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Abstract
Unauthorized genetically engineered orange petunias were found on the market. Genetic engineering of petunia was shown to lead to novel flower color some 20 years ago. Here we show that petunia lines with orange flowers, generated for scientific purposes, apparently found their way to petunia breeding programmes, intentionally or unintentionally. Today they are widely available, but have not been registered for commerce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Bashandy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Genetics, Cairo University, 13 Gamaa St., Giza, 12619, Egypt
| | - Teemu H Teeri
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Kontturi J, Osama R, Deng X, Bashandy H, Albert VA, Teeri TH. Functional characterization and expression of GASCL1 and GASCL2, two anther-specific chalcone synthase like enzymes from Gerbera hybrida. Phytochemistry 2017; 134:38-45. [PMID: 27884449 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The chalcone synthase superfamily consists of type III polyketidesynthases (PKSs), enzymes responsible for producing plant secondary metabolites with various biological and pharmacological activities. Anther-specific chalcone synthase-like enzymes (ASCLs) represent an ancient group of type III PKSs involved in the biosynthesis of sporopollenin, the main component of the exine layer of moss spores and mature pollen grains of seed plants. In the latter, ASCL proteins are localized in the tapetal cells of the anther where they participate in sporopollenin biosynthesis and exine formation within the locule. It is thought that the enzymes responsible for sporopollenin biosynthesis are highly conserved, and thus far, each angiosperm species with a genome sequenced has possessed two ASCL genes, which in Arabidopsis thaliana are PKSA and PKSB. The Gerbera hybrida (gerbera) PKS protein family consists of three chalcone synthases (GCHS1, GCHS3 and GCHS4) and three 2-pyrone synthases (G2PS1, G2PS2 and G2PS3). In previous studies we have demonstrated the functions of chalcone synthases in flavonoid biosynthesis, and the involvement of 2-pyrone synthases in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial compounds found in gerbera. In this study we expanded the gerbera PKS-family by functionally characterizing two gerbera ASCL proteins. In vitro enzymatic studies using purified recombinant proteins showed that both GASCL1 and GASCL2 were able to use medium and long-chain acyl-CoA starters and perform two to three condensation reactions of malonyl-CoA to produce tri- and tetraketide 2-pyrones, usually referred to as alpha-pyrones in sporopollenin literature. Both GASCL1 and GASCL2 genes were expressed only in floral organs, with most expression observed in anthers. In the anthers, transcripts of both genes showed strict tapetum-specific localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Kontturi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Raisa Osama
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Xianbao Deng
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Hany Bashandy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland; Department of Genetics, Cairo University, 13 Gamaa St., Giza, 12619, Egypt
| | - Victor A Albert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Buffalo, USA
| | - Teemu H Teeri
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, P.O. Box 27, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland.
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Bashandy H, Pietiäinen M, Carvalho E, Lim KJ, Elomaa P, Martens S, Teeri TH. Anthocyanin biosynthesis in gerbera cultivar 'Estelle' and its acyanic sport 'Ivory'. Planta 2015; 242:601-11. [PMID: 26093654 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-015-2349-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Identification of distinct allelic versions for dihydroflavonol 4-reductase in gerbera cultivars reveals that gerbera DFR enzymes have strong substrate preference in vivo that is not reflected to the activity in vitro. Flavonoids in the model ornamental plant Gerbera hybrida consist of flavones, flavonols and anthocyanins. Anthocyanins accumulate in the adaxial epidermis of petals and give the different cultivars their characteristic red and violet colour. Both pelargonidin and cyanidin derivatives are found in gerbera, but none of the cultivars contain delphinidin. 'Ivory', a cultivar with white petals, is a sport of the pelargonidin-containing pink cultivar 'Estelle', i.e. it originates from an acyanic branch of 'Estelle'. In this work, four different alleles encoding dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) were identified in gerbera cultivars. We found that, in contrast to 'Estelle' with the functional allele GDFR1-2, 'Ivory' carries a mutation in this gene that results in an inactive enzyme. Interestingly, 'Ivory' also expresses a second, nonmutated allele (GDFR1-3) in petal epidermi, leading to extractable DFR activity but not to anthocyanin biosynthesis. The second allele encodes a protein identical in amino acid sequence to the DFR of the cyanidin-containing variety 'President'. Pelargonidin-containing cultivars do not react to the flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase inhibitor tetcyclacis, but cyanidin-containing cultivars lose their colour, instead of starting to synthesise pelargonidins, indicating the specificity of GDFR1-3 for the cyanidin pathway. This explains why petals of 'Ivory' are white, even when it has lost only one of the two enzymatically functional DFR forms, and shows that anthocyanin biosynthesis in gerbera is under more complex regulation than earlier thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Bashandy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Bashandy H, Jalkanen S, Teeri TH. Within leaf variation is the largest source of variation in agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana. Plant Methods 2015; 11:47. [PMID: 26472987 PMCID: PMC4607171 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-015-0091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transient gene expression utilizing syringe agroinfiltration offers a simple and efficient technique for different transgenic applications. Leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana show reliable and high transformation efficiency, but in quantitative assays also a certain degree of variation. We used a nested design in our agroinfiltration experiments to dissect the sources of this variation. RESULTS An intron containing firefly luciferase gene was used as a reporter for agroinfiltration. A number of 6 week old tobacco plants were infiltrated for their top leaves, several samples were punched from the leaves after 2 days of transient expression, and protein extracts from the samples were repeatedly measured for luciferase activity. Interestingly, most of the variation was due to differences between the sampling spots in the leaves, the next important source being the different leaves on each plant. Variation between similar experiments, between plants and between repetitive measurements of the extracts could be easily minimized. CONCLUSIONS Efforts and expenditure of agroinfiltration experiments can be optimized when sources of variation are known. In summary, infiltrate more plants but less leaves, sample more positions on the leaf but run only few technical replicates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Bashandy
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- />Department of Genetics, Cairo University, 13 Gamaa St., Giza, 12619 Egypt
| | - Salla Jalkanen
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu H. Teeri
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Deng X, Bashandy H, Ainasoja M, Kontturi J, Pietiäinen M, Laitinen RAE, Albert VA, Valkonen JPT, Elomaa P, Teeri TH. Functional diversification of duplicated chalcone synthase genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis of Gerbera hybrida. New Phytol 2014; 201:1469-1483. [PMID: 24266452 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
• Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the key enzyme in the first committed step of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the stepwise condensation of 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to naringenin chalcone. In plants, CHS is often encoded by a small family of genes that are temporally and spatially regulated. Our earlier studies have shown that GCHS4 is highly activated by ectopic expression of an MYB-type regulator GMYB10 in gerbera (Gerbera hybrida). • The tissue- and development-specific expression patterns of three gerbera CHS genes were examined. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to knock down GCHS1 and GCHS4 separately in gerbera inflorescences. • Our data show that GCHS4 is the only CHS encoding gene that is expressed in the cyanidin-pigmented vegetative tissues of gerbera cv Terraregina. GCHS3 expression is pronounced in the pappus bristles of the flowers. Expression of both GCHS1 and GCHS4 is high in the epidermal cells of gerbera petals, but only GCHS1 is contributing to flavonoid biosynthesis. • Gerbera contains a family of three CHS encoding genes showing different spatial and temporal regulation. GCHS4 expression in gerbera petals is regulated post-transcriptionally, at the level of either translation elongation or protein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianbao Deng
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hany Bashandy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Genetics, Cairo University, 13 Gamaa St., Giza, 12619, Egypt
| | - Miia Ainasoja
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Kontturi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Milla Pietiäinen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa A E Laitinen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor A Albert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Jari P T Valkonen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula Elomaa
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu H Teeri
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Dutta SK, Arora M, Kireet A, Bashandy H, Gandsas A. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms and associated disorders in morbidly obese patients: a prospective study. Dig Dis Sci 2009; 54:1243-6. [PMID: 18975090 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-008-0485-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2008] [Accepted: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate the frequency of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and associated disorders in morbidly obese patients with endoscopy and histology prior to their gastric bypass surgery in comparison with age- and sex-matched nonobese control subjects. METHODS All patients who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic gastric bypass for treatment of morbid obesity (body mass index, BMI > 40 kg/m(2)) during a 1-year period (n = 101) were included in the study. Age- and sex-matched nonobese patients who were seen in the medical clinics during the study period were enrolled as control subjects. The demographic data, total body weight, body mass index, and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded, and the results of upper endoscopy and histology were tabulated. Endoscopic documentation of hiatal hernia, esophagitis, gastritis, gastric polyps, and peptic ulcer disease was also noted along with the histologic findings of the mucosal biopsies from the upper gastrointestinal tract. RESULTS The prevalence of heartburn as a symptom was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the morbidly obese patients (32.6%) compared with in the control group (18.8%). Endoscopically, the prevalence of hiatal hernia was also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the morbidly obese group (38.6%) compared with in the control group (13.8%). Similarly the frequency of endoscopically and histologically identified gastritis was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the morbidly obese patient group. However, the frequency of histologically identified Helicobacter pylori was not statistically different in the two groups. CONCLUSION These observations suggest a significant increase in the frequency of heartburn, hiatal hernia, and histologically identified gastritis in morbidly obese patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir K Dutta
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA.
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