Seung Yeob Lee

Germination inhibitory constituents from Erigeron annuus.

(5-Butyl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydrofuran-2-yl)-acetic acid was isolated from the flowers of Erigeron annuus as one of four germination inhibitory constituents. Its structure was determined by analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Three known compounds, 3-hydroxy-pyran-4-one, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid methyl ester were also identified as active constituents. These compounds showed 50% inhibitory effects (IC(50)) on the germination of lettuce seed at concentrations of 2.13+/-0.03, 12.85+/-0.56, 4.97+/-0.24, and 4.87+/-0.25 mM, respectively. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid was used as a positive control, displaying an IC(50) value of 4.02+/-0.39 mM.

Selection of stable mutants from cultured rice anthers treated with ethyl methane sulfonic acid

To increase the frequency of stable mutants from cultured anthers of rice, the effects of EMS treatment on callus induction, plant regeneration and mutant induction were investigated according to the timing of treatment after anther inoculation on the medium. The frequency of callus induction was highest in anthers treated with 0.5% EMS 10 days after culture. Anthers treated directly at the initiation of culture exhibited a very low callus induction level, and the such calluses exhibited a poor plant regeneration capacity. The frequency of regeneration of green plants was significantly decreased by EMS treatments immediately after anther inoculation as compared with control. The frequencies of stable mutants were 20.7% and 12.0% in EMS treatments at 10 and 20 days, but unstable mutants were 43.1% and 52.6%, respectively. A total of 14 stable mutants, semidwarf mutants (4 lines), grain-shape mutants (2 lines) and glabrous mutants (8 lines) were selected from doubled haploid lines of the A2 generation. The frequencies of callus induction, green plant regeneration and stable mutants were maximal in anthers treated with 0.5% EMS 10 days after culture.

Selection of salt-tolerant doubled haploids in rice anther culture

For the high frequency selection of salt-tolerant doubled haploids (DHs) using rice anther culture, the efficiency of anther culture was investigated with different genotype, media condition and NaCl concentrations. The six F1 hybrids obtained by backcross or three-way cross between indica and japonica differed in salt tolerance. The efficiencies of callus induction and plant regeneration was decreased by NaCl concentration and salt tolerance of donor variety, and those in japonicas were higher than those in indicas. The percentages of callus induction in Gyehwa 5 (japonica, tolerant) and IR61633-B-2-2-1 (japonica, sensitive) were 21.1 and 13.5% on agar medium containing 0.3% NaCl, respectively. The plant regeneration of callus derived from anther floating culture in liquid media was less than that on solid medium. In four F1 hybrids, the frequencies of high salt-tolerant DHs were 21.4 and 8.9% in 0.3% NaCl medium and the control, respectively. The high frequency of salt-tolerant DHs could be selected in the callus induction medium (0.3% NaCl) and in the combinations crossed with salt-tolerant japonica as the third parent.For the high frequency selection of salt-tolerant doubled haploids (DHs) using rice anther culture, the efficiency of anther culture was investigated with different genotype, media condition and NaCl concentrations. The six F1 hybrids obtained by backcross or three-way cross between indica and japonica differed in salt tolerance. The efficiencies of callus induction and plant regeneration was decreased by NaCl concentration and salt tolerance of donor variety, and those in japonicas were higher than those in indicas. The percentages of callus induction in Gyehwa 5 (japonica, tolerant) and IR61633-B-2-2-1 (japonica, sensitive) were 21.1 and 13.5% on agar medium containing 0.3% NaCl, respectively. The plant regeneration of callus derived from anther floating culture in liquid media was less than that on solid medium. In four F1 hybrids, the frequencies of high salt-tolerant DHs were 21.4 and 8.9% in 0.3% NaCl medium and the control, respectively. The high frequency of salt-tolerant DHs could be selected in the callus induction medium (0.3% NaCl) and in the combinations crossed with salt-tolerant japonica as the third parent.

Variation in anther culture response and fertility of backcrossed hybrids between indica and japonica rice (Oryza sativa)

This study was conducted to investigate the variations of fertility, callus induction and plant regeneration in backcrossed hybrids between a responsive japonica variety (Mankeumbyeo, recurrent parent) and a recalcitrant indica variety (Ranta Emas, donor parent) to anther culture. The mean spikelet fertility of inter-subspecific F1 and BC1F1 hybrids was 33.5% and 67.2%, and the spikelet fertility of BC1F1 among backcrossed hybrids showed the most extensive variation (a low of 4.5% to a high of 90.6%). The mean fertility and distribution range in BC5F1 hybrids were almost the same as that of the japonica recurrent parent (94.6%). The mean callus induction of F1 and BC1F1 hybrids was higher than that of donor parent, and the distribution range in BC1F1 hybrids varied from a low 0% to a high 18.7%. The mean callus induction and plant regeneration of BC4F1 hybrids was almost that of japonica recurrent parent, and there were no statistical differences between BC4F1 and BC5F1 hybrids. These results may help to accelerate the introgression of desirable traits from indica into japonica rice using anther culture of backcross hybrids as a breeding strategy.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curvularin-Type Metabolites from a Marine-Derived Fungal Strain Penicillium sp. SF-5859 in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages

Chemical study on the extract of a marine-derived fungal strain Penicillium sp. SF-5859 yielded a new curvularin derivative (1), along with eight known curvularin-type polyketides (2–9). The structures of these metabolites (1–9) were established by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS). In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of these metabolites were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Among these metabolites, 3–9 were shown to strongly inhibit LPS-induced overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) with IC50 values ranging from 1.9 μM to 18.1 μM, and from 2.8 μM to 18.7 μM, respectively. In the further evaluation of signal pathways involved in these effects, the most active compound, (10E,15S)-10,11-dehydrocurvularin (8) attenuated the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, compound 8 was shown to suppress the upregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines via the inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, but not through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Based on the comparisons of the different magnitude of the anti-inflammatory effects of these structurally-related metabolites, it was suggested that the opening of the 12-membered lactone ring in curvularin-type metabolites and blocking the phenol functionality led to the significant decrease in their anti-inflammatory activity.