Lucien Kerhoas

TRANSPARENT TESTA10 Encodes a Laccase-Like Enzyme Involved in Oxidative Polymerization of Flavonoids in Arabidopsis Seed Coat

The Arabidopsis thaliana transparent testa10 (tt10) mutant exhibits a delay in developmentally determined browning of the seed coat, also called the testa. Seed coat browning is caused by the oxidation of flavonoids, particularly proanthocyanidins, which are polymers of flavan-3-ol subunits such as epicatechin and catechin. The tt10 mutant seeds accumulate more epicatechin monomers and more soluble proanthocyanidins than wild-type seeds. Moreover, intact testa cells of tt10 cannot trigger H2O2-independent browning in the presence of epicatechin and catechin, in contrast with wild-type cells. UV–visible light detection and mass spectrometry revealed that the major oxidation products obtained with epicatechin alone are yellow dimers called dehydrodiepicatechin A. These products differ from proanthocyanidins in the nature and position of their interflavan linkages. Flavonol composition was also affected in tt10 seeds, which exhibited a higher ratio of quercetin rhamnoside monomers versus dimers than wild-type seeds. We identified the TT10 gene by a candidate gene approach. TT10 encodes a protein with strong similarity to laccase-like polyphenol oxidases. It is expressed essentially in developing testa, where it colocalizes with the flavonoid end products proanthocyanidins and flavonols. Together, these data establish that TT10 is involved in the oxidative polymerization of flavonoids and functions as a laccase-type flavonoid oxidase.

Flavonoid diversity and biosynthesis in seed of Arabidopsis thaliana

Functional characterization of genes involved in the flavonoid metabolism and its regulation requires in-depth analysis of flavonoid structure and composition of seed from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we report an analysis of the diverse and specific flavonoids that accumulate during seed development and maturation in wild types and mutants. Wild type seed contained more than 26 different flavonoids belonging to flavonols (mono and diglycosylated quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives) and flavan-3-ols (epicatechin monomers and soluble procyanidin polymers with degrees of polymerization up to 9). Most of them are described for the first time in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, a novel group of four biflavonols that are dimers of quercetin-rhamnoside was also detected. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (the major flavonoid), biflavonols, epicatechin and procyanidins accumulated in the seed coat in contrast to diglycosylated flavonols that were essentially observed in the embryo. Epicatechin, procyanidins and an additional quercetin-rhamnoside-hexoside derivative were synthesized in large quantities during seed development, whereas quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside displayed two peaks of accumulation. Finally, 11 mutants affected in known structural or regulatory functions of the pathway and their three corresponding wild types were also studied. Flavonoid profiles of the mutants were consistent with previous predictions based on genetic and molecular data. In addition, they also revealed the presence of new products in seed and underlined the plasticity of this metabolic pathway in the mutants.

Profiling of phenolic glycosidic conjugates in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana using LC/MS

Profiling of plant secondary metabolites is still a very difficult task. Liquid chromatography (LC) or capillary electrophoresis hyphenated with different kinds of detectors are methods of choice for analysis of polar, thermo labile compounds with high molecular masses. We demonstrate the applicability of LC combined with UV diode array or/and mass spectrometric detectors for the unambiguous identification and quantification of flavonoid conjugates isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves of different genotypes and grown in different environmental conditions. During LC/UV/MS/MS analyses we were able to identify tetra-, tri-, and di-glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin. Based on our results we can conclude that due to the co-elution of different chemical compounds in reversed phase HPLC systems the application of UV detectors does not allow to precisely profile all flavonoid conjugates existing in A. thaliana genotypes. Using MS detection it was possible to unambiguously recognize the glycosylation patterns of the aglycones. However, from the mass spectra we could not conclude neither the anomeric form of the C-1 carbon atoms of sugar moieties in glycosidic bonds between sugars or sugar and aglycone nor the position of the second carbon involved in disaccharides. The applicability of collision induced dissociation techniques (CID MS/MS) for structural analyses of the studied group of plant secondary metabolites with two types of analyzers (triple quadrupole or ion trap) was demonstrated.

Natural sunlight NO(3)(-)/NO(2)(-)-induced photo-degradation of phenylurea herbicides in water.

The nitrate-induced photodegradation of phenylureas in water was demonstrated to occur efficiently using natural sunlight irradiation. The kinetics of disappearance was found to be dependent on the inducer and substrate concentrations, the phenylurea structure and the origin and composition of the aqueous matrix including the presence of nitrite. The measured effects under sunlight were of the same order of those measured previously in the lab using our solar light simulated system. However, by-product distribution might differ substantially particularly considering the nitration pathway.

Detection of isoflavonoids and their glycosides by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in root extracts of lupin (Lupinus albus)

HPLC combined with electrospray ionization MS (LC–ESI-MS) was used for the identification of isoflavonoids and their glycosides in extracts from white lupin (Lupinus albus) tissues. The applicability of LC–ESI-MS for the simultaneous analysis of secondary metabolites of different polarities (free aglycones and their glycosides) is demonstrated. For optimization of the chromatographic and MS conditions, genistin (genistein 7-O-β-glucoside) and rutin [quercetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-α-rhamnosyl glucoside)] were used as standards. The detection limit for the analysis of genistin by HPLC was determined to be 20 ng (ca. 50 pmol). The analytical conditions established were employed to analyse isoflavonoids and their glycosidic conjugates obtained from lupin root extracts by solid phase extraction. Four glycosides and seven isoflavonoid aglycones were detected in the analysed samples. Copyright

Oligomeric compounds formed from 2,5-xylidine (2,5-dimethylaniline) are potent enhancers of laccase production in Trametes versicolor ATCC 32745

Numerous chemicals, including the xenobiotic 2,5-xylidine, are known to induce laccase production in fungi. The present study was conducted to determine whether the metabolites formed from 2,5-xylidine by fungi could enhance laccase activity. We used purified laccases to transform the chemical and then we separated the metabolites, identified their chemical structure and assayed their effect on enzyme activity in liquid cultures of Trametes. versicolor. We identified 13 oligomers formed from 2,5-xylidine. (4E)-4-(2,5-dimethylphenylimino)-2,5-dimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone at 1.25×10−5 M was an efficient inducer, resulting in a nine-fold increase of laccase activity after 3 days of culture. Easily synthesized in one step (67% yield), this compound could be used in fungal bioreactors to obtain a great amount of laccases for biochemical or biotechnological purposes, with a low amount of inducer.

Cyphostemmins A-B, two new antifungal oligostilbenes from Cyphostemma crotalarioides (Vitaceae)

Abstract Two new antifungal resveratrol dimers, cyphostemmins A-B (1–2), have isolated from the roots of Cyphostemma crotalarioides planch (Vitaceae) together with resveratrol 3 and previously known reseveratrol dimers (4–7). Structures of these new compounds have been established on the basis of their MS and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data.

Hydroperoxides with zero, one, two or more carbonyl groups formed during the oxidation of N-dodecane

Abstract Experimental investigations and kinetic interpretation indicate the presence of several peroxidic species during the oxidation of n-dodecane. The oxidation was performed either in the gaseous phase in a flow system, or with a liquid/gas interaction in a bulb, because in many combustion processes liquid and gas coexist during preignition. The different peroxides were identified by mass spectrometry. Simple hydroperoxides with two oxygen atoms per molecule were observed at relatively low temperatures above 370 K with liquid and gas present. Ketohydroperoxides with three oxygen atoms per molecules are formed at ∼500 K. Di-, and even tri-, ketohydroperoxides with four or five oxygen atoms per molecule are also present under these experimental conditions at 518 K. Their formation is explained by isomerization reactions of alkoxy radicals OR −2H O bearing a carbonyl group; these stem from the decomposition of carbonyl-hydroperoxides. Depending on the experimental conditions, the nature of the hydroperoxides is different and the respective reactions of these species should be introduced in low temperature oxidation mechanisms. These reaction schemes should include the isomerization of peroxy radicals RO 2 and of ketoalkoxy radicals OR −2H O, leading to the formation of peroxides with several carbonyl groups.

Identification of the female sex pheromone of the Israeli pine bast scale Matsucoccus josephi

Abstract (2E,4E,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one ( I ) and (2E,4Z,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one ( II ), in an approximate ratio of 75:25, have been identified as the female sex pheromone components of Matsucoccus josephi. The structure of I and II was determined by mass spectrometric and infrared techniques and microreactions.

Determination of the isomerization rate constant HOCH2CH2CH2CH(OO·)CH3 →HOC·HCH2CH2CH(OOH)CH3. Importance of intramolecular hydroperoxy isomerization in tropospheric chemistry

The rate constant of the title reaction is determined during thermal decomposition of di-n-pentyl peroxide C5H11O()OC5H11 in oxygen over the temperature range 463–523 K. The pyrolysis of di-n-pentyl peroxide in O2/N2 mixtures is studied at atmospheric pressure in passivated quartz vessels. The reaction products are sampled through a micro-probe, collected on a liquid-nitrogen trap and solubilized in liquid acetonitrile. Analysis of the main compound, peroxide C5H10O3, was carried out by GC/MS, GC/MS/MS [electron impact EI and NH3 chemical ionization CI conditions]. After micro-preparative GC separation of this peroxide, the structure of two cyclic isomers (3S*,6S*)3α-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,2-dioxane and (3R*,6S*)3α-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,2-dioxane was determined from 1H NMR spectra. The hydroperoxy-pentanal OHC()(CH2)2()CH(OOH)()CH3 is formed in the gas phase and is in equilibrium with these two cyclic epimers, which are predominant in the liquid phase at room temperature. This peroxide is produced by successive reactions of the n-pentoxy radical: a first one generates the CH3C·H(CH2)3OH radical which reacts with O2 to form CH3CH(OO·)(CH2)3OH; this hydroxyperoxy radical isomerizes and forms the hydroperoxy HOC·H(CH2)2CH(OOH)CH3 radical. This last species leads to the pentanal-hydroperoxide (also called oxo-hydroperoxide, or carbonyl-hydroperoxide, or hydroperoxypentanal), by the reaction HOC·H(CH2)2CH(OOH)CH3+O2O()CH(CH2)2CH(OOH)CH3+HO2. The isomerization rate constant HOCH2CH2CH2CH(OO·)CH3HOC·HCH2CH2CH(OOH)CH3 (k3) has been determined by comparison to the competing well-known reaction RO2+NORO+NO2 (k7). By adding small amounts of NO (0–1.6×1015 molecules cm−3) to the di-n-pentyl peroxide/O2/N2 mixtures, the pentanal-hydroperoxide concentration was decreased, due to the consumption of RO2 radicals by reaction (7). The pentanal-hydroperoxide concentration was measured vs. NO concentration at ten temperatures (463–523 K). The isomerization rate constant involving the H atoms of the CH2()OH group was deduced: or per H atom: The comparison of this rate constant to thermokinetics estimations leads to the conclusion that the strain energy barrier of a seven-member ring transition state is low and near that of a six-member ring. Intramolecular hydroperoxy isomerization reactions produce carbonyl-hydroperoxides which (through atmospheric decomposition) increase concentration of radicals and consequently increase atmospheric pollution, especially tropospheric ozone, during summer anticyclonic periods. Therefore, hydrocarbons used in summer should contain only short chains (