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de Melo LFM, Barbosa JDS, Cordeiro MLDS, Aquino-Martins VGDQ, da Silva AP, Paiva WDS, Silveira ER, dos Santos DYAC, Rocha HAO, Scortecci KC. The Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Potential of Coccoloba alnifolia Leaf Extracts. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15885. [PMID: 37958868 PMCID: PMC10650087 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been associated with different diseases, and different medicinal plants have been used to treat or prevent this condition. The leaf ethanolic extract (EE) and aqueous extract (AE) from Coccoloba alnifolia have previously been characterized to have antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we worked with EE and AE and two partition phases, AF (ethyl acetate) and BF (butanol), from AE extract. These extracts and partition phases did not display cytotoxicity. The EE and AE reduced NO production and ROS in all three concentrations tested. Furthermore, it was observed that EE and AE at 500 μg/mL concentration were able to reduce phagocytic activity by 30 and 50%, respectively. A scratch assay using a fibroblast cell line (NHI/3T3) showed that extracts and fractions induced cell migration with 60% wound recovery within 24 h, especially for BF. It was also observed that AF and BF had antioxidant potential in all the assays evaluated. In addition, copper chelation was observed. This activity was previously not detected in AE. The HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of phenolic compounds such as p-cumaric acid and vitexin for extracts, while the GNPS annotated the presence of isoorientin, vitexin, kanakugiol, and tryptamine in the BF partition phase. The data presented here demonstrated that the EE, AE, AF, and BF of C. alnifolia have potential immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant effects, as well as in vitro wound healing characteristics, which are important for dynamic inflammation process control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Fentanes Moura de Melo
- Laboratory of Plant Transformation and Microscopy Analysis (LPTAM), Cell Biology and Genetics Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (L.F.M.d.M.); (V.G.d.Q.A.-M.); (A.P.d.S.)
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduation School Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, RN, Brazil
| | - Jefferson da Silva Barbosa
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Federal Institut of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), São Gonçalo do Amarante 59291-727, RN, Brazil
| | - Maria Lúcia da Silva Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Plant Transformation and Microscopy Analysis (LPTAM), Cell Biology and Genetics Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (L.F.M.d.M.); (V.G.d.Q.A.-M.); (A.P.d.S.)
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduation School Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, RN, Brazil
| | - Verônica Giuliani de Queiroz Aquino-Martins
- Laboratory of Plant Transformation and Microscopy Analysis (LPTAM), Cell Biology and Genetics Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (L.F.M.d.M.); (V.G.d.Q.A.-M.); (A.P.d.S.)
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduation School Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, RN, Brazil
| | - Ariana Pereira da Silva
- Laboratory of Plant Transformation and Microscopy Analysis (LPTAM), Cell Biology and Genetics Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (L.F.M.d.M.); (V.G.d.Q.A.-M.); (A.P.d.S.)
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
| | - Weslley de Souza Paiva
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Northeast Biotecnology Network (RENORBIO), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil
| | - Elielson Rodrigo Silveira
- Phytochemistry Laboratory, Botany Departament, Bioscience Institut, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-070, SP, Brazil; (E.R.S.); (D.Y.A.C.d.S.)
| | - Déborah Yara A. Cursino dos Santos
- Phytochemistry Laboratory, Botany Departament, Bioscience Institut, São Paulo University, São Paulo 05508-070, SP, Brazil; (E.R.S.); (D.Y.A.C.d.S.)
| | - Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (J.d.S.B.); (W.d.S.P.); (H.A.O.R.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduation School Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, RN, Brazil
| | - Kátia Castanho Scortecci
- Laboratory of Plant Transformation and Microscopy Analysis (LPTAM), Cell Biology and Genetics Department, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (L.F.M.d.M.); (V.G.d.Q.A.-M.); (A.P.d.S.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduation School Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, RN, Brazil
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2
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Chacon DS, Santos MDM, Bonilauri B, Vilasboa J, da Costa CT, da Silva IB, Torres TDM, de Araújo TF, Roque ADA, Pilon AC, Selegatto DM, Freire RT, Reginaldo FPS, Voigt EL, Zuanazzi JAS, Scortecci KC, Cavalheiro AJ, Lopes NP, Ferreira LDS, dos Santos LV, Fontes W, de Sousa MV, Carvalho PC, Fett-Neto AG, Giordani RB. Non-target molecular network and putative genes of flavonoid biosynthesis in Erythrina velutina Willd., a Brazilian semiarid native woody plant. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:947558. [PMID: 36161018 PMCID: PMC9493460 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.947558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Erythrina velutina is a Brazilian native tree of the Caatinga (a unique semiarid biome). It is widely used in traditional medicine showing anti-inflammatory and central nervous system modulating activities. The species is a rich source of specialized metabolites, mostly alkaloids and flavonoids. To date, genomic information, biosynthesis, and regulation of flavonoids remain unknown in this woody plant. As part of a larger ongoing research goal to better understand specialized metabolism in plants inhabiting the harsh conditions of the Caatinga, the present study focused on this important class of bioactive phenolics. Leaves and seeds of plants growing in their natural habitat had their metabolic and proteomic profiles analyzed and integrated with transcriptome data. As a result, 96 metabolites (including 43 flavonoids) were annotated. Transcripts of the flavonoid pathway totaled 27, of which EvCHI, EvCHR, EvCHS, EvCYP75A and EvCYP75B1 were identified as putative main targets for modulating the accumulation of these metabolites. The highest correspondence of mRNA vs. protein was observed in the differentially expressed transcripts. In addition, 394 candidate transcripts encoding for transcription factors distributed among the bHLH, ERF, and MYB families were annotated. Based on interaction network analyses, several putative genes of the flavonoid pathway and transcription factors were related, particularly TFs of the MYB family. Expression patterns of transcripts involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and those involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses were discussed in detail. Overall, these findings provide a base for the understanding of molecular and metabolic responses in this medicinally important species. Moreover, the identification of key regulatory targets for future studies aiming at bioactive metabolite production will be facilitated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Sotero Chacon
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Bernardo Bonilauri
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Johnatan Vilasboa
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Cibele Tesser da Costa
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Taffarel de Melo Torres
- Bioinformatics, Biostatistics and Computer Biology Nucleus, Rural Federal University of the Semiarid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Alan de Araújo Roque
- Institute for Sustainable Development and Environment, Dunas Park Herbarium, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Alan Cesar Pilon
- NPPNS, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FCFRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Denise Medeiros Selegatto
- Zimmermann Group, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rafael Teixeira Freire
- Signal and Information Processing for Sensing Systems, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Eduardo Luiz Voigt
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Kátia Castanho Scortecci
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Center for Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Norberto Peporine Lopes
- NPPNS, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FCFRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Leandro Vieira dos Santos
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Valle de Sousa
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Paulo Costa Carvalho
- Computational and Structural Proteomics Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz, PR, Brazil
| | - Arthur Germano Fett-Neto
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Raquel Brandt Giordani
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
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Gomes GLB, Scortecci KC. Auxin and its role in plant development: structure, signalling, regulation and response mechanisms. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2021; 23:894-904. [PMID: 34396657 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [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: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Auxins are plant hormones that play a central role in controlling plant growth and development across different environmental conditions. Even at low concentrations, auxins can regulate gene expression through specific transcription factors and proteins that are modulated to environmental responses in the signalling cascade. Auxins are synthesized in tissues with high cell division activity and distributed by specific transmembrane proteins that regulate efflux and influx. This review presents recent advances in understanding the biosynthetic pathways, both dependent and independent of tryptophan, highlighting the intermediate indole compounds (indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-pyruvic acid and tryptamine) and the key enzymes for auxin biosynthesis, such as YUCs and TAAs. In relation to the signalling cascade, it has been shown that auxins influence gene expression regulation by the connection between synthesis and distribution. Moreover, the molecular action of the auxin response factors and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid transcription factors with the F-box TIR1/AFB auxin receptors regulates gene expression. In addition, the importance of microRNAs in the auxin signalling pathway and their influence on plant plasticity to environmental fluctuations is also demonstrated. Finally, this review describes the chemical and biological processes involving auxins in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L B Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Laboratório de Transformação de Plantas e Análises em Microscopia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - K C Scortecci
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Laboratório de Transformação de Plantas e Análises em Microscopia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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4
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Lamarca AP, de Almeida LGP, Francisco RDS, Lima LFA, Scortecci KC, Perez VP, Brustolini OJ, Sousa ESS, Secco DA, Santos AMG, Albuquerque GR, Mariano APM, Maciel BM, Gerber AL, Guimarães APDC, Nascimento PR, Neto FPF, Gadelha SR, Porto LC, Campana EH, Jeronimo SMB, Vasconcelos ATR. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 tracks early interstate transmission of P.1 lineage and diversification within P.2 clade in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009835. [PMID: 34644287 PMCID: PMC8544873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sharp increase of COVID-19 cases in late 2020 has made Brazil the new epicenter of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The novel viral lineages P.1 (Variant of Concern Gamma) and P.2, respectively identified in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro, have been associated with potentially higher transmission rates and antibody neutralization escape. In this study, we performed the whole-genome sequencing of 185 samples isolated from three out of the five Brazilian regions, including Amazonas (North region), Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Bahia (Northeast region), and Rio de Janeiro (Southeast region) in order to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Brazil in the first months of 2021. Here, we showed a widespread dispersal of P.1 and P.2 across Brazilian regions and, except for Amazonas, P.2 was the predominant lineage identified in the sampled states. We estimated the origin of P.2 lineage to have happened in February, 2020 and identified that it has differentiated into new clades. Interstate transmission of P.2 was detected since March, but reached its peak in December, 2020 and January, 2021. Transmission of P.1 was also high in December and its origin was inferred to have happened in August 2020. We also confirmed the presence of lineage P.7, recently described in the southernmost region of Brazil, to have spread across the Northeastern states. P.1, P.2 and P.7 are descended from the ancient B.1.1.28 strain, which co-dominated the first phase of the pandemic in Brazil with the B.1.1.33 strain. We also identified the occurrence of a new lineage descending from B.1.1.33 that convergently carries the E484K mutation, N.9. Indeed, the recurrent report of many novel SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in Brazil could be due to the absence of effective control measures resulting in high SARS-CoV2 transmission rates. Altogether, our findings provided a landscape of the critical state of SARS-CoV-2 across Brazil and confirm the need to sustain continuous sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 isolates worldwide in order to identify novel variants of interest and monitor for vaccine effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra P. Lamarca
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Brazil
| | - Luiz G. P. de Almeida
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Brazil
| | | | | | - Kátia Castanho Scortecci
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Genômica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Pietta Perez
- Laboratório de Endemias, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Otavio J. Brustolini
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Sérgio Soares Sousa
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Danielle Angst Secco
- Laboratório de Histocompatibilidade e Criopreservação, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angela Maria Guimarães Santos
- Laboratório de Histocompatibilidade e Criopreservação, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - George Rego Albuquerque
- Laboratório de Farmacogenômica e Epidemiologia Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Melo Mariano
- Laboratório de Farmacogenômica e Epidemiologia Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Bianca Mendes Maciel
- Laboratório de Farmacogenômica e Epidemiologia Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Alexandra L. Gerber
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo Ricardo Nascimento
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Francisco Paulo Freire Neto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Sandra Rocha Gadelha
- Laboratório de Farmacogenômica e Epidemiologia Molecular, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil
| | - Luís Cristóvão Porto
- Laboratório de Histocompatibilidade e Criopreservação, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eloiza Helena Campana
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Selma Maria Bezerra Jeronimo
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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Maira N, Torres TM, de Oliveira AL, de Medeiros SRB, Agnez-Lima LF, Lima JPMS, Scortecci KC. Identification, characterisation and molecular modelling of two AP endonucleases from base excision repair pathway in sugarcane provide insights on the early evolution of green plants. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2014; 16:622-31. [PMID: 23957429 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Unlike bacteria and mammals, plant DNA repair pathways are not well characterised, especially in monocots. The understanding of these processes in the plant cell is of major importance, since they may be directly involved in plant acclimation and adaptation to stressful environments. Hence, two sugarcane ESTs were identified as homologues of AP endonuclease from the base-excision repair pathway: ScARP1 and ScARP3. In order to understand their probable function and evolutionary origin, structural and phylogenetic studies were performed using bioinformatics approaches. The two predicted proteins present a considerable amino acid sequence similarity, and molecular modelling procedures indicate that both are functional, since the main structural motifs remain conserved. However, inspection of the sort signal regions on the full-length cDNAs indicated that these proteins have a distinct organelle target. Furthermore, variances in their promoter cis-element motifs were also found. Although the mRNA expression pattern was similar, there were significant differences in their expression levels. Taken together, these data raise the hypothesis that the ScARP is an example of a probable gene duplication event that occurred before monocotyledon/dicotyledon segregation, followed by a sub-functionalisation event in the Poaceae, leading to new intracellular targeting and different expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Maira
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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6
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Dantas-Santos N, Gomes DL, Costa LS, Cordeiro SL, Costa MSSP, Trindade ES, Franco CRC, Scortecci KC, Leite EL, Rocha HAO. Freshwater plants synthesize sulfated polysaccharides: heterogalactans from Water Hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes). Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:961-976. [PMID: 22312297 PMCID: PMC3269731 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13010961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 12/30/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) are found mainly in seaweeds and animals. To date, they have only been found in six plants and all inhabit saline environments. Furthermore, there are no reports of SP in freshwater or terrestrial plants. As such, this study investigated the presence of SP in freshwaters Eichhornia crassipes, Egeria densa, Egeria naja, Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle bonariensis and Nymphaea ampla. Chemical analysis identified sulfate in N. ampla, H. bonariensis and, more specifically, E. crassipes. In addition, chemical analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, histological analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), as well as agarose gel electrophoresis detected SP in all parts of E. crassipes, primarily in the root (epidermis and vascular bundle). Galactose, glucose and arabinose are the main monosaccharides found in the sulfated polysaccharides from E. crassipes. In activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test, to evaluate the intrinsic coagulation pathway, SP from the root and rhizome prolonged the coagulation time to double the baseline value, with 0.1 mg/mL and 0.15 mg/mL, respectively. However, SP from the leaf and petiole showed no anticoagulant activity. Eichornia SP demonstrated promising anticoagulant potential and have been selected for further studies on bioguided fractionation; isolation and characterization of pure polysaccharides from this species. Additionally in vivo experiments are needed and are already underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nednaldo Dantas-Santos
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
- Health Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil
| | - Dayanne Lopes Gomes
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
| | - Leandro Silva Costa
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
| | - Sara Lima Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
| | - Mariana Santos Santana Pereira Costa
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
| | - Edvaldo Silva Trindade
- Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba-PR 81531-990, Brazil; E-Mails: (E.S.T.); (C.R.C.F)
| | - Célia Regina Chavichiolo Franco
- Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba-PR 81531-990, Brazil; E-Mails: (E.S.T.); (C.R.C.F)
| | - Kátia Castanho Scortecci
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetic, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - Edda Lisboa Leite
- Laboratory of Glycobiology, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
- Laboratory of Biotechnology of Natural Polymers (BIOPOL), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil; E-Mails: (N.D.-S.); (D.L.G.); (L.S.C); (S.L.C.); (M.S.S.P.C.)
- Health Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil
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Costa AP, Scortecci KC, Hashimoto RY, Araujo PG, Grandbastien MA, Van Sluys MA. Retrolyc1-1, a member of the Tntl retrotransposon super-family in the Lycopersicon peruvianum genome. Genetica 2005; 107:65-72. [PMID: 16220396 DOI: 10.1023/a:1004028002883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Retrotransposons are ubiquitous mobile genetic elements that transpose through an RNA intermediate. One of the best known plant retrotransposon, Tnt1, was isolated from tobacco and showed an extensive distribution in the Nicotiana genus. We investigated the presence of related sequences in the Lycopersicon genus, another member of the Solanaceae family. Hybridization experiments performed using Tnt1 probes indicated that homologous sequences were present in all Lycopersicon species, indicating that these Tnt1-related sequences, that we named Retrolyc1, are distributed throughout the Lycopersicon genus. Different distribution patterns were detected between species, demonstrating a potential use of Retrolyc1 elements as molecular markers. An incomplete Retrolyc1 sequence, that we named Retrolyc1-1, was isolated from an L. peruvianum genomic library. Retrolyc1-1 shows extensive homology with Tnt1 sequences except in the LTR U3 region. Since this region is known to be involved in the control of transcription, this strongly suggests the existence of different patterns of regulation for Tnt1 and Retrolyc1 elements. The study of these two elements within the Solanaceae family may provide interesting models for retrotransposon evolution within this group and transmission in host genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Costa
- Depto. de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências-, Universidade de Sao Paulo; Rua do Matao, 277 05508-900, S.P, Brasil
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Carvalho FM, Fonseca MM, Batistuzzo De Medeiros S, Scortecci KC, Blaha CAG, Agnez-Lima LF. DNA repair in reduced genome: the Mycoplasma model. Gene 2005; 360:111-9. [PMID: 16153783 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2005.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2004] [Revised: 03/31/2005] [Accepted: 06/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of bacteria with a reduced genome, such as that found in Mycoplasmas, raises the question as to which genes should be enough to guarantee the genomic stability indispensable for the maintenance of life. The aim of this work was to compare nine Mycoplasma genomes in regard to DNA repair genes. An in silico analysis was done using six Mycoplasma species, whose genomes are accessible at GenBank, and M. synoviae, and two strains of M. hyopneumoniae, whose genomes were recently sequenced by The Brazilian National Genome Project Consortium and Southern Genome Investigation Program (Brazil) respectively. Considering this reduced genome model, our comparative analysis suggests that the DNA integrity necessary for life can be primarily maintained by nucleotide excision repair (NER), which is the only complete repair pathway. Furthermore, some enzymes involved with base excision repair (BER) and recombination are also present and can complement the NER activity. The absence of RecR and RecO-like ORFs was observed only in M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae, which can be involved with the conservation of gene order observed between these two species. We also obtained phylogenetic evidence for the recent acquisition of the ogt gene in M. pulmonis and M. penetrans by a lateral transference event. In general, the presence or nonexistence of repair genes is shared by all species analyzed, suggesting that the loss of the majority of repair genes was an ancestral event, which occurred before the divergence of the Mycoplasma species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabíola Marques Carvalho
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
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Duarte FT, Carvalho FMD, Bezerra e Silva U, Scortecci KC, Blaha CAG, Agnez-Lima LF, Batistuzzo de Medeiros SR. DNA repair in Chromobacterium violaceum. Genet Mol Res 2004; 3:167-80. [PMID: 15100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative beta-proteobacterium that inhabits a variety of ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions, including the water and banks of the Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon. This bacterium has been the subject of extensive study over the last three decades, due to its biotechnological properties, including the characteristic violacein pigment, which has antimicrobial and anti-tumoral activities. C. violaceum promotes the solubilization of gold in a mercury-free process, and has been used in the synthesis of homopolyesters suitable for the production of biodegradable polymers. The complete genome sequence of this organism has been completed by the Brazilian National Genome Project Consortium. The aim of our group was to study the DNA repair genes in this organism, due to their importance in the maintenance of genomic integrity. We identified DNA repair genes involved in different pathways in C. violaceum through a similarity search against known sequences deposited in databases. The phylogenetic analyses were done using programs of the PHILYP package. This analysis revealed various metabolic pathways, including photoreactivation, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, recombinational repair, and the SOS system. The similarity between the C. violaceum sequences and those of Neisserie miningitidis and Ralstonia solanacearum was greater than that between the C. violaceum and Escherichia coli sequences. The peculiarities found in the C. violaceum genome were the absence of LexA, some horizontal transfer events and a large number of repair genes involved with alkyl and oxidative DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Teixeira Duarte
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brasil
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Abstract
The timing of flowering is important for the reproductive success of plants. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a new MADS-box gene, FLOWERING LOCUS M (FLM), which is involved in the transition from vegetative to reproductive development. FLM is similar in amino-acid sequence to FLC, another MADS-box gene involved in flowering-time control. flm mutants are early flowering in both inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, and flowering time is sensitive to FLM dosage. FLM overexpression produces late-flowering plants. Thus FLM acts as an inhibitor of flowering. FLM is expressed in areas of cell division such as root and shoot apical regions and leaf primordia.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Scortecci
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1544, USA
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Costa AP, Scortecci KC, Hashimoto RY, Araujo PG, Grandbastien MA, Van Sluys MA. Retrolycl-1, a member of the tntl retrotransposon super-family in the Lycopersicon peruvianum genome. Genetica 2000; 107:65-72. [PMID: 10952198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Retrotransposons are ubiquitous mobile genetic elements that transpose through an RNA intermediate. One of the best known plant retrotransposon, Tnt1, was isolated from tobacco and showed an extensive distribution in the Nicotiana genus. We investigated the presence of related sequences in the Lycopersicon genus, another member of the Solanaceae family. Hybridization experiments performed using Tnt1 probes indicated that homologous sequences were present in all Lycopersicon species, indicating that these Tnt1-related sequences, that we named Retrolyc1, are distributed throughout the Lycopersicon genus. Different distribution patterns were detected between species, demonstrating a potential use of Retrolyc1 elements as molecular markers. An incomplete Retrolyc1 sequence, that we named Retrolyc1-1, was isolated from an L. peruvianum genomic library. Retrolyc1-1 shows extensive homology with Tnt1 sequences except in the LTR U3 region. Since this region is known to be involved in the control of transcription, this strongly suggests the existence of different patterns of regulation for Tnt1 and Retrolyc1 elements. The study of these two elements within the Solanaceae family may provide interesting models for retrotransposon evolution within this group and transmission in host genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Costa
- Depto. de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências- Universidade de Sao Paulo, S.P. Brasil
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Scortecci KC, Raina R, Fedoroff NV, Van Sluys MA. Negative effect of the 5'-untranslated leader sequence on Ac transposon promoter expression. Plant Mol Biol 1999; 40:935-44. [PMID: 10527418 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006288503153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements are used in heterologous plant hosts to clone genes by insertional mutagenesis. The Activator (Ac) transposable element has been cloned from maize, and introduced into a variety of plants. However, differences in regulation and transposition frequency have been observed between different host plants. The cause of this variability is still unknown. To better understand the activity of the Ac element, we analyzed the Ac promoter region and its 5'-untranslated leader sequence (5' UTL). Transient assays in tobacco NT1 suspension cells showed that the Ac promoter is a weak promoter and its activity was localized by deletion analyses. The data presented here indicate that the core of the Ac promoter is contained within 153 bp fragment upstream to transcription start sites. An important inhibitory effect (80%) due to the presence of the 5' UTL was found on the expression of LUC reporter gene. Here we demonstrate that the presence of the 5' UTL in the constructs reduces the expression driven by either strong or weak promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Scortecci
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Scortecci KC, Dessaux Y, Petit A, Van Sluys MA. Somatic excision of the Ac transposable element in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana after 5-azacytidine treatment. Plant Cell Physiol 1997; 38:336-343. [PMID: 9150605 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a029171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
We have introduced the maize Ac transposable element in Arabidopsis thaliana and found that after three selfing generations, the element is immobile and extensively methylated. Moreover, the nopaline synthase (nos) gene present on the same transferred T-DNA, was active early after transformation and regeneration, but inactive in most of the S1 progeny. We used 5-azacytidine (5AzaC) to determine whether a reduction in the methylation would affect both Ac transposition and expression of the nos gene. After treatment with 5AzaC doses from 0.3 mM to 1.0 mM, approximately 25% of the plants produced detectable amounts of nopaline, indicating that the nos gene was reactivated. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the empty donor site left by Ac transposition, we demonstrated that 5AzaC also activates Ac excision in the transgenic plants. Approximately 13% of the 5AzaC treated plants (doses from 0.1 mM to 1.0 mM) were shown to have empty donor sites due to Ac excision. None of the plants cultivated in the absence of 5AzaC showed evidence for Ac transposition or reactivation of the nos gene. Further analysis using Southern blot indicate that some demethylation occurred in the genome of individual plants. These results may represent demethylation in few cells during development which may be sufficient to reactivate in these cells the expression of the nos and Ac transposase transgenes, the latter promoting Ac transposition in somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Scortecci
- Depto. de Botânica-IBUSP, C.P. 11461, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
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