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The present study was aimed at developing an efficient protocol for callus induction from the leaves of Moringa oleifera and to investigate its crude extract antileukemia activity on leukemia cells. Several secondary metabolites are present in M. oleifera as the plant serves as reservoirs for various bioactive compounds. Callus cultures of M. oleifera were induced from leaf explants incubated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The crude extracts of the callus were evaluated in vitro for their activity against leukemia cells and hepatocarcinoma. Among the different concentrations, 2,4-D at 0.1 mg/l induced highest frequencies of callus growth index (7.8) when compared with other concentrations. Ethanolic extracts killed about 36% of abnormal cells among primary cells harvested from 3 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and hepatocarcinoma cells HpG2. These results provide an in vitro evidence and support the traditional use of M. oleifera leaf as a potent source of anticancer. However, more researches are needed at phytochemical and clinical levels to confirm the traditional use of this plant as anticancer. Keywords: Moinga olifera , callus culture, antileukemia, hepatocarcinoma

Background In Arabidopsis thaliana and other crucifers, the glucosinolate-myrosinase system contributes to resistance against herbivory by generalist insects. As yet, it is unclear how crucifers defend themselves against crucifer-specialist insect herbivores. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed natural variation for resistance against two crucifer specialist lepidopteran herbivores, Pieris brassicae and Plutella xylostella, among Arabidopsis thaliana accessions and in a new Arabidopsis recombinant inbred line (RIL) population generated from the parental accessions Da(1)-12 and Ei-2. This RIL population consists of 201 individual F8 lines genotyped with 84 PCR-based markers. We identified six QTL for resistance against Pieris herbivory, but found only one weak QTL for Plutella resistance. To elucidate potential factors causing these resistance QTL, we investigated leaf hair (trichome) density, glucosinolates and myrosinase activity, traits known to influence herbivory by generalist insects. We identified several previously unknown QTL for these traits, some of which display a complex pattern of epistatic interactions. Conclusions/Significance Although some trichome, glucosinolate or myrosinase QTL co-localize with Pieris QTL, none of these traits explained the resistance QTL convincingly, indicating that resistance against specialist insect herbivores is influenced by other traits than resistance against generalists.

Popular advice for healthy diets that may promote health and longevity include the daily consumption of at least three servings of fruits or vegetables and the variation of foods to include items derived from different plants and those plants should belong to different botanical families (Thompson H.J. et al., 1999). Ancient civilisations in the Middle East and in America included grain legumes and cereals in well-balanced diets. In the funeral offerings found in the Egyptian pyramids various legume seeds were present, including lentils and grass pea. Apparently, legumes were a food of special consideration to be offered to kings, in contrast to the present day reputation of being the meat of the poor, with 75% of all legumes now being produced in developing countries. Excavations of ancient settlements indicate the use of both cereals and legumes (Mahler-Slasky & Kislev, 2010). A well balanced food basket promoting health and strength may have given an evolutionary advantage. The benefits of legume cultivation for soil fertility were already recognised in the 4th century BC (Flint-Hamilton, 1999). Legumes are important factors in the natural cycle of nitrogen, being able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria. This enables the leguminous plants to thrive on poor soil, which makes them essential partners in the maintenance of soil fertility, and to produce protein-rich seeds. However, maintenance of optimum rates of nitrogen fixation requires continued attention by plant breeders (Provorov & Tikhonovich, 2003). Legumes are also unusually diverse in their defence against predators by producing a large array of secondary metabolites forming their chemical armoury. Those metabolites include anti-nutrients such as inhibitors of digestion and compounds interfering with predator’s metabolism reaching as far as brain function and hormonal control (Rozan et al., 2000). Interestingly, some of these metabolites are beneficial by their inhibition of human cancer cells or by antioxidant activity that can delay ageing. Although legumes have many beneficial properties, they are not a well balanced food by themselves because of deficiencies in some essential amino acids, and should not be the sole component of the food basket. In combination with cereals that are richer in those essential amino acids which are deficient in legumes such as methionine, cysteine and tryptophan, legumes are beneficial for human health and for the world’s ecology. The optimum protein quality is approximated when 60-70% cereals are mixed with 30-40% cooked legumes. This would produce a combined quality of protein comparable with meat (Bressani & Elias, 1974).

The soybean seeds (Glycine max) originate from north-eastern Asian regions, especially China and Korea and, since its introduction to American colonies in 1765 (Hymowitz and Harlan 1983), its consumption has been worldwide spread. Soybeans are an economically important crop, which has been traditionally used for animal feed as well as for human food. In this field, soy has been a valuable resource for humankind by providing excellent proteins and other nutrients and, in many countries, soybeans and soy-based foods are considered as a staple food thanks to its low cost and high availability (Khetarpaul et al. 2004). Presently, in the market, there are several soy-based products and ingredients such as soy sauce, tofu, soy protein, soy-based beverages and fermented foods, like miso, tempeh, natto, etc. Besides the excellent nutritional properties such as the high protein content and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as the absence of cholesterol and lactose; soy has demonstrated to provide a preventive effect in the occurrence and development of several common diseases. In the developed countries, the incidence and prevalence of illnesses like diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases, among others, are becoming highly important and some of them constitute the leading causes of mortality. Generally, oxidative damage, inflammatory responses or lipid accumulation as well as other more complex biochemical processes are involved in the disease development mechanisms. Scientific studies have revealed that most of these illnesses are strongly related to genetic and/or environmental factors. In this field, the diet has shown to play an important role in preventing the appearance or even reducing the associated symptoms. The lower incidence of these diseases in eastern societies, where the soy consumption is considerably high, remarks the importance of diet and highlights the beneficial properties of soy. Many of the soy benefices have been attributed to the occurrence of several kinds of phytochemicals, such as isoflavones, soyasaponins, phytates, or protease inhibitors. These bioactive compounds seem to provide a preventive effect by means of reducing or even inhibiting the mechanisms of the disease development. Hence, some of their most important properties, for instance, the antioxidant, the antiinflammatory or the estrogenic activities, may be involved in the disease prevention.

ObjectivesCurrent models of transgene dispersal focus on gene flow via pollen while neglecting seed, a vital vehicle for gene flow in centers of crop origin and diversity. We analyze the dispersal of maize transgenes via seeds in Mexico, the crop's cradle.MethodsWe use immunoassays (ELISA) to screen for the activity of recombinant proteins in a nationwide sample of farmer seed stocks. We estimate critical parameters of seed population dynamics using household survey data and combine these estimates with analytical results to examine presumed sources and mechanisms of dispersal.ResultsRecombinant proteins Cry1Ab/Ac and CP4/EPSPS were found in 3.1% and 1.8% of samples, respectively. They are most abundant in southeast Mexico but also present in the west-central region. Diffusion of seed and grain imported from the United States might explain the frequency and distribution of transgenes in west-central Mexico but not in the southeast.ConclusionsUnderstanding the potential for transgene survival and dispersal should help design methods to regulate the diffusion of germplasm into local seed stocks. Further research is needed on the interactions between formal and informal seed systems and grain markets in centers of crop origin and diversification.

The red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, is an invasive species, accidentally introduced in the United States that can cause painful (sometimes life-threatening) stings to human, pets, and livestock. Their colonies have two social forms: monogyne and polygyne that have a single and multiple functional queens, respectively. A major gene (Gp-9), identified as a putative pheromone-binding protein on the basis of a modest amino acid sequence identity, has been suggested to influence the expression of colony social organization. Monogyne queens are reported to possess only the GP-9B alleles, whereas polygyne queens possess both GP-9B and GP-9b. Thus, both social forms are reported to express GP-9B, with GP-9b being a marker expressed in polygynes but it is absent in monogynes. Here, we report two types of polygyne colonies, one that does not express GP-9b (monogyne-like) and the other expressing both proteins, GP-9B and GP-9b. Given their expression pattern, GP-9s are hemolymph proteins, which are more likely to be involved in the transport of lipids and small ligands within the homocoel. GP-9B existed in two forms, one of them is phosphorylated. The helical-rich content of the protein resembles the secondary structures of a beetle hemolymph protein and moth pheromone-binding proteins. An olfactory role is unlikely given the lack of specific expression in the sensillar lymph. In marked contrast to GP-9s, a chemosensory protein, SinvCSP, is demonstrated to be specifically expressed in the antennae. Within the antennae, expression of SinvCSP is restricted to the last two segments, which are known to house olfactory sensilla.

International audience; G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signal through a limited number of G-protein pathways and play crucial roles in many biological processes. Studies of their in vivo functions have been hampered by the molecular and functional diversity of GPCRs and the paucity of ligands with specific signaling effects. To better compare the effects of activating different G-protein signaling pathways through ligand-induced or constitutive signaling, we developed a new series of RASSLs (receptors activated solely by synthetic ligands) that activate different G-protein signaling pathways. These RASSLs are based on the human 5-HT(4b) receptor, a GPCR with high constitutive G(s) signaling and strong ligand-induced G-protein activation of the G(s) and G(s/q) pathways. The first receptor in this series, 5-HT(4)-D(100)A or Rs1 (RASSL serotonin 1), is not activated by its endogenous agonist, serotonin, but is selectively activated by the small synthetic molecules GR113808, GR125487, and RO110-0235. All agonists potently induced G(s) signaling, but only a few (e.g., zacopride) also induced signaling via the G(q) pathway. Zacopride-induced G(q) signaling was enhanced by replacing the C-terminus of Rs1 with the C-terminus of the human 5-HT(2C) receptor. Additional point mutations (D(66)A and D(66)N) blocked constitutive G(s) signaling and lowered ligand-induced G(q) signaling. Replacing the third intracellular loop of Rs1 with that of human 5-HT(1A) conferred ligand-mediated G(i) signaling. This G(i)-coupled RASSL, Rs1.3, exhibited no measurable signaling to the G(s) or G(q) pathway. These findings show that the signaling repertoire of Rs1 can be expanded and controlled by receptor engineering and drug selection.