars with enhanced abiotic stress-tolerance will undoubtedly have an important effect on global food production. The transgenic approach offers an attractive alternative to conventional techniques for the genetic improvement of rice cultivars. In recent years, an array of stress-related genes has already been transferred to rice to improve its resistance against abiotic stresses. Many transgenic rice plants with enhanced abiotic stress-tolerance have been obtained. This article focuses on the progress in the study of abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic rice breeding.

Source: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 23, 2007, Pages 1-7

My article on Organic Letters 2007

Regiochemical and stereochemical evidence for enzyme-initiated catalysis in dual positional specific maize lipoxygenase-1

Dual positional specific maize lipoxygenase-1 catalyzed the formation of racemic mixtures of four possible regioisomers and was strongly inhibited by the radical scavenger, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy radical. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the oxygen-binding cavity is segregated from the substrate-binding cavity. The data suggest that a bis-allylic radical reaction intermediate is generated enzymatically, released from the enzyme active site, and subsequently oxygenated outside of the enzyme active site by a nonenzymatic mechanism.

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My article on J Biochem Mol Biol 2007

Biochemical characterization of the dual positional specific maize lipoxygenase and the dependence of lagging and initial burst phenomenon on pH, substrate, and detergent during pre-steady state kinetics

The wound-inducible lipoxygenase obtained from maize is one of the nontraditional lipoxygenases that possess dual positional specificity. In this paper, we provide our results on the determination and comparison of the kinetic constants of the maize lipoxygenase, with or without detergents in the steady state, and characterization of the dependence of the kinetic lag phase or initial burst, on pH, substrate, and detergent in the pre-steady state of the lipoxygenase reaction. The oxidation of linoleic acid showed a typical lag phase in the pre-steady state of the lipoxygenase reaction at pH 7.5 in the presence of 0.25% Tween-20 detergent. The reciprocal correlation between the induction period and the enzyme level indicated that this lag phenomenon was attributable to the slow oxidative activation of Fe (II) to Fe (III) at the active site of the enzyme as observed in other lipoxygenase reactions. Contrary to the lagging phenomenon observed at pH 7.5 in the presence of Tween-20, a unique initial burst was observed at pH 6.2 in the absence of detergents. To our knowledge, the initial burst in the oxidation of linoleic acid at pH 6.2 is the first observation in the lipoxygenase reaction. Kinetic constants (K(m) and k(cat) values) were largely dependent on the presence of detergent. An inverse correlation of the initial burst period with enzyme levels and interpretations on kinetic constants suggested that the observed initial burst in the oxidation of linoleic acid could be due to the availability of free fatty acids as substrates for binding with the lipoxygenase enzyme.

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My article on Bioorganic Chemistry 2003

A point mutation of valine-311 to methionine in Bacillus subtilis protoporphyrinogen oxidase does not greatly increase resistance to the diphenyl ether herbicide oxyfluorfen

In an effort to asses the effect of Val311Met point mutation of Bacillus subtilis protoporphyrinogen oxidase on the resistance to diphenyl ether herbicides, a Val311Met point mutant of B. subtilis protoporphyrinogen oxidase was prepared, heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified recombinant Val311Met mutant protoporphyrinogen oxidase was kinetically characterized. The mutant protoporphyrinogen oxidase showed very similar kinetic patterns to wild type protoporphyrinogen oxidase, with slightly decreased activity dependent on pH and the concentrations of NaCl, Tween 20, and imidazole. When oxyfluorfen was used as a competitive inhibitor, the Val311Met mutant protoporphyrinogen oxidase showed an increased inhibition constant about 1.5 times that of wild type protoporphyrinogen oxidase. The marginal increase of the inhibition constant indicates that the Val311Met point mutation in B. subtilis protoporphyrinogen oxidase may not be an important determinant in the mechanism that protects protoporphyrinogen oxidase against diphenyl ether herbicides.

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A novel lipoxygenase gene from developing rice seeds confers dual position specificity and responds to wounding and insect attack

OsLOX1 is a novel full-length cDNA isolated from developing rice seeds. We have examined its biochemical properties and expression patterns. The protein has dual positional specificity, as it releases both C-9 and C-13 oxidized products in a 4:3 ratio. OsLOX1 transcripts were detected at low abundance in immature seeds and newly germinated seedlings, but accumulate rapidly and transiently in response to wounding or brown planthopper (BPH) attack, reaching a peak 3 h after wounding and 6 h after insect feeding. We produced transgenic rice lines carrying either sense or antisense constructs under the control of a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, and these rice lines showed altered OsLOX1 activity. In all of the antisense lines and more than half of the sense lines the expression levels of OsLOX1, the levels of enzyme activity, and the levels of the endogenous OsLOX1 products (jasmonic acid, (Z)-3-hexenal and colneleic acid) at 6, 48, and 48 h after BPH feeding respectively, were below the levels found in non-transgenic control plants; yet, the levels in the remaining sense transformants were enhanced relative to controls. Transformants with a lower level of OsLOX1 expression were less able to tolerate BPH attack, while those with enhanced OsLOX1 expression were more resistant. Our data suggest that the OsLOX1 product is involved in tolerance of the rice plant to wounding and BPH attack.

Source:

Transgenic animal production and animal biotechnology

Considerable progress has been made in methods for production of transgenic livestock; beginning with pronuclear microinjection over 20 years ago. New methods, including the use of viral vectors, sperm-mediated gene transfer and somatic cell cloning, have overcome many of the limitations of pronuclear microinjection. It is now possible to not only readily make simple insertional genetic modifications, but also to accomplish, more complex, homozygous gene targeting and artificial chromosome transfer in livestock.

Source: Theriogenology, Vol 67, 2007, Pages 127-133

Genes to feed the world: The weakest link?

The new science of genomics has an important contribution to make to the development of agriculture in the ‘Third World’ and thus to improving the livelihoods of many of the poorest people on earth. The persistence of poverty demonstrates, however, that this contribution is not yet being made. We therefore examine the web of connections between the two and enquire whether they could be strengthened in some way, perhaps by the addition of some vital ‘missing link’, so that the contribution from genomics can be maximised. Since the use of molecular markers to help develop improved crop varieties (marker-assisted selection) constitutes one of the main ways in which genomic knowledge could be used to improve rural livelihoods, we review this technology and discuss the ways in which it could contribute to plant breeding. We argue that marker-assisted selection (MAS) is likely to be most effective when it is both (i) linked to the farmers who are expected to cultivate the new crop varieties that will eventually be developed; and (ii) integrated with plant breeding and with a range of complementary disciplines. Such integration necessarily involves the formation of effective trans-disciplinary teams, an undertaking that is often problematic, and so the final part of this article considers the processes that this involves and suggests ways in which they may be managed effectively.

Adapted from Food Policy, Vol 32, 2007, Pages 459-479