No abstract

Six genes, which encode enzymes involved in ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthesis, including guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP), GDP-mannose-3',5'-epimerase (GME), GDP-galactose guanylyltransferase (GGT), L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPP), L-galactose dehydrogenase (GDH) and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH) were transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana, to evaluate the contribution of each gene to AsA accumulation. Additionally, two combinations, GGT-GPP and GGT-GLDH, were co-transformed into Arabidopsis with a reliable double-gene transformation system. AsA content of GGT transgenic lines was 2.9-fold higher as compared to the control, and co-transformation led up to 4.1-fold AsA enhancement. These results provided further evidence that GGT is the key enzyme in plant AsA biosynthesis.Additional key words: GDP-L-galactose guanyltransferase, transgenic plants, vitamin C.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of mild heat treatment, storage temperature and storage time on the survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated onto cut iceberg lettuce leaves. Methods and Results: Before or after inoculation with L. monocytogenes, cut iceberg lettuce leaves were dipped in water (20 or 50°C), containing or not 20 mg l -1 chlorine, for 90 s, then stored at 5°C for up to 18 days or 15°C for up to 7 days. The presence of 20 mg l -1 chlorine in the treatment water did not significantly (a ¼ 0AE05) affect populations of the pathogen, regardless of other test parameters. The population of L. monocytogenes on lettuce treated at 50°C steadily increased throughout storage at 5°C for up to 18 days. At day 10 and thereafter, populations were 1AE7-2AE3 log 10 cfu g -1 higher on lettuce treated at 50°C after inoculation compared with untreated lettuce or lettuce treated at 20°C, regardless of chlorine treatment. The population of L. monocytogenes increased rapidly on lettuce stored at 15°C. At 2 and 4 days, significantly higher populations were detected on lettuce that had been treated at 50°C, compared with respective samples that had been treated at 20°C, regardless of inoculation before or after treatment, or the presence of 20 mg l -1 chlorine in the treatment water. Conclusions:The results clearly demonstrated that mild heat treatment of cut lettuce leaves enhances the growth of L. monocytogenes during subsequent storage at 5 or 15°C. Significance and Impact of the Study: Mild heat treatment of cut lettuce may result in a prolonged shelf life as a result of delaying the development of brown discoloration. However, heat treatment also facilitates the growth of L. monocytogenes during storage at refrigeration temperature, thereby increasing the potential risk of causing listeriosis.

In order to increase tocopherol content, genes encoding Arabidopsis homogentisate phytyltransferase (HPT) and γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) were constitutively over-expressed in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. logifolia), alone or in combination. Over-expression of hpt could increase total tocopherol content, while over-expression of γ-tmt could shift tocopherol composition in favor of α-tocopherol. Transgenic lettuce lines expressing both hpt and γ-tmt produced significantly higher amount of tocopherol and elevated α-/γ-tocopherol ratio compared with non-transgenic control and transgenic lines harboring a single gene (hpt or γ-tmt). The best line produced eight times more tocopherol than the non-transgenic control and more than twice than hpt single-gene transgenic line.

For the first time, we show that Cry 2 rs2292910 and MTNR1B rs3781638 are associated with osteoporosis in a Chinese geriatric cohort. Therefore, targeting the abnormalities of the CRY2 and MTNR1B genes may be a potential strategy to treat and/or to prevent osteoporosis.