Glutathione conjugates in the vacuole are degraded by gamma/​glutamyl
transpeptidase GGT3 in Arabidopsis.

Ohkama/​Ohtsu N, Zhao P, Xiang C, Oliver DJ.

Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University,
Ames, IA 50011, USA.

gamma/​Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is the enzyme responsible for breaking the
gamma/​glutamyl bond between Glu and Cys in glutathione (GSH). We are using this
gene family to study GSH degradation in plants. There are four putative GGT
genes in Arabidopsis, and one of them, GGT3 (At4g29210), is analyzed in this
study. GGT3 is localized to the vacuole based on organelle/​targeting programs,
subcellular distribution of GFP fusion proteins during transient expression in
onion (Allium cepa) epidermal tissues, and its ability to metabolize vacuolar
substrates in Arabidopsis plants. While Northern blots and promoter:GUS
expression patterns have suggested that GGT3 is transcribed at relatively high
levels in all parts of the plant, a comparison of enzyme activities in different
organs of wild/​type and a ggt3 knockout mutant showed that GGT3 was a major
contributor to total GGT activity in roots, but a relatively minor contributor
in other tissues. Wild/​type Arabidopsis plants treated with monobromobimane
(mBB) form a fluorescent GSH/​mBB conjugate that is moved into the vacuole and
then metabolized to Cys/​Gly/​mBB and Cys/​mBB in that order. The first step is
catalyzed by GGT3, and GSH/​mBB metabolism is completely blocked in the roots of
ggt3 knockout plants. In ggt3 leaves, some GSH/​mBB metabolism still proceeds
using the apoplastic GGT1. This identifies GGT3 as catalyzing the obligate
initial step in GSH conjugate metabolism, and suggests that it has an important
role in protecting plants from some xenobiotic chemicals.

PMID: 17316176 [PubMed /​ in process]

2: Tsitol Genet. 2006 Nov/​Dec;40(6):50/​8.

[The influence of cadmium and potassium on the level of cytogenetic effects
induced by thorium/​232 in Allium cepa root meristem]

[Article in Russian]

Evseeva TI, Maistrenko TA, Geras'kin SA, Belykh ES.

The influence of different concentrations of cadmium and potassium on the levels
of mutagenic and cytotoxic effects induced by thallium/​232 in Allium cepa root
meristem has been studied. The combined action of 232Th (0.8 microM) with
cadmium in non/​toxic (0.009 microM) and toxic (5 microM) concentrations resulted
in sinergetic increase of the frequency of aberrant cells in Allium cepa root
meristem. Decrease of the mutagenic effect to the additive level and antagonism
with respect to the cytotoxic one was observed only at the certain
concentrations of 232Th (0.8 microM) and Cd (0.09 microM) and the time of impact
30 h. In contrast to the heavy metal cadmium the essential for plants potassium
at all studied concentrations (0.008, 6, 13 mM) decreased the number of
cytogenetic aberrations in control experiments and under the effect of 232Th.
The maximum protective effect of potassium was detected at the concentration 13
mM.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17243377 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

3: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jan 24;55(2):347/​54.

Determination of the geographic origin of onions between three main production
areas in Japan and other countries by mineral composition.

Ariyama K, Aoyama Y, Mochizuki A, Homura Y, Kadokura M, Yasui A.

Center for Food Quality, Labeling and Consumer Services, Saitama Shintoshin Godo
Chosa Kensa Building, 2/​1 Shintoshin, Chuo/​ku, Saitama City 330/​9731, Japan.
kaoru_ariyama@cfqlcs.go.jp

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are produced in many countries and are one of the most
popular vegetables in the world, thus leading to an enormous amount of
international trade. It is currently important that a scientific technique be
developed for determining geographic origin as a means to detect fraudulent
labeling. We have therefore developed a technique based on mineral analysis and
linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The onion samples used in this study were
from Hokkaido, Hyogo, and Saga, which are the primary onion/​growing areas in
Japan, and those from countries that export onions to Japan (China, the United
States, New Zealand, Thailand, Australia, and Chile). Of 309 samples, 108 were
from Hokkaido, 52 were from Saga, 77 were from Hyogo, and 72 were from abroad.
Fourteen elements (Na, Mg, P, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Cs, and Ba) in
the samples were determined by frame atomic adsorption spectrometry, inductively
coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometry. The models established by LDA were used to discriminate the
geographic origin between Hokkaido and abroad, Hyogo and abroad, and Saga and
abroad. Ten/​fold cross/​validations were conducted using these models. The
discrimination accuracies obtained by cross/​validation between Hokkaido and
abroad were 100 and 86%, respectively. Those between Hyogo and abroad were 100
and 90%, respectively. Those between Saga and abroad were 98 and 90%,
respectively. In addition, it was demonstrated that the fingerprint of an
element pattern from a specific production area, which a crop receives, did not
easily change by the variations of fertilization, crop year, variety, soil type,
and production year if appropriate elements were chosen.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17227064 [PubMed /​ in process]

4: Plant Physiol Biochem. 2006 Nov 2; [Epub ahead of print]

Isolation, characterization and expression of a gene from Brassica napus
encoding a LIM/​domain protein.

Huang RZ, Wu XL, Jiang CZ, Hu ZH, He HY, Liou ZH, Xu YH, Jin W, Zheng T, Chen
JQ.

Institute for Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, Key Laboratory of Plant Metabolic Engineering of Zhejiang Province,
Hangzhou 310021, China.

LIM proteins are important eucaryotic developmental regulators and also involved
in the transcriptional control of lignification. Based on expressed sequence tag
(EST) database and contig analysis, the coding region of a gene encoding a
LIM/​domain protein (BnLIM) was obtained by reverse transcription polymerase
chain reactions (RT/​PCR) from seeds of Brassica napus L. 20 days after anthesis
(DAA). The deduced BnLIM protein is 189 amino acids long and contains two LIM
domains separated by a 47/​residue spacer region. It is highly identical to the
LIM/​domain protein of NtLIM1 (Nicotiana tabacum L.), HaWLIM1 (Helianthus annuus
L.), PkLIM1 (Populus kitakamiensis) and EgLIM1 (Eucalyptus globulus). A genomic
copy of the gene has also been isolated and sequenced; it is split by four
short, AT/​rich introns. The BnLIM gene transcript was detected by RT/​PCR in all
vegetative and reproductive plant organs. The expression level of BnLIM gene
changed during seed development, which increased in early stage, peaked at 23/​29
DAA during seeds filling up to a maximal level and reduced slightly 32 DAA. The
expression profile of BnLIM gene was highly similar to that of Cinnamoyl/​CoA
reductase (CCR, EC 1.2.1.44), a key lignin biosynthesis gene. Transient
expression of BnLIM/​green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein in onion
(Allium cepa) epidermal cells demonstrated the encoded protein BnLIM exhibited a
dual subcellular localization, i.e. in the nucleus and cytoplasm. BnLIM mRNA
accumulation in response to sucrose treatment was also investigated. All these
results proposed that BnLIM plays some roles in lignin biosynthesis and its
expression is developmentally regulated.

PMID: 17223349 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

5: J Herb Pharmacother. 2006;6(2):31/​41.

The use of medicinal herbs by diabetic Jordanian patients.

Otoom SA, Al/​Safi SA, Kerem ZK, Alkofahi A.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, Irbid/​Jordan. sotoom@rcsi/​mub.com

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. To date,
there have been no reports on the frequency of use of herb medicines in the
managements of diabetes mellitus in Jordan. This cross/​sectional study was
conducted by interviewing 310 diabetic patients visiting two medical centers in
Jordan: Jordan University of Science & Technology Medical Center and Sarih
Medical Center between December 2003 and August 2004. It is found that 31% of
interviewed patients have used herbal products (96 patients). The results
revealed that the most commonly used herbs by diabetic patients in Jordan were
Trigonella foenumgraecum (22.9%), Lupinus albus (14.6%), Allium sativum (11.5%),
Allium cepa (5.2%), Nigella sativa (7.3%), Zea mays L. (6.3%), Urtica dioica L.
(8.3%), Eucalyptus globules LA (9.4%), Olea europea L. (3.1%), Cumminum cyminum
(9.4%), Coriandrum sativum (10.4%), Salvia officinalis L. (3.1%), and Tilia
cordata (1%). Furthermore, it is found that 47.9% of the patients used herbs
according to advice from their friends on a daily basis. The side effects were
reported by 36.5% of the patients and include headache, nausea, dizziness,
itching, palpitation, and sweating. Among the patients, 72.9% used the herbs as
adjunctive therapy along with their anti/​diabetic drugs and 80.2% of the
patients informed their physicians about their use. A 79.2% of the sample
confirmed their intention to re/​use these herbs as 86.5% of them were satisfied
with their diabetes control. There was a significant relationship between the
use of herbs, the patient's place of residence and his/her level of education.
The main conclusion of this survey is that the use of medicinal herbs among
diabetic patient in Jordan is common. Therefore, it is essential to increase the
level of awareness among diabetic patients and health care providers regarding
the efficacy and toxicity of these medicinal herbs.

PMID: 17182483 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

6: Chemosphere. 2007 Apr;67(6):1211/​7. Epub 2006 Dec 8.

Evaluation of genotoxicity and toxicity of water and sediment samples from a
Brazilian stream influenced by tannery industries.

Junior HM, Silva J, Arenzon A, Portela CS, Ferreira IC, Henriques JA.

Centre for Leather Technology, Servico Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial
(SENAI), Estancia Velha 93600/​000, RS, Brazil; Biotechnology Centre, Biophysics
Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre,
Brazil.

This paper reports results of genotoxicity and toxicity studies of water and
sediment samples collected from the Estancia Velha stream of southern Brazil, a
stream transporting both domestic sewage and effluents from regional factories
working in the leather industry. Three sites were selected: in the stream
headwaters (Site 1), located downstream of an urban area (Site 2), and near the
basin outfall (Site 3). Results obtained with Allium cepa showed no evidence of
chromosomal mutation, either in water or in sediment, during winter or summer
seasons, but samples collected below Site 1 showed high toxicity. Physical and
chemical analyses showed high concentrations of pollutants at these sites.
Ecotoxicity tests with Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia measured toxicity in
water from Sites 2 and 3 in summer 2004. A toxic effect on Hyalella azteca was
only found in sediment from Site 3 during winter 2003 and summer 2004. The
results suggest that the synergy among different compounds in domestic and
industrial sewage discharges can make it difficult to maintain system stability.

PMID: 17157352 [PubMed /​ in process]

7: J Appl Microbiol. 2006 Dec;101(6):1292/​300.

Host/​derived media used as a predictor for low abundant, in planta metabolite
production from necrotrophic fungi.

Overy DP, Smedsgaard J, Frisvad JC, Phipps RK, Thrane U.

Institute of Biological Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, University of Wales,
Ceredigion, UK. dao@aber.ac.uk

AIMS: Penicillium ser. Corymbifera strains were assayed on a variety of media
and from infected Allium cepa tissues to evaluate the stimulation and in planta
prediction of low abundance metabolites. METHODS AND RESULTS: Stimulated
production of corymbiferones and the corymbiferan lactones were observed for
Penicillium albocoremium, Penicillium allii, Penicillium hirsutum, Penicillium
hordei and Penicillium venetum strains cultured on tissue media. Target
metabolites were sporadically detected from strains cultured on common
laboratory media (CYA, MEA and YES). Up to a 376 times increase in corymbiferone
and corymbiferan lactone production was observed when culture extracts from CYA
and A. cepa agar were compared by high pressure liquid chromatography with
ultraviolet and mass spectrometry (LC/​UV/​MS). The novel metabolite corymbiferone
B was purified and structure elucidated from a P. allii/A. cepa tissue medium
extract. In planta expression of low abundance, target metabolites were
confirmed from infected A. cepa tissue extracts by LC/​UV/​MS. CONCLUSIONS:
Secondary metabolite production was directly dependent and influenced by media
conditions, resulting in the stimulated production of low abundance metabolites
on host/​derived media. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of
macerated host tissue media can be applied in vitro to predict in planta
expression of low abundance metabolites and aid in metabolite origin annotation
during in planta metabolomic investigations at the host/pathogen interface.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17105559 [PubMed /​ in process]

8: Anal Chem. 2006 Nov 15;78(22):7616/​24.

In vivo investigation of the distribution and the local speciation of selenium
in Allium cepa L. by means of microscopic X/​ray absorption near/​edge structure
spectroscopy and confocal microscopic X/​ray fluorescence analysis.

Bulska E, Wysocka IA, Wierzbicka ML, Proost K, Janssens K, Falkenberg G.

Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland. ebulska@ chem.uw.edu.pl

In this work, microscopic X/​ray absorption near/​edge structure spectroscopy
(mu/​XANES) and confocal microscopic X/​ray fluorescence analysis (mu/​XRF) were
used for the in vivo determination of the distribution of total selenium and for
the local speciation of selenium in roots and leaves of onion. Selected Allium
cepa L. plants were grown hydroponically in a standard medium containing
inorganic selenium compounds (selenite or selenate). The measurements were
performed in vivo, that is, on living plants without the need for any form of
sampling or sample pretreatment and without the necessity for cutting plant
tissues into pieces. Distinct energy differences of the XANES spectra of various
selenium reference compounds having different oxidation states allow adjusting
the excitation energies used for mu/​XRF mapping in such a manner that the
distribution of selenium in various oxidation states is obtained with a spatial
resolution of a few tens of micrometers within the virtual cross section of the
onion tissues. We find that the ratio of inorganic to amino acid selenium
compounds differs in various subparts of the plant. Detailed in vivo
investigation of the distribution of various selenium species in virtual cross
sections of root tips and green leaf shows that the selenium transport takes
place via different mechanisms, depending on the nature of the selenium
compounds originally taken up.

PMID: 17105151 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

9: Plant Physiol. 2007 Jan;143(1):188/​98. Epub 2006 Nov 10.

Arabidopsis sucrose transporter AtSUC9. High/​affinity transport activity,
intragenic control of expression, and early flowering mutant phenotype.

Sivitz AB, Reinders A, Johnson ME, Krentz AD, Grof CP, Perroux JM, Ward JM.

Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108,
USA.

AtSUC9 (At5g06170), a sucrose (Suc) transporter from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis
thaliana) L. Heynh., was expressed in Xenopus (Xenopus laevis) oocytes, and
transport activity was analyzed. Compared to all other Suc transporters, AtSUC9
had an ultrahigh affinity for Suc (K(0.5) = 0.066 +//​ 0.025 mm). AtSUC9 showed
low substrate specificity, similar to AtSUC2 (At1g22710), and transported a wide
range of glucosides, including helicin, salicin, arbutin, maltose, fraxin,
esculin, turanose, and alpha/​methyl/​d/​glucose. The ability of AtSUC9 to
transport 10 glucosides was compared directly with that of AtSUC2, HvSUT1 (from
barley [Hordeum vulgare]), and ShSUT1 (from sugarcane [Saccharum hybrid]), and
results indicate that type I and type II Suc transporters have different
substrate specificities. AtSUC9 protein was localized to the plasma membrane by
transient expression in onion (Allium cepa) epidermis. Using a whole/​gene
translational fusion to beta/​glucuronidase, AtSUC9 expression was found in sink
tissues throughout the shoots and in flowers. AtSUC9 expression in Arabidopsis
was dependent on intragenic sequence, and this was found to also be true for
AtSUC1 (At1g71880) but not AtSUC2. Plants containing mutations in Suc
transporter gene AtSUC9 were found to have an early flowering phenotype under
short/​day conditions. The transport properties of AtSUC9 indicate that it is
uniquely suited to provide cellular uptake of Suc at very low extracellular Suc
concentrations. The mutant phenotype of atsuc9 alleles indicates that AtSUC9
activity leads to a delay in floral transition.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non/​P.H.S.

PMID: 17098854 [PubMed /​ in process]

10: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 21;110(2):294/​304. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal herbs in Jordan, the Ajloun Heights
region.

Aburjai T, Hudaib M, Tayyem R, Yousef M, Qishawi M.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.

The study of local knowledge about natural resources is becoming increasingly
important in defining strategies and actions for conservation of medicinal
plants. This study therefore sought to collect information from local population
concerning the use of Ajloun Heights region medicinal plants; identify the most
important species used; determine the relative importance of the species
surveyed and calculate the informant consensus factor (ICF) in relation to
medicinal plant use. Data collection relied predominantly on qualitative tools
to record the interviewee's personal information and topics related to the
medicinal use of specific plants. Our results revealed that 46 plant species
grown in the study region are still in use in traditional medicine for the
treatment of various diseases. Most of the locals interviewed dealt with
well/​known safe medicinal plants such as Achillea falcata, Matricaria aurea,
Majorana syriaca, Allium sativum and Allium cepa. The use of moderately unsafe
or toxic plants was noted to be practiced by practitioners and herbalists rather
than the locals. These plants include Ecballium elaterium, Euphorbia
hierosolymitana, Mandragora autumnalis and Citrullus colocynthis. Kidney
problems scored the highest ICF while Crocus hyemalis was the plant of highest
use value. Searching the literature evidenced some concordance with the
solicited plant uses mentioned by the informants.

PMID: 17097250 [PubMed /​ in process]

11: Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Nov;84(5):1027/​32.

Onion and garlic use and human cancer.

Galeone C, Pelucchi C, Levi F, Negri E, Franceschi S, Talamini R, Giacosa A, La
Vecchia C.

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri," Milan, Italy, Italy.
galeone@marionegri.it

BACKGROUND: Interest in the potential benefits of allium vegetables, in
particular, onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum), has its origin in
antiquity, but the details of these benefits are still open to discussion.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of allium vegetables in the etiology of
various neoplasms. Previous data are scanty and are based mainly on Chinese
studies. DESIGN: Using data from an integrated network of Italian and Swiss
case/​control studies, we analyzed the relation between frequency of onion and
garlic use and cancer at several sites. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) by using
multivariate logistic regression models that were adjusted for energy intake and
other major covariates. RESULTS: Consumption of onions varied between 0/​14 and
0/​22 portions/wk among cases and controls, respectively. The multivariate ORs
for the highest category of onion and garlic intake were, respectively, 0.16 and
0.61 for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, 0.12 and 0.43 for esophageal
cancer, 0.44 and 0.74 for colorectal cancer, 0.17 and 0.56 for laryngeal cancer,
0.75 and 0.90 for breast cancer, 0.27 and 0.78 for ovarian cancer, 0.29 and 0.81
for prostate cancer, and 0.62 and 0.69 for renal cell cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This
uniquely large data set from southern European populations shows an inverse
association between the frequency of use of allium vegetables and the risk of
several common cancers. Allium vegetables are a favorable correlate of cancer
risk in Europe.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17093154 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

12: Fitoterapia. 2007 Jan;78(1):52/​68. Epub 2006 Sep 23.

Contribution to the knowledge of the folk plant medicine in Calabria region
(Southern Italy).

Passalacqua NG, Guarrera PM, De Fine G.

Museo di Storia Naturale della Calabria ed Orto Botanico, Universita della
Calabria, 87030 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.

A series of research on plants used in Calabria (Southern Italy) in the folk
plant medicine was carried out in the last twenty years. The use of 104 taxa
distributed into 42 families are described. Among the major findings: Ceterach
officinarum as hypotensive; Heliotropium europaeum in the case of urinary
inflammations; Silybum marianum for haemorrhoids; Arundo donax for pertussis and
cystitis; Allium cepa for sties and flu; Laurus nobilis as galactagogue;
Passiflora incarnata for burns, haemorrhoids and skin inflammations;
Scrophularia canina for rhagas and wounds; Urtica membranacea for tussis and
tonsillitis.

PMID: 17084993 [PubMed /​ in process]

13: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 1;110(1):105/​17. Epub 2006 Sep 23.

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of
hypertension and diabetes in south/​eastern Morocco (Errachidia province).

Tahraoui A, El/​Hilaly J, Israili ZH, Lyoussi B.

UFR Physiology/​Pharmacology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of
Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Dhar El Mehraz, USMBA, BP 1976 Atlas Fez, Morocco.

This survey was undertaken in the Errachidia province in south/​eastern Morocco
in order to inventory the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat
arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Four hundred individuals who knew
about and/or had used the medicinal plants for the indicated diseases, including
some herbal healers, were interviewed throughout different regions of the
province. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table,
which contains the scientific, vernacular and common name of the plant, its
ecological distribution, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the
therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 64
medicinal plants belonging to 33 families; of these, 45 are used for diabetes,
36 for hypertension, and 18 for both diseases. Of these plants, 34% grow in the
wild, 44% are cultivated, and 22% are not indigenous to the area and are brought
from other parts of Morocco or from outside the country. The survey shows that
78% of the patients regularly use these medicinal plants. In this region, the
most frequently used plants to treat diabetes include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa,
Artemisia herba/​alba, Carum carvi, Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Olea
europaea, Peganum harmala, Phoenix dactylifera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and
Zygophyllum gaetulum, and those to treat hypertension include Ajuga iva, Allium
cepa, Allium sativum, Artemisia herba/​alba Asso, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa,
Olea europea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Peganum harmala, and
Phoenix dactylifera. The local people recognize the toxic plants and are very
careful in using such plants, which are Citrullus colocynthis, Datura
stramonium, Nerium oleander, Nigella sativa, Peganum harmala and Zygophyllum
gaetulum. Our survey shows that traditional medicine in the south/​eastern
Moroccan population has not only survived but has thrived in the transcultural
environment and intermixture of many ethnic traditions and beliefs.

PMID: 17052873 [PubMed /​ in process]

14: Genes Genet Syst. 2006 Aug;81(4):255/​63.

Complete assignment of structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis
influencing bulb color to individual chromosomes of the shallot (Allium cepa
L.).

Masuzaki S, Shigyo M, Yamauchi N.

The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University,
Tottori, Japan.

We analyzed Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) /​ shallot (Allium
cepa L. Aggregatum group) alien chromosome addition lines in order to assign the
genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway to chromosomes of the
shallot. Two complete sets of alien monosomic additions (2n = 2x + 1 = 17) were
used for determining the chromosomal locations of several partial sequences of
candidate genes, CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, and ANS via analyses of PCR/​based markers.
The results of DNA marker analyses showed that the CHS/​A, CHS/​B, CHI, F3H, DFR,
and ANS genes should be assigned to chromosomes 2A, 4A, 3A, 3A, 7A, and 4A,
respectively. HPLC analyses of 14 A. fistulosum /​ shallot multiple alien
additions (2n = 2x + 2 /​ 2x + 7 = 18 /​ 23) were conducted to identify the
anthocyanin compounds produced in the scaly leaves. A direct comparison between
the genomic constitution and the anthocyanin compositions of the multiple
additions revealed that a 3GT gene for glucosylation of anthocyanidin was
located on 4A. Thus, we were able to assign all structural genes involved in
flavonoid biosynthesis influencing bulb color to individual chromosomes of A.
cepa.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 17038797 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

15: Theor Appl Genet. 2006 Dec;114(1):31/​9. Epub 2006 Sep 22.

Comparative sequence and genetic analyses of asparagus BACs reveal no
microsynteny with onion or rice.

Jakse J, Telgmann A, Jung C, Khar A, Melgar S, Cheung F, Town CD, Havey MJ.

Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison,
WI 53706, USA.

The Poales (includes the grasses) and Asparagales [includes onion (Allium cepa
L.) and asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)] are the two most economically
important monocot orders. The Poales are a member of the commelinoid monocots, a
group of orders sister to the Asparagales. Comparative genomic analyses have
revealed a high degree of synteny among the grasses; however, it is not known if
this synteny extends to other major monocot groups such as the Asparagales.
Although we previously reported no evidence for synteny at the recombinational
level between onion and rice, microsynteny may exist across shorter genomic
regions in the grasses and Asparagales. We sequenced nine asparagus BACs to
reveal physically linked genic/​like sequences and determined their most similar
positions in the onion and rice genomes. Four of the asparagus BACs were
selected using molecular markers tightly linked to the sex/​determining M locus
on chromosome 5 of asparagus. These BACs possessed only two putative coding
regions and had long tracts of degenerated retroviral elements and transposons.
Five asparagus BACs were selected after hybridization of three onion cDNAs that
mapped to three different onion chromosomes. Genic/​like sequences that were
physically linked on the cDNA/​selected BACs or genetically linked on the
M/​linked BACs showed significant similarities (e < /​20) to expressed sequences
on different rice chromosomes, revealing no evidence for microsynteny between
asparagus and rice across these regions. Genic/​like sequences that were linked
in asparagus were used to identify highly similar (e < /​20) expressed sequence
tags (ESTs) of onion. These onion ESTs mapped to different onion chromosomes and
no relationship was observed between physical or genetic linkages in asparagus
and genetic linkages in onion. These results further indicate that synteny among
grass genomes does not extend to a sister order in the monocots and that
asparagus may not be an appropriate smaller genome model for plants in the
Asparagales with enormous nuclear genomes.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non/​P.H.S.

PMID: 17016688 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

16: Mutat Res. 2007 Jan 10;626(1/​2):4/​14. Epub 2006 Sep 26.

Genotoxicity of five food preservatives tested on root tips of Allium cepa L.

Turkoglu S.

Cumhuriyet University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology,
Sivas, Turkey. turkoglu@cumhuriyet.edu.tr

The effects of the food preservatives sodium benzoate (SB), boric acid (BA),
citric acid (CA), potassium citrate (PC) and sodium citrate (SC) have been
studied on root tips of Allium cepa L. Roots of A. cepa were treated with a
series of concentrations, ranging from 20 to 100 ppm for 5, 10 and 20 h. The
results indicate that these food preservatives reduced mitotic division in A.
cepa compared with the respective control. Mitotic index values were generally
decreased with increasing concentrations and longer treatment times.
Additionally, variations in the percentage of mitotic stages were observed. The
total percentage of aberrations generally increased with increasing
concentrations of these chemicals and the longer period of treatment. Different
abnormal mitotic figures were observed in all mitotic phases. Among these
abnormalities were anaphase bridges, C/​mitosis, micronuclei, lagging,
stickiness, breaks and unequal distribution.

PMID: 17005441 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

17: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Feb 12;109(3):367/​71. Epub 2006 Aug 22.

Lipid lowering effect of S/​methyl cysteine sulfoxide from Allium cepa Linn in
high cholesterol diet fed rats.

Kumari K, Augusti KT.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Trivandrum
695581, Kerala, India.

The lipid lowering action of S/​methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCS) isolated from
Allium cepa Linn (family: Liliaceae) was investigated in Sprague/​Dawley rats fed
on 1% cholesterol diet, in comparison to the hypolipidemic drug gugulipid.
Administration of SMCS at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight for 45 days ameliorated
the hyperlipidemic condition. The lipid profile in serum and tissues showed that
concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids were significantly
reduced when compared to their untreated counterparts. The total lipoprotein
lipase activity in the adipose tissue was decreased with also a decrease in the
free fatty acid levels in serum and tissues. The activities of the lipogenic
enzymes glucose 6/​phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme as also of HMG CoA
reductase in the tissues remained low on treatment indicating that both the
drugs did not favor lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis in the hyperlipidemic
animals. The fecal excretion of bile acids and sterols was further increased
upon treatment with the drugs. The results are directive to that both gugulipid
and SMCS cause reduction of endogenous lipogenesis, increase catabolism of
lipids and subsequent excretion of metabolic by/​products through the intestinal
tract. However, gugulipid is a better drug than SMCS at a low dose of 50mg/kg
body weight.

PMID: 16987625 [PubMed /​ in process]

18: Biocell. 2006 Aug;30(2):259/​67.

Determination of vanadium accumulation in onion root cells (Allium cepa L.) and
its correlation with toxicity.

Marcano L, Carruyo I, Fernandez Y, Montiel X, Torrealba Z.

Universidad del Zulia, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Departamento de
Biologia, Maracaibo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela. letty_marcano@hotmail.com

The vanadium is a metal that presents great interest from the toxicological
point of view, because of the numerous alterations that can take place in
different biological systems. This work evaluated the capacity of vanadium
accumulation and its correlation with genotoxic effects in root cells of Allium
cepa L. The bulbs were cultivated in renovated filtered water each 24 h, at a
temperature of 25 +//​ 0.5 degrees C, in darkness and constant aeration.
Treatments were carried out under the same experimental conditions, using water
solutions of vanadium of 25, 50, 75 and 100 microg/g for 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h.
A control was carried out where metal solution was substituted by distilled
water. After the treatment, the meristems were fixed with alcohol/​/​acetic acid
(3:1) and stained according to the technique of Feulgen. The capacity of
accumulation was determined by GFAAS. The analysis of the results revealed an
accumulation of the metal for all times and concentrations. No correlation was
presented among vanadium accumulation, growth and mitotic index; however,
positive correlation was given with the induction of chromosomic aberrations. In
conclusion, vanadium is able to induce cytotoxic effect in the exposed roots,
but only genotoxic effect was correlated with metal accumulation.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16972550 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

19: Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2006 Jun;17(6):1137/​40.

[Inhibitory effects of natural plant extracts on Verticillium albo/​atrum]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhang S, Zhou B, Zhang L, Fu Y.

College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161,
China. zhangsh024@163.com

This paper studied the inhibitory effects of 54 kinds of ethanol/​extracted plant
solutions on Verticillium albo/​atrum. The results showed that 15 kinds of these
extracts could inhibit the growth of verticillium albo/​atrum mycelium, with an
inhibitory rate more than 50%, among which, the inhibitory rate of Asarum
sieboldii, Coptis chinensis, Magnolia officinalis, Acacia catechu, Sophora
flavescens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cnidium monnieri, Platycodon grandiflorum and
Allium. cepa. extracts was higher than 65%, and that of Cnidium monnieri extract
reached 86.84%. A total of 16 kinds of plant extracts decreased the spore
germination of V. albo/​atrum, with the inhibitory rate higher than 70%, and
there were 7 kinds of plant extracts whose inhibitory rate reached 95%. Almost
no spore bourgeon was found after treated with Asarum sieboldii, Coptis
chinensis, and Magnolia officinalis extracts. The extract of Acacia catechu did
not inhibit the growth of mycelium, but restrained the spore germination by
100%. Cnidium monnieri extract could strongly inhibit the growth of mycelium,
but had a less effect on spore germination rate (only by 11.3%). The active
substances found in natural plant extracts which had the inhibitory effects on
pathogen brought us a new and promising method to deal with V. albo/​atrum and
other vegetable diseases.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16964957 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

20: Int J Pharm. 2006 Dec 11;327(1/​2):6/​11. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

The study of drug permeation through natural membranes.

Ansari M, Kazemipour M, Aklamli M.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman Medical Sciences
University, Kerman, Iran. mansari@kmu.ac.ir

In this study, natural membranes such as the outer membrane of Prunus persica
(peach) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), the inner layer of the egg of
Gallus domesticus (hen) and the middle membrane of the Allium cepa (onion) were
used as controlling barriers for permeation of some model drugs with different
MW and lipophilicities. Drug permeation studies were done by using modified
Franz diffusion cell. The permeation of drugs through these natural membranes
was compared to permeation of them through human skin and synthetic cellophane
membrane. Results showed that the rate and amount of diclofenac permeated
through onion membrane was not significantly different from that with tomato
(p>0.17), egg (p>0.29) and human skin (p>0.93). Permeation of diclofenac through
tomato skin and cellophane was not significantly different (p>0.35). Permeation
of diclofenac through all studied membranes except for human skin that follows
the Fickian kinetic followed non/​Fickian mechanism and their permeabilities were
not significantly different from each other (p>0.05). Permeation of
metronidazole through onion membrane and tomato skin were not significantly
different from human skin (p>0.053 and 0.38, respectively). All membranes were
significantly different from each other (p<0.0001) for permeation of
erythromycin as a relatively large molecular weight and lipohilic molecule
through human skin and other studied membranes. Permeation of diclofenac through
human skin and metronidazole through egg and tomato skin followed Fick's first
law. Diffusion of diclofenac through onion, tomato, egg, cellophane, and peach;
metronidazole through onion, peach, cellophane, and human skin, and erythromycin
through all studied membranes followed non/​Fickian mechanism for diffusion.
Statistical analysis showed the most similarity between onion and human skin for
diclofenac, tomato and human skin for metronidazole, onion and cellophane for
erythromycin.

PMID: 16959447 [PubMed /​ in process]

21: Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2005 Dec;42(6):371/​7.

Induction of resistance in host against the infection of leaf blight pathogen
(Alternaria palandui) in onion (Allium cepa var aggregatum).

Karthikeyan M, Jayakumar V, Radhika K, Bhaskaran R, Velazhahan R, Alice D.

Department of Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. karthipath@rediffmail.com

The Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate Pfl was found to inhibit the growth of
pathogen Alternaria palandui, in vitro. In the present study, foliar application
of a talc/​based formulation of Pfl significantly reduced the incidence of leaf
blight of onion, caused by A. palandui. Induction of defense/​related proteins
viz., chitinase, beta/​1,3 glucanase, peroxidase (PO) and polyphenol oxidase
(PPO) by application of Pfl, was studied against A. palandui infection in
resistant (IHR 56) and susceptible (MDUI) onion cultivars. Chitinase in both
cultivars, with or without challenge/​inoculation of A. palandui revealed changes
in the isoform pattern. The Native/​PAGE of PO showed induction of PO2 isoform in
both the cultivars, in response to inoculation of pathogen. Isoform analysis of
PPO also exhibited induction in the Pfl/​treated plants challenged with pathogen.
Similarly, the activity of beta/​1,3/​glucanase was greatly induced in Pfl/​treated
plants, challenged with pathogen as compared to controls. Thus, the P.
fluorescens/​treated plants showed significant increase in the levels of the
defense enzymes, in comparison to the plants challenged with the pathogen.

PMID: 16955738 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

22: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Aug 23;54(17):6185/​91.

Quercetin content in field/​cured onions (Allium cepa L.): effects of cultivar,
lifting time, and nitrogen fertilizer level.

Mogren LM, Olsson ME, Gertsson UE.

Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O.
Box 44, SE/​230 53 Alnarp, Sweden. lars.mogren@vv.slu.se

Variation in quercetin content was investigated in field/​cured onions (Allium
cepa L.) that had been supplied with different nitrogen fertilizer levels and
lifted at different developmental stages. Quercetin content varied significantly
between years and was well correlated to global radiation in August. Field
curing generally resulted in significant increases in quercetin content compared
to levels at lifting. Nitrogen fertilizer level did not affect quercetin
content, suggesting that nitrogen leakage from soil may be minimized without
effects on flavonol content. Lifting time had minor effects on quercetin content
in field/​cured onions. Cultivar differences in quercetin content were
significant but not consistent in all years. Quercetin content increased
significantly less in dark environments compared to field curing, but some
quercetin synthesis occurred regardless of light. Field curing with or without
foliage still attached did not affect quercetin content, suggesting that no
transportation from the foliage to the scales occurred.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16910706 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

23: Transgenic Res. 2006 Aug;15(4):435/​46.

Expression of the lipid transfer protein Ace/​AMP1 in transgenic wheat enhances
antifungal activity and defense responses.

Roy/​Barman S, Sautter C, Chattoo BB.

Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Science, The M.
S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390 002, India.

To enhance fungal disease resistance, wheat plants (cv. Bobwhite) were
engineered to constitutively express the potent antimicrobial protein Ace/​AMP1
from Allium cepa, driven by a maize ubiquitin promoter along with its first
intron. The bar gene was used for selection of putative transformants on medium
containing phosphinothricin (PPT). Transgene inheritance, integration and
stability of expression were confirmed over two generations by PCR, Southern,
northern and western blot analyses, respectively. The levels of Ace/​AMP1 in
different transgenic lines correlated with the transcript levels of the
transgene. Up to 50% increase in resistance to Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici
was detected in detached leaf assays. In ears of transgenic wheat inoculated
with Neovossia indica, Ace/​AMP1 intensified expression of defense/​related genes.
Elevated levels of salicylic acid and of transcripts of phenylalanine ammonia
lyase (PAL), glucanase (PR2) and chitinase (PR3) in the transgenic plants
indicated manifestation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR).

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16906444 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

24: Mutat Res. 2006 Oct 10;609(1):81/​91. Epub 2006 Aug 2.

Genotoxicity of industrial wastewaters obtained from two different pollution
sources in northern India: a comparison of three bioassays.

Fatima RA, Ahmad M.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, AMU, Aligarh 202002,
India.

The genotoxicity of industrial wastewater samples from Aligarh and Ghaziabad
cities was compared using the Ames plate incorporation test, the Ames
fluctuation test and the Allium cepa test. While TA102 and TA104 strains
exhibited the highest sensitivity against the Aligarh sample (AWW) in terms of
the slope (m) of the dose/​response curve in the plate incorporation assay, TA98
and TA97a were the most sensitive strains based on the induction factor, Mi(p).
TA98 once again, was the most sensitive strain against the test sample from
Ghaziabad (GWW) in terms of 'Mi(p)' while TA102 was the most sensitive strain on
the basis of the slope (m). TA100 displayed the highest susceptibility towards
the samples from Aligarh in the fluctuation test. However, TA102 and TA98
responded maximally to GWW in this bioassay. The mutagenicity of the test
samples seemed to be partly mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) as
evidenced by the use of free radical scavengers. Mannitol brought about the
maximum decline in the number of revertants of TA102 by the Aligarh sample,
whereas such a reduction in case of Ghaziabad sample was exhibited with
superoxide dismutase. Both the test water samples induced various anaphase
aberrations in the root cells of Allium cepa. Fragmentation of the chromosome
was the predominant effect of the Aligarh water sample while the Ghaziabad
sample induced chromosome stickiness. The crucial roles of heavy metals and
pesticides in the genotoxicity of AWW and GWW, respectively, have been
suggested. In view of the problem associated with the interpretations of data,
we recommend that all the test bioassays should be carried out in the presence
of ROS scavengers for the fool proof evaluation of the genotoxicity of water
samples.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16887378 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

25: Biol Res. 2006;39(2):331/​40. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

The G2 checkpoint activated by DNA damage does not prevent genome instability in
plant cells.

Carballo JA, Pincheira J, de la Torre C.

Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.

Root growth, G2 length, and the frequency of aberrant mitoses and apoptotic
nuclei were recorded after a single X/​ray irradiation, ranging from 2.5 to 40
Gy, in Allium cepa L. root meristematic cells. After 72 h of recovery, root
growth was reduced in a dose/​dependent manner from 10 to 40 Gy, but not at 2.5
or 5 Gy doses. Flow cytometry plus TUNEL (TdT/​mediated dUTP nick end labeling)
showed that activation of apoptosis occurred only after 20 and 40 Gy of X/​rays.
Nevertheless, irrespective of the radiation dose, conventional flow cytometry
showed that cells accumulated in G2 (4C DNA content). Simultaneously, the
mitotic index fell, though a mitotic wave appeared later. Cell accumulation in
G2 was transient and partially reversed by caffeine, thus it was
checkpoint/​dependent. Strikingly, the additional G2 time provided by this
checkpoint was never long enough to complete DNA repair. Then, in all cases,
some G2 cells with still/​unrepaired DNA underwent checkpoint adaptation, i.e.,
they entered into the late mitotic wave with chromatid breaks. These cells and
those produced by the breakage of chromosomal bridges in anaphase will reach the
G1 of the next cell cycle unrepaired, ensuring the appearance of genome
instability.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16874408 [PubMed /​ in process]

26: J Environ Biol. 2006 Jan;27(1):93/​5.

In vivo studies on the effect of Ocimum sanctum L. leaf extract in modifying the
genotoxicity induced by chromium and mercury in Allium root meristems.

Babu K, Uma Maheswari KC.

R & D Centre, Cholayil Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Ambattur, Chennai/​600 098,
India.

In vivo cytogenetic assay in Allium cepa root tip cells has been carried out to
detect the modifying effect of Ocimum sanctum aqueous leaf extract against
chromium (Cr) and mercury (Hg) induced genotoxicity. It was observed that the
roots post/​treated with the leaf extract showed highly significant (p < 0.001)
recovery in mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) when compared to
pre/​treated (Cr/Hg) samples and the lower doses of the leaf extract were found
to be more effective than higher doses. The present study reveals that the
Ocimum sanctum leaf extract possesses the protective effect against Cr/Hg
induced genetic damage.

PMID: 16850883 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

27: Biocell. 2006 Apr;30(1):9/​13.

Evaluation of cytotoxic potential of latex of Calotropis procera and
podophyllotoxin in Allium cepa root model.

Sehgal R, Roy S, Kumar VL.

Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari
Nagar, New Delhi /​ 110 029, India.

In the present study we have utilized the Allium cepa root tip meristem model to
evaluate the cytotoxic and anti/​mitotic activities of latex of Calotropis
procera (DL) and podophyllotoxin. Standard cytotoxic drug cyclophosphamide and
non/​cytotoxic drugs cyprohcptadine and aspirin served as controls. Like
cyclophosphamide, both DL and podophyllotoxin significantly inhibited the growth
of roots and mitotic activity in a dose/​dependent manner. However,
podophyllotoxin was more potent in this regard and produced root decay.
Cyproheptadine and aspirin, on the other hand, showed a marginal effect on the
root growth and mitotic activity at much higher concentrations.

PMID: 16845823 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

28: J Exp Bot. 2006;57(11):2719/​34. Epub 2006 Jul 13.

Erratum in:
J Exp Bot. 2006;57(14):3961.

Molecular and functional characterization of a cDNA encoding fructan:fructan
6G/​fructosyltransferase (6G/​FFT)/fructan:fructan 1/​fructosyltransferase (1/​FFT)
from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).

Lasseur B, Lothier J, Djoumad A, De Coninck B, Smeekens S, Van Laere A,
Morvan/​Bertrand A, Van den Ende W, Prud'homme MP.

UMR INRA/​UCN 950 EVA Ecophysiologie Vegetale, Agronomie et Nutritions NCS,
Universite de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, F/​14032 Caen cedex, France.

Fructans are the main storage compound in Lolium perenne. To account for the
prevailing neokestose/​based fructan synthesis in this species, a cDNA library of
L. perenne was screened by using the onion (Allium cepa) fructan:fructan
6G/​fructosyltransferase (6G/​FFT) as a probe. A full length Lp6G/​FFT clone was
isolated with significant homologies to vacuolar type fructosyltransferases and
invertases. The functionality of the cDNA was tested by heterologous expression
in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein demonstrated both 6G/​FFT and
fructan:fructan 1/​fructosyltransferase activities (1/​FFT) with a maximum
6G/​FFT/1/​FFT ratio of two. The activity of 6G/​FFT was investigated with respect
to developmental stage, tissue distribution, and alterations in carbohydrate
status expression and compared to sucrose:sucrose 1/​fructosyltransferase
(1/​SST). Lp6G/​FFT and Lp1/​SST were predominantly expressed in the basal part of
elongating leaves and leaf sheaths. Expression of both genes declined along the
leaf axis, in parallel with the spatial occurrence of fructan and
fructosyltransferase activities. Surprisingly, Lp6G/​FFT was highly expressed in
photosynthetically active tissues where very low extractable
fructosyltransferase activity and fructan amounts were detected, suggesting a
post/​transcriptional regulation of expression. Lp6G/​FFT gene expression
increased only in elongating leaves following similar increases of sucrose
content in blades, sheaths, and elongating leaf bases. Regulation of Lp6G/​FFT
gene expression depends on the tissue according to its sink/​source status.

PMID: 16840511 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

29: Mutat Res. 2006 Sep;613(1):17/​64. Epub 2006 Jul 7.

Zea mays assays of chemical/radiation genotoxicity for the study of
environmental mutagens.

Grant WF, Owens ET.

Department of Plant Science, P.O. Box 4000, McGill University, Macdonald Campus,
21, 111 Lakeshore Blvd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada.
william.grant@mcgill.ca

From a literature survey, 86 chemicals are tabulated that have been evaluated in
121 assays for their clastogenic effects in Zea mays. Eighty/​one of the 86
chemicals are reported as giving a positive reaction (i.e. causing chromosome
aberrations). Of these, 36 are reported positive with a dose response. In
addition, 32 assays have been recorded for 7 types of radiation, all of which
reacted positively. The results of 126 assays with 63 chemicals and 12 types of
radiation tested for the inductions of gene mutations are tabulated, as well as
63 chemicals and/or radiation in combined treatments. Three studies reported
positive results for mutations on Zea mays seed sent on space flights. The Zea
mays (2n=20) assay is a very good plant bioassay for assessing chromosome damage
both in mitosis and meiosis and for somatic mutations induced by chemicals and
radiations. The carcinogenicity and Salmonella assays correlate in all cases.
The maize bioassay has been shown to be as sensitive and as specific an assay as
other plant genotoxicity assays, such as Hordeum vulgare, Vicia faba, Crepis
capillaris, Pisum sativum, Lycopersicon esculentum and Allium cepa and should be
considered in further studies in assessing clastogenicity. Tests using Zea mays
can be made for a spectrum of mutant phenotypes of which many are identifiable
in young seedlings.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16828334 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

30: Mol Cells. 2006 Jun 30;21(3):411/​7.

Determination of cytoplasmic male sterile factors in onion plants (Allium cepa
L.) using PCR/​RFLP and SNP markers.

Cho KS, Yang TJ, Hong SY, Kwon YS, Woo JG, Park HG.

National Institute of Highland Agriculture, Rural Development Administration,
Pyeongchang 232/​955, Korea. kscho@rda.go.kr

We have developed a polymerase chain reaction/​restriction fragment length
polymorphism (PCR/​RFLP) marker that can distinguish male/​fertile (N) and
male/​sterile (S) cytoplasm in onions. The PCR/​RFLP marker was located in a
chloroplast psbA gene amplicon. Digesting the amplicons from different
cytoplasm/​containing varieties with the restriction enzyme MspI revealed that
N/​cytoplasm plants have a functional MspI site (CCGG), whereas the S/​cytoplasm
plants has a substitution in that site (CTGG), and thus no MspI target. The
results obtained using this PCR/​RFLP marker to distinguish between cytoplasmic
male sterile factors in 35 onion varieties corresponded with those using a
CMS/​specific sequence/​characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. Moreover,
the PCR/​RFLP marker can identify N/​ ot S/​cytoplasms in DNA sample mixtures in
which they are in up to a 10/​fold minority, indicating that use of the marker
has high diagnostic precision. We also demonstrated the usefulness of the SNP
detected in the psbA gene for high/​throughput discrimination of CMS factors
using Real/​time PCR and a TaqMan probe assay.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16819305 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

31: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 19;107(2):211/​21. Epub 2006 Mar 27.

Changes in chromosome structure, mitotic activity and nuclear DNA content from
cells of Allium Test induced by bark water extract of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.)
DC.

Kuras M, Nowakowska J, Sliwinska E, Pilarski R, Ilasz R, Tykarska T, Zobel A,
Gulewicz K.

Department of Ecotoxicology, Warsaw University, Miecznikowa 1, 02/​096 Warsaw,
Poland. kuras@biol.uw.edu.pl

The influence of water extract of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC bark on the
meristematic cells of the root tips of Allium cepa L., e.g. cells of Allium
Test, was investigated. The experiment was carried out in two variants: (1)
continuous incubation at different concentrations (2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/ml) of the
extract for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72h; and (2) 24/​h incubation in three
concentrations of the extract (4, 8 or 16 mg/ml), followed by post/​incubation in
distilled water for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48h. During the continuous incubation, the
mitotic activity was reduced (2 and 4 mg/ml) or totally inhibited (8 and 16
mg/ml), depending on the concentration of the extract. All the concentrations
resulted in gradual reduction of the mitotic activity. In the concentration of 2
mg/ml, the mitotic activity reached its lowest value after 12h (2 mg/ml) and
after 24h in 4 mg/ml, followed by spontaneous intensification of divisions
during further incubation. Instead, in higher concentrations of the extracts (8
and 16 mg/ml), the mitotic activity was totally inhibited within 24h and did not
resume even after 72h. Incubation caused changes in the phase index, mainly as
an increase in the number of prophases. After 24h of incubation, in all phases,
condensation and contraction of chromosomes were observed. During
post/​incubation, divisions resumed in all concentrations, reaching even higher
values than the control. Cytometric analysis showed that the extract caused
inhibition of the cell cycle at the border between gap(2) and beginning of
mitosis (G(2)/M).

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16793229 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

32: J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2006;41(4):659/​74.

Detoxification and bioremediation potential of a Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate
against the major Indian water pollutants.

Ali Khan MW, Ahmad M.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh, India.

A Pseudomonas fluorescens strain was isolated from the soil of industrial estate
of Aligarh, India. This strain was resistant to some of the major Indian water
pollutants, namely Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, BHC, 2,4/​D, mancozeb and
phenols up to the levels occurring in the highly polluted regions. Moreover, the
test strain seems to have a great potential for the detoxification of these
pollutants. The decrease in toxicity as determined by the Allium cepa test was
recorded as 62.5% for the model water containing the mixture of test heavy
metals, 71.9% for the pesticides, 73.2% for phenols, and 58.5% for combination
of all these toxicants. These values were obtained after 24 hours, exposure to
the immobilized cells of the test isolate in the calcium alginate matrix at the
concentrations of these polutants supposedly present in the highly polluted
water systems in India. The efficiency of bioremediation for certain heavy
metals at the same concentrations by means of immobilized cells of the test
Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate was estimated to be 75.9% for cadmium, 74.2% for
hexavalent chromium and 61.0% for lead during the 24 hours' treatment. In view
of the preliminary work, the test isolate seems to be a good candidate for the
bioremediation of water pollutants.

PMID: 16779939 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

33: Biotech Histochem. 2006 Jan/​Feb;81(1):13/​21.

CPD staining: an effective technique for detection of NORs and other GC/​rich
chromosomal regions in plants.

She CW, Liu JY, Song YC.

Key Laboratory of MOE for Plant Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences,
Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.

Mitotic chromosome spreads of 16 plant species belonging to six families were
analyzed using an improved combined PI and DAPI (CPD) staining procedure.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 45S rDNA probe was conducted
sequentially on the same spreads to evaluate the efficiency and sensitivity of
the technique. Fluorochrome staining with chromomycin A3 (CMA)/​DAPI also was
conducted to clarify the properties of the sequences involved in the CPD banded
regions. Our results revealed that all of the NORs (rDNA sites) in the species
tested were efficiently shown as red bands by CPD staining, and the number and
position of the bands corresponded precisely to those of the 45S rDNA FISH
signals, indicating that the detection sensitivity of CPD staining is similar to
that of FISH. In 10 of the species tested including Aegilops squarrosa, Allium
sativum, Oryza sativum ssp. indica, Oryza officinalis, Pisum sativum, Secale
cereale, Setaria italica, Sorghum vulgare, Vicia faba and Zea mays, CPD bands
were exhibited exclusively in their NORs, while in other six species including
Hordeum vulgare, Allium cepa, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Arabidopsis thaliana,
Brassica oleracea var. capitata and Lycopersicon esculentum, CPD bands appeared
in chromosomal regions other than their NORs. The CPD bands were in accordance
with the CMA bands in all species tested, indicating GC/​rich sequences in the
CPD bands and that the improved CPD staining procedure is specific for GC/​rich
regions in plant genomes. Our investigation not only elucidated the banding
mechanisms of CPD, but also demonstrated that the CPD staining technique, which
may be preferable to CMA staining, is an effective tool for detecting NORs and
other GC/​rich chromosomal regions in plants.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16760123 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

34: J Nat Prod. 2006 May;69(5):795/​800.

Sesquiterpene lactones as allelochemicals.

Macias FA, Fernandez A, Varela RM, Molinillo JM, Torres A, Alves PL.

Grupo de Alelopatia, Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias,
Universidad de Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain. famacias@uca.es

Six new sesquiterpene lactones, annuolide H (3), helivypolides F, H/​J (4,
11/​13), and helieudesmanolide A (6), together with known compounds, were
isolated from polar bioactive fractions of Helianthus annuus cv. SH/​222 and
Stella fresh leaf water extracts. Spectroscopic analysis of the new data for
1,2/​anhydroniveusin A and 1/​methoxy/​4,5/​dihydroniveusin A corrects some previous
assignments. The compounds were tested using the etiolated wheat coleoptile
bioassay, and the most active compounds were assayed in standard target species
(STS) (Lepidium sativum, Allium cepa, Lactucasativa, Lycopersicon esculentum,
and Triticum aestivum) from 5 x 10(/​4) to 10(/​5) M. The most phytotoxic
compounds were helivypolide F and 15/​hydroxy/​3/​dehydrodeoxyfruticin, both of
which have a carbonyl group at C/​3 conjugated with two double bonds.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16724843 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

35: Cytogenet Genome Res. 2006;114(1):77/​82.

Nuclear DNA content and nuclear and cell volume are positively correlated in
angiosperms.

Jovtchev G, Schubert V, Meister A, Barow M, Schubert I.

Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany.

Volumes of flow sorted nuclei were analyzed from two highly endopolyploid
(diploids with endopolyploid tissues) species (Arabidopsis thaliana and Barbarea
stricta), from a less endopolyploid species (Allium cepa) and from two
non/​endopolyploid species (Chrysanthemum multicolor and Fritillaria uva/​vulpis).
Intraspecific as well as interspecific comparisons revealed a highly positive
correlation (r > 0.99) between DNA content and nuclear volume. No significant
differences between expected and measured nuclear volumes were noted indicating
that chromatin packing is not increased with increasing DNA content in the
tested plant species. In epidermis cells of A. thaliana, A. cepa and Ch.
multicolor, a lower (r between 0.6 and 0.7) but significant positive correlation
between nuclear volume and cell volume was found. This correlation is compatible
with the hypothesis that endopolyploidization (EP = consecutive replication
cycles not separated by nuclear and cell divisions) might speed up the growth of
endopolyploid species and compensate for small genome size. 2006 S. Karger AG,
Basel.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16717454 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

36: Fitoterapia. 2006 Jun;77(4):321/​3. Epub 2006 May 11.

In vitro antifungal activities of Allium cepa, Allium sativum and ketoconazole
against some pathogenic yeasts and dermatophytes.

Shams/​Ghahfarokhi M, Shokoohamiri MR, Amirrajab N, Moghadasi B, Ghajari A, Zeini
F, Sadeghi G, Razzaghi/​Abyaneh M.

Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarress
University, Tehran 14115/​111, Iran. shamsm@modares.ac.ir

By using an agar dilution assay, the antifungal activity of aqueous extracts
prepared from Allium cepa (onion; AOE) and Allium sativum (garlic; AGE) were
evaluated against Malassezia furfur (25 strains), Candida albicans (18 strains),
other Candida sp. (12 strains) as well as 35 strains of various dermatophyte
species and compared with the activity of a known antifungal drug, ketoconazole
(KTZ). All the AOE, AGE and KTZ were found to be able to inhibit growth of all
fungi tested in a dose/​dependent manner with maximum of 100% at defined
concentrations. The results indicate that onion and garlic might be promising in
treatment of fungal/​associated diseases from important pathogenic genera
Candida, Malassezia and the dermatophytes.

PMID: 16690223 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

37: Phytother Res. 2006 Jul;20(7):581/​4.

Exploring Allium species as a source of potential medicinal agents.

Stajner D, Milic N, Canadanovic/​Brunet J, Kapor A, Stajner M, Popovic BM.

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 8, 21000
Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro.

It has been shown that Allium species may help to prevent tumor promotion,
cardiovascular diseases and aging; all processes that are associated with free
radicals. Therefore the Allium species of both cultivated species (Allium nutans
L., Allium fistulosum L., Allium vineale L., Allium psekemense B. Fedtsch,
Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L.) and wild species (Allium flavum L., Allium
sphaerocephalum L., Allium atroviolaceum Boiss, Allium schenoprasum L., Allium
vineale L., Allium ursinum L., Allium scorodoprasum L.) from various locations
were investigated for their antioxidative properties. The leaves were examined
for activities of antioxidative enzymes (catalase, peroxidase,
superoxide/​dismutase, glutathione/​peroxidase), non/​enzymic antioxidants (reduced
glutathione and total flavonoids), content of soluble proteins, vitamin C,
carotenoids, chlorophylls a and b, as well as the quantities of
malonyldialdehyde and *OH and O2*/​ radicals. Using a contemporary spectroscopic
fluorescent method, lipofuscin, 'plant age pigments' were determined. ESR
spectroscopy was used to follow the decrease of oxygen radicals in the presence
of extracts of Allium species in phosphate buffer (pH 7). The results showed
that all Allium species had strong antioxidative properties due to their high
concentration of total flavonoids, high content of carotenoids and chlorophylls,
and very low concentrations of toxic oxygen radicals. ESR signals of DMPO/​OH
radical adducts, in the presence of Allium extracts in phosphate buffer (pH 7),
were reduced by up to 94.3%.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16676298 [PubMed /​ in process]

38: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 May 3;54(9):3341/​50.

Effects of fertilization, crop year, variety, and provenance factors on mineral
concentrations in onions.

Ariyama K, Nishida T, Noda T, Kadokura M, Yasui A.

Center for Food Quality, Labeling and Consumer Services, 2/​1 Shintoshin,
Saitama/​shi 330/​9731, Japan. kaoru/​ariyama@cfqlcs.go.jp

Mineral concentrations of onions (Allium cepa L.) grown under various
conditions, including factors (fertilization, crop year, variety, and
provenance), were investigated to clarify how much each factor contributes to
the variation of their concentrations. This was because the mineral
concentrations might be affected by various factors. The ultimate goal of this
study was to develop a technique to determine the geographic origins of onions
by mineral composition. Samples were onions grown under various conditions at 52
fields in 18 farms in Hokkaido, Japan. Twenty/​six elements (Li, Na, Mg, Al, P,
K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Gd, W, and
Tl) in these samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic
emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Fertilization conditions and crop years of onions caused variations of P, Ni,
Cu, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, and Tl concentrations in onions; different onion varieties
also showed variations in numerous element concentrations. However, the
variations of mineral compositions of onions by these factors were smaller than
the differences between production places with a few exceptions. Furthermore,
Na, Rb, and Cs in group IA of the periodic table, Ca, Sr, and Ba in group IIA,
and Zn and Cd in group IIB showed similar concentration patterns by group; this
result demonstrated that elements in the same periodic groups behaved similarly
in terms of their absorption in onions.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16637694 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

39: J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2006 May;99(2/​3):100/​7. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Beta/​sitosterol/​3/​O/​beta/​D/​glucopyranoside: a eukaryotic DNA polymerase lambda
inhibitor.

Mizushina Y, Nakanishi R, Kuriyama I, Kamiya K, Satake T, Shimazaki N, Koiwai O,
Uchiyama Y, Yonezawa Y, Takemura M, Sakaguchi K, Yoshida H.

Laboratory of Food & Nutritional Sciences, Department of Nutritional Science,
Kobe/​Gakuin University, Kobe, Hyogo 651/​2180, Japan.
mizushin@nutr.kobegakuin.ac.jp

Beta/​sitosterol/​3/​O/​beta/​D/​glucopyranoside (compound 1), a steroidal glycoside
isolated from onion (Allium cepa L.) selectively inhibited the activity of
mammalian DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro. The compound did not
influence the activities of replicative DNA polymerases such as alpha, delta and
epsilon, but also showed no effect even on the activity of pol beta which is
thought to have a very similar three/​dimensional structure to the pol beta/​like
region of pol lambda. Since parts of compound 1 such as beta/​sitosterol
(compound 2) and D/​glucose (compound 3) did not influence the activities of any
enzymes tested, the converted structure of compounds 2 and 3 might be important
for pol lambda inhibition. The inhibitory effect of compound 1 on both intact
pol lambda (i.e. residues 1/​575) and a truncated pol lambda lacking the
N/​terminal BRCA1 C/​terminus (BRCT) domain (133/​575, del/​1 pol lambda) was
dose/​dependent, and 50% inhibition was observed at a concentration of 9.1 and
5.4 microM, respectively. The compound 1/​induced inhibition of del/​1 pol lambda
activity was non/​competitive with respect to both the DNA template/​primer and
the dNTP substrate. On the basis of these results, the pol lambda inhibitory
mechanism of compound 1 is discussed.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16621516 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

40: Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2005 Jul/​Sep;109(3):676/​9.

[Phytochemical and microbiological characterization of two Allium cepa L.
extracts in order to include in dermo/​cosmetics]

[Article in Romanian]

Tataringa G, Hancianu M, Aprotosoaie C, Poiata A, Vasilescu M, Gafitanu E.

Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iasi, Facultatea de Farmacie.

We have obtained two Allium cepa extracts (C1 and C2) which were characterized
from chemical and microbiological point of view. The C1 extract is the richest
concerning the content in flavonoids, triterpenic acids, amino acids, compounds
recognized for their beneficial effects in wound healing. All this data shows us
the possibility of using the Allium cepa extracts in the treatment of wounds,
scars. As well, the antimicrobial activity of the two extracts was evaluated.
The C2 extract was efficient as antimicrobial agent, but there are necessary
special preserving conditions.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 16607772 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

41: Plant Physiol. 2006 May;141(1):196/​207. Epub 2006 Mar 31.

Identification of a vacuolar sucrose transporter in barley and Arabidopsis
mesophyll cells by a tonoplast proteomic approach.

Endler A, Meyer S, Schelbert S, Schneider T, Weschke W, Peters SW, Keller F,
Baginsky S, Martinoia E, Schmidt UG.

University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology, CH/​8008 Zurich, Switzerland.

The vacuole is the main cellular storage pool, where sucrose (Suc) accumulates
to high concentrations. While a limited number of vacuolar membrane proteins,
such as V/​type H(+)/​ATPases and H(+)/​pyrophosphatases, are well characterized,
the majority of vacuolar transporters are still unidentified, among them the
transporter(s) responsible for vacuolar Suc uptake and release. In search of
novel tonoplast transporters, we used a proteomic approach, analyzing the
tonoplast fraction of highly purified mesophyll vacuoles of the crop plant
barley (Hordeum vulgare). We identified 101 proteins, including 88 vacuolar and
putative vacuolar proteins. The Suc transporter (SUT) HvSUT2 was discovered
among the 40 vacuolar proteins, which were previously not reported in
Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) vacuolar proteomic studies. To confirm the
tonoplast localization of this Suc transporter, we constructed and expressed
green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins with HvSUT2 and its closest
Arabidopsis homolog, AtSUT4. Transient expression of HvSUT2/​GFP and AtSUT4/​GFP
in Arabidopsis leaves and onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells resulted in green
fluorescence at the tonoplast, indicating that these Suc transporters are indeed
located at the vacuolar membrane. Using a microcapillary, we selected mesophyll
protoplasts from a leaf protoplast preparation and demonstrated unequivocally
that, in contrast to the companion cell/​specific AtSUC2, HvSUT2 and AtSUT4 are
expressed in mesophyll protoplasts, suggesting that HvSUT2 and AtSUT4 are
involved in transport and vacuolar storage of photosynthetically derived Suc.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16581873 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

42: Ann Bot (Lond). 2006 Jun;97(6):1127/​38. Epub 2006 Mar 6.

Neutral red as a probe for confocal laser scanning microscopy studies of plant
roots.

Dubrovsky JG, Guttenberger M, Saralegui A, Napsucialy/​Mendivil S, Voigt B,
Baluska F, Menzel D.

Departamento de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. jdubrov@ibt.unam.mx

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Neutral red (NR), a lipophilic phenazine dye, has been
widely used in various biological systems as a vital stain for bright/​field
microscopy. In its unprotonated form it penetrates the plasma membrane and
tonoplast of viable plant cells, then due to protonation it becomes trapped in
acidic compartments. The possible applications of NR for confocal laser scanning
microscopy (CLSM) studies were examined in various aspects of plant root
biology. METHODS: NR was used as a fluorochrome for living roots of Phaseolus
vulgaris, Allium cepa, A. porrum and Arabidopsis thaliana (wild/​type and
transgenic GFP/​carrying lines). The tissues were visualized using CLSM. The
effect of NR on the integrity of the cytoskeleton and the growth rate of
arabidopsis primary roots was analysed to judge potential toxic effects of the
dye. KEY RESULTS: The main advantages of the use of NR are related to the fact
that NR rapidly penetrates root tissues, has affinity to suberin and lignin, and
accumulates in the vacuoles. It is shown that NR is a suitable probe for
visualization of proto/​ and metaxylem elements, Casparian bands in the
endodermis, and vacuoles in cells of living roots. The actin cytoskeleton and
the microtubule system of the cells, as well as the dynamics of root growth,
remain unchanged after short/​term application of NR, indicating a relatively low
toxicity of this chemical. It was also found that NR is a useful probe for the
observation of the internal structures of root nodules and of fungal hyphae in
vesicular/​arbuscular mycorrhizas. CONCLUSIONS: Ease, low cost and absence of
tissue processing make NR a useful probe for structural, developmental and
vacuole/​biogenetic studies of plant roots with CLSM.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16520341 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

43: J Nutr. 2006 Mar;136(3):608/​13.

The production of reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial membrane
potential are modulated during onion oil/​induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis
in A549 cells.

Wu XJ, Stahl T, Hu Y, Kassie F, Mersch/​Sundermann V.

Institute of Indoor and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine,
Justus/​Liebig/​University of Giessen, Germany.

Protective effects of Allium vegetables against cancers have been shown
extensively in experimental animals and epidemiologic studies. We investigated
cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis by onion oil extracted from
Allium cepa, a widely consumed Allium vegetable, in human lung cancer A549
cells. GC/MS analysis suggested that propyl sulfides but not allyl sulfides are
major sulfur/​containing constituents of onion oil. Onion oil at 12.5 mg/L
significantly induced apoptosis (13% increase of apoptotic cells) as indicated
by sub/​G1 DNA content. It also caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase; 25
mg/L onion oil increased the percentage of G2/M cells almost 6/​fold compared
with the dimethyl sulfoxide control. The action of onion oil may occur via a
reactive oxygen species/​dependent pathway because cell cycle arrest and
apoptosis were blocked by the antioxidants N/​acetylcysteine and exogenous
glutathione. Marked collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential suggested
that dysfunction of the mitochondria may be involved in the oxidative burst and
apoptosis induced by onion oil. Expression of phospho/​cdc2 and phospho/​cyclin B1
were downregulated by onion oil, perhaps accounting for the G2/M arrest.
Overall, these results suggest that onion oil may exert chemopreventive action
by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells.

PMID: 16484532 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

44: J Chromatogr A. 2006 Apr 21;1112(1/​2):23/​30. Epub 2006 Feb 14.

Seleno/​compounds in garlic and onion.

Arnault I, Auger J.

CRITT INNOPHYT, Universite Francois Rabelais, Parc de Grandmont, 37200 Tours,
France.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) are widely known for their
biological properties but are far from having revealed all of their secrets even
if the compounds involved in the biological mechanisms, flavenols, sulphur and
seleno compounds have been identified. The beneficial effect of garlic on health
including protection against cardiovascular diseases and cancers results from
all of these compounds although their individual involvement is complex. Garlic
and onion, broccoli, wild leek, have the ability to accumulate the selenium (Se)
from soil. These Se/​enriched plants present a greater protection against
carcinogenesis than the common plants and two Se/​compounds possessing
anti/​cancer activity have been identified: Se/​methyl selenocysteine and
gamma/​glutamyl/​Se/​methyl selenocysteine. However, several Se/​compounds from
Se/​enriched garlic or onion remain unidentified. The techniques for the
detection of Se/​species are numerous but few methods are able to identify the
detected compounds. The very small quantities of Se/​compounds present and the
clear lack of standards do not make their analysis straightforward, particularly
for non/​enriched samples. Over the last 10 or so years development of the
synthesis of Se/​compounds and the use of GC/​AED or EC/HPLC/​ICP/​MS have shown
considerable possibilities. These techniques have allowed advances in the
identification of Se/​compounds, some of which are analogues of S/​compounds in
plants and yeasts. When these techniques are coupled to EC/HPLC/​APCI/​MS/​MS, they
provide a lot of information about the Se/​biosynthesis in garlic. This has
allowed the preferential formation of methylated compounds in Se/​biochemistry to
be identified, in contrast to the sulphur biochemistry of the Allium spp. in
which compounds containing propenylic groups predominate. This review focuses on
the recent advances in the analytical methods of Se/​compounds in garlic and
onion and particular attention is given to the biological properties of
Se/​species identified in Se/​enriched plants.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16480995 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

45: J Environ Biol. 2005 Oct;26(4):675/​80.

Studies of VA/​Mycorrhizal fungi associated with some weed plants in sugar mill
effluent soils.

Vani K, Kumar GS, Selvaraj T.

Department of Microbiology, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College, Thanjavur /​ 614 904.
India. vankan@sify.com

This study is to isolate the effluent strain of VAM fungi from polluted soils of
sugar mill effluents. Analysis showed that pH and EC was more but the organic
matter is less when compared to non/​polluted soils. Even though there was low P
content that enhances the mycorrhizal infection, the percent of root
colonization was less than 75% in polluted study site. The number of VAM
propagules and its distribution were also greatly affected due to various
factors. Nine different VAM species were isolated and identified from the
polluted study site. Using Allium cepa L. as the host plant the efficiency of
the native effluent tolerant strains of VAM fungi isolated from the polluted
study site was determined. Highest growth rate, high dry weight of gram per
plant and increased growth was observed in the order of Glomus intraradices
followed by Gigaspora margarita and Glomus fasciculatum. Consequence of the
study clearly showed that Glomus intraradices was the efficient strain in sugar
mill effluent polluted areas.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 16459556 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

46: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 8;54(3):848/​52.

Model studies on precursor system generating blue pigment in onion and garlic.

Imai S, Akita K, Tomotake M, Sawada H.

Somatech Center, House Foods Corporation, 1/​4 Takanodai, Yotsukaido, Chiba
284/​0033, Japan. s/​imai@housefoods.co.jp

Reactions involved in blue/​green discoloration in a mixture of onion (Allium
cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) were investigated. Vivid/​blue color was
successfully reproduced by using a defined model reaction system comprising only
trans/​(+)/​S/​(1/​propenyl)/​L/​cysteine sulfoxide (1/​PeCSO) from onion,
S/​allyl/​L/​cysteine sulfoxide (2/​PeCSO) from garlic, purified alliinase (EC
4.4.1.4), and glycine (or some other amino acids). Four reaction steps
identified and factors affecting the blue color formation were in good agreement
with those suggested by earlier investigators. When crude onion alliinase was
used in place of garlic alliinase, less pigment was formed. This result was
explained by a difference in the amount of thiosulfinates, colorless
intermediates termed color developers, yielded from 1/​PeCSO by these enzymes.

PMID: 16448193 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

47: J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 8;54(3):843/​7.

Identification of two novel pigment precursors and a reddish/​purple pigment
involved in the blue/​green discoloration of onion and garlic.

Imai S, Akita K, Tomotake M, Sawada H.

Somatech Center, House Foods Corporation, 1/​4 Takanodai, Yotsukaido, Chiba
284/​0033, Japan. s/​imai@housefoods.co.jp

By using a model reaction system representing blue/​green discoloration that
occurs when purees of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) are
mixed, we isolated two pigment precursors (PPs) and a reddish/​purple pigment
(PUR/​1) and determined their chemical structures. PPs were isolated from a
heat/​treated solution containing color developer (CD) and either l/​valine or
l/​alanine, and their structures were determined as
2/​(3,4/​dimethylpyrrolyl)/​3/​methylbutanoic acid (PP/​Val), and
2/​(3,4/​dimethyl/​1H/​pyrrolyl) propanoic acid (PP/​Ala), respectively. Next, PUR/​1
was isolated from a heat/​treated solution containing PP/​Val and allicin, and its
structure was determined as
(1E)/​1/​(1/​((1S)/​1/​carboxy/​2/​methylpropyl)/​3,4/​dimethyl/​1H/​pyrrol/​2/​yl)/​prop/​1/​en
ylene/​3/​(1/​((1S)/​1/​carboxy/​2/​methylpropyl)/​3,4/​dimethyl/​1H/​pyrrol/​2/​ylidenium).
The structure of PUR/​1 suggested that PP molecules containing a 3,4/​dimethyl
pyrrole ring had been cross/​linked by an allyl group of allicin to form
conjugated pigments. While PUR/​1 is a dipyrrole compound exhibiting a
reddish/​purple color, a color shift toward blue to green can be expected as the
cross/​linking reaction continues to form, for example, tri/​ or tetrapyrrole
compounds.

PMID: 16448192 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

48: Environ Mol Mutagen. 2006 May;47(4):254/​9.

Quercetin reduces chromosome aberrations induced by atrazine in the Allium cepa
test.

Mastrangelo S, Tomassetti M, Carratu MR, Evandri MG, Bolle P.

Department of Pharmacology and Human Physiology, University of Bari, Italy.

Quercetin is a widely distributed plant flavonoid possessing a variety of
chemical and biological activities, including chelation, free/​radical
scavenging, and antioxidant activity. Atrazine is a selective triazine herbicide
that has been the subject of an international revision program for human and
ecological health risks because of its persistence in the environment. In a
previous study, we demonstrated that atrazine was clastogenic in the Allium cepa
test. In this present study, we investigated whether quercetin affords
protection from the chromosome breaks induced by atrazine. In a preliminary
assay, 0.1/​20 microg/ml quercetin produced no toxicity or clastogenic activity
in the Allium cepa test. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of 0.5 and 5
microg/ml quercetin on the clastogenicity of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 microg/l
atrazine. Quercetin (0.5 microg/ml) significantly reduced the frequency of total
aberrations induced by 7.5 microg/l atrazine, while both concentrations of
quercetin significantly decreased the frequency of fragments induced by 7.5
microg/l atrazine. The results of this study indicate that plant flavonoids such
as quercetin may protect against the genotoxic effects of atrazine. Efforts to
understand the extent to which plant flavonoids influence the biological
activities of genotoxicants and the mechanisms involved in the interactions
could help to better discern the advantages and disadvantages of their use and
to clarify their possible protective role against pollutants. Copyright (c) 2006
Wiley/​Liss, Inc.

PMID: 16416428 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

49: Plant J. 2006 Feb;45(3):335/​46.

Rice plants take up iron as an Fe3+/​phytosiderophore and as Fe2+.

Ishimaru Y, Suzuki M, Tsukamoto T, Suzuki K, Nakazono M, Kobayashi T, Wada Y,
Watanabe S, Matsuhashi S, Takahashi M, Nakanishi H, Mori S, Nishizawa NK.

Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and
Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1/​1/​1 Yayoi, Bunkyo/​ku, Tokyo 113/​8657,
Japan.

Only graminaceous monocots possess the Strategy II iron (Fe)/​uptake system in
which Fe is absorbed by roots as an Fe3+/​phytosiderophore. In spite of being a
Strategy II plant, however, rice (Oryza sativa) contains the previously
identified Fe2+ transporter OsIRT1. In this study, we isolated the OsIRT2 gene
from rice, which is highly homologous to OsIRT1. Real/​time PCR analysis revealed
that OsIRT1 and OsIRT2 are expressed predominantly in roots, and these
transporters are induced by low/​Fe conditions. When expressed in yeast
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells, OsIRT2 cDNA reversed the growth defects of a
yeast Fe/​uptake mutant. This was similar to the effect of OsIRT1 cDNA. OsIRT1/​
and OsIRT2/​green fluorescent protein fusion proteins localized to the plasma
membrane when transiently expressed in onion (Allium cepa L.) epidermal cells.
OsIRT1 promoter/​GUS analysis revealed that OsIRT1 is expressed in the epidermis
and exodermis of the elongating zone and in the inner layer of the cortex of the
mature zone of Fe/​deficient roots. OsIRT1 expression was also detected in the
ccompanion cells. Analysis using the positron/​emitting tracer imaging system
showed that rice plants are able to take up both an Fe3+/​phytosiderophore and
Fe2+. This result indicates that, in addition to absorbing an
Fe3+/​phytosiderophore, rice possesses a novel Fe/​uptake system that directly
absorbs the Fe2+, a strategy that is advantageous for growth in submerged
conditions.

PMID: 16412081 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

50: Theor Appl Genet. 2006 Feb;112(4):607/​17. Epub 2006 Jan 13.

Direct comparison between genomic constitution and flavonoid contents in Allium
multiple alien addition lines reveals chromosomal locations of genes related to
biosynthesis from dihydrokaempferol to quercetin glucosides in scaly leaf of
shallot (Allium cepa L.).

Masuzaki S, Shigyo M, Yamauchi N.

The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University,
680/​8553, Tottori, Japan.

The extrachromosome 5A of shallot (Allium cepa L., genomes AA) has an important
role in flavonoid biosynthesis in the scaly leaf of Allium fistulosum/​shallot
monosomic addition lines (FF+nA). This study deals with the production and
biochemical characterisation of A. fistulosum/​shallot multiple alien addition
lines carrying at least 5A to determine the chromosomal locations of genes for
quercetin formation. The multiple alien additions were selected from the
crossing between allotriploid FFA (female symbol) and A. fistulosum (male
symbol). The 113 plants obtained from this cross were analysed by a chromosome
5A/​specific PGI isozyme marker of shallot. Thirty plants were preliminarily
selected for an alien addition carrying 5A. The chromosome numbers of the 30
plants varied from 18 to 23. The other extrachromosomes in 19 plants were
completely identified by using seven other chromosome markers of shallot.
High/​performance liquid chromatography analyses of the 19 multiple additions
were conducted to identify the flavonoid compounds produced in the scaly leaves.
Direct comparisons between the chromosomal constitution and the flavonoid
contents of the multiple alien additions revealed that a flavonoid
3'/​hydroxylase (F3'H) gene for the synthesis of quercetin from kaempferol was
located on 7A and that an anonymous gene involved in the glucosidation of
quercetin was on 3A or 4A. As a result of supplemental SCAR analyses by using
genomic DNAs from two complete sets of A. fistulosum/​shallot monosomic
additions, we have assigned F3'H to 7A and flavonol synthase to 4A.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16411131 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

51: Theor Appl Genet. 2006 Mar;112(5):958/​67. Epub 2006 Jan 11.

Genetic mapping of a major gene affecting onion bulb fructan content.

McCallum J, Clarke A, Pither/​Joyce M, Shaw M, Butler R, Brash D, Scheffer J,
Sims I, van Heusden S, Shigyo M, Havey MJ.

New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 4704,
Christchurch, New Zealand. mccallumj@crop.cri.nz

The non/​structural dry matter content of onion bulbs consists principally of
fructose, glucose, sucrose and fructans. The objective of this study was to
understand the genetic basis for the wide variation observed in the relative
amounts of these carbohydrates. Bulb carbohydrate composition was evaluated in
progeny from crosses between high dry matter storage onion varieties and sweet,
low dry matter varieties. When samples were analysed on a dry weight basis,
reducing sugar and fructan content exhibited high negative correlations and
bimodal segregation suggestive of the action of a major gene. A polymorphic SSR
marker, ACM235, was identified which exhibited strong disequilibrium with bulb
fructan content in F(2:3) families from the 'W202A' x 'Texas Grano 438' mapping
population evaluated in two environments. This marker was mapped to chromosome 8
in the interspecific population 'Allium cepa x A. roylei'. Mapping in the
'Colossal Grano PVP' x 'Early Longkeeper P12' F2 population showed that a
dominant major gene conditioning high/​fructan content lay in the same genomic
region. QTL analysis of total bulb fructan content in the intraspecific mapping
population 'BYG15/​23' x 'AC43' using a complete molecular marker map revealed
only one significant QTL in the same chromosomal region. This locus,
provisionally named Frc, may account for the major phenotypic differences in
bulb carbohydrate content between storage and sweet onion varieties.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 16404585 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

52: Tsitol Genet. 2005 Sep/​Oct;39(5):73/​80.

[Toxic and cytogenetic effects induced in Allium cepa with low concenrations of
Cd and 232th]

[Article in Russian]

Evseeva TI, Maistrenko TA, Geras'kin SA, Belykh ES, Kazakova EV.

232Th (7.76 x 10(/​7) M) and Cd (0.89 x 10(/​8) M) in concentrations which do not
exceed officially prescribed standards when entering with water do not increase
the frequency of chromosome aberrations in comparison with the control. Such
concentrations do not cause toxic effects in plants on the levels of tissues and
of the whole organism but they do display their activity on the cell level
damaging division spindle. Dependence "cadmium concentration/​effect" is not
linear for any type of cytogenetical damages. At the concentration of cadmium
0.89 x 10(/​7) M its influence on formation of division spindle is weakened and
the frequency of chromosome aberrations is reducing in comparison with the
control and with the effects induced at lower concentrations of cadmium in
solution (0.89 x 10(/​8) M). Cadmium in high concentration (5.34 x 10(/​5) M)
causes significant toxic and mutagenic effects.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
English Abstract

PMID: 16398149 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

53: Genome. 2005 Dec;48(6):1052/​60.

Comparative genomic analyses in Asparagus.

Kuhl JC, Havey MJ, Martin WJ, Cheung F, Yuan Q, Landherr L, Hu Y, Leebens/​Mack
J, Town CD, Sink KC.

Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA