Adaptation to pollination by fungus gnats underlies the evolution of pollination syndrome in the genus Euonymus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Dipteran insects are known pollinators of many angiosperms, but knowledge on how flies affect floral evolution is relatively scarce. Some plants pollinated by fungus gnats share a unique set of floral characters (dark red display, flat shape and short stamens), which differs from any known pollination syndromes. We tested whether this set of floral characters is a pollination syndrome associated with pollination by fungus gnats, using the genus Euonymus as a model.

METHODS

The pollinator and floral colour, morphology and scent profile were investigated for ten Euonymus species and Tripterygium regelii as an outgroup. The flower colour was evaluated using bee and fly colour vision models. The evolutionary association between fungus gnat pollination and each plant character was tested using a phylogenetically independent contrast. The ancestral state reconstruction was performed on flower colour, which is associated with fungus gnat pollination, to infer the evolution of pollination in the genus Euonymus.

KEY RESULTS

The red-flowered Euonymus species were pollinated predominantly by fungus gnats, whereas the white-flowered species were pollinated by bees, beetles and brachyceran flies. The colour vision analysis suggested that red and white flowers are perceived as different colours by both bees and flies. The floral scents of the fungus gnat-pollinated species were characterized by acetoin, which made up >90 % of the total scent in three species. Phylogenetically independent contrast showed that the evolution of fungus gnat pollination is associated with acquisition of red flowers, short stamens and acetoin emission.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the observed combination of floral characters is a pollination syndrome associated with the parallel evolution of pollination by fungus gnats. Although the role of the red floral display and acetoin in pollinator attraction remains to be elucidated, our finding underscores the importance of fungus gnats as potential contributors to floral diversification.

Instantaneous sap flow velocity simulation of Euonymus bungeanus based on neural network optimization model

The sap flow of trees is complex and difficult to express with multivariate linear or empirical models. A simple and feasible method on the basis of understanding sap flow variation to simulate its variation with environmental factors is of special importance for quantitatively analyzing forest ecohydrological processes and regional water demand. In this study, with one of the shelter forest species Euonymus bungeanus in the east sandy land of Yellow River in Ningxia as the research object, we continuously measured the trunk sap flow velocity by thermal diffusion sap flow meter, and analyzed the effects of environmental factors on stem sap flow. We used the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and sparrow search algorithm (SSA) optimized neural network model to predict sap flow velocity of E. bungeanus. Results showed that the main environmental factors influencing sap flow were solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, air temperature, and relative humidity, with the influencing importance of 32.5%, 25.3%, 22.0% and 16.1%, respectively. The response process between sap flow and environmental factors presented a hysteresis loop relationship. The optimized BP, Elman and ELM neural network models improved the comprehensive evaluation index (GPI) by 1.5%, 30.0% and 5.3%, respectively. Compared with the PSO-Elman and SSA-ELM optimization models, the SSA-BP optimization model had the best prediction results with an improvement of 1.0% and 23.2% in GPI, respectively. Therefore, the prediction results of the BP neural network model based on the sparrow search algorithm could be used as an optimal model for predicting instantaneous sap flow velocity of E. bungeanus.

Influence of exposure history on the particle retention capacity and physiological responses of Euonymus japonicus Thunb. var. aurea-marginatus Hort

Green plants in urban environments experience cyclical particulate matter stress. And this history of exhaust exposure may generate stress memory in plants, which may alter their subsequent response. Studies combining urban pollution characteristics and stress memory are limited. Therefore, we selected E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus, a common urban greening tree species in the Yangtze River Delta, and conducted an experiment in three periods: the initial pollution period (S1: 28 days), the recovery period (R: 14 days) and the secondary pollution period (S2: 28 days). The experimental design consisted of an elevated pollution treatment (173 μg•cm^-3) and an ambient control (34 μg•cm^-3) with three replicates. In S2, the net total particle retention and saturated particle retention decreased by 11.5% and 19.3%, respectively, while PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 did not change significantly. E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus exhibited recovery of chlorophyll levels, slower degradation of carotenoid, faster accumulation of ASA, lower accumulation of MDA, reduced activity of SOD under the second pollution period, and the period had a significant effect on the physiological indicators. Collectively, the effect of autoexhaust exposure history on the particle retention capacity of selected plant varied across particle sizes, and stress memory may confer plant resistance to recurrent exhaust pollution via combined regulations of physiological responses. Fine particles which pose a great risk to human health arise predominantly from vehicular traffic and energy production. So, E. japonicus tends to play a stabilising role in particle retention in industrial, traffic and residential areas.

Dynamics of particle retention and physiology in Euonymus japonicus Thunb. var. aurea-marginatus Hort. with severe exhaust exposure under continuous drought

Frequent drought events and particulate matter pollution from vehicular exhaust seriously affect urban plant growth and provisioning of ecological services. Yet, how plants respond physiologically and morphologically to these two combined stressors remains unknown. Here, we assessed particle retention dynamics and plant morphology and physiology of Euonymus japonicus Thunb. var. aurea-marginatus Hort. under continuous drought with severe exhaust exposure. Our results showed that continuous drought insignificantly lowered particle retention in each of three size fractions by 1.02 μg·cm^-2 on average in the first 28 days, but significantly lowered total particle retention by 35.75 μg·cm^-2 on the 35th day. We observed evident changes in morphology, leaf mass per area (LMA), pigments, gas exchange in all stressed plants. Compared with single stress, combined drought and pollution caused earlier yellowing and shedding of old leaves, significantly lowered LMA by 1.21 mg·cm^-2, caused a greater decline in pigments and net photosynthetic rate (P_n). Large particles may mainly explain pigment reduction, lower weekly LMA increases, and stomatal restriction, while coarse particles may be the main drivers of the decline in P_n. Continuous drought mediated the influence of all three particle sizes on some parameters, such as weakening the impact of total particles on LMA, strengthening the impact of fine particles on photosynthesis. Our findings suggest that drought accelerates the physiological responses of plants to exhaust pollution. Under controlled severe exhaust pollution conditions, the optimal time to maintain high particle retention during continuous drought without decline in physiological conditions for E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus was 14 days. Some additional interventions after 14 days (it could be postponed appropriately under field conditions) may help ensure healthy growth of plants and retention of particulate matter.

One new sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid from the stems and leaves of Euonymus fortunei

A new sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid (1), along with four known compounds (2-5), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Euonymus fortunei. The new structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, UV, NMR, HRESIMS and ECD). In addition, compound 3 showed a stronger anti-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity with an IC₅₀ value of 1.20 ± 0.10 µM than the positive control ribavirin with an IC₅₀ value of 5.62 ± 0.49 µM.[Formula: see text].

Euonymus alatus extract attenuates LPS-induced NF-κB activation via IKKβ inhibition in RAW 264.7 cells

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects with the extract of Euonymus alatus (EEA), and specially focused on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway by targeting the IκB kinase β (IKKβ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of EEA for IKKβ activity was analyzed using an immobilized metal affinity for phosphochemicals (IMAP)-based time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) assay. The effect of EEA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-κB activation in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with western blotting and immunofluorescent staining was evaluated.

RESULTS

IKKβ studies based on IMAP-TR-FRET showed that EEA possesses a potent IKKβ inhibitory activity with IC(50) value of 11.83μg/ml. EEA (10, 30μg/ml) also attenuated the LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation/degradation, NF-κB translocation and subsequent NO synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that EEA abrogates LPS-induced NF-κB signaling pathway by targeting the IKKβ in RAW 264.7 cells and these properties may provide a molecular basis for understanding the inhibitory effects of EEA on LPS-mediated inflammation.

Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus IE gene expression by dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species

The development of strategies intended to inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early (IE) antigen expression is an important goal in research designed to prevent and treat certain forms of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify potent IE antigen-targeting natural compounds as antitumor promoters in an in vitro model of tumor promotion. Nineteen dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HCMV IE antigen expression in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Five esters of penta- and hexahydroxydihydro-beta-agarofuran proved to be active components in these Euonymus species, inhibiting the IE antigen expression of HCMV. The highest activity was displayed by 2beta,6alpha,15-triacetoxy1beta-benzoyloxy-9alpha-nicotinoyloxydihydro-beta-agarofuran. These effective compounds may be regarded as prototypes of antitumor promoters, as secondary chemopreventive agents which can modify or halt tumor promotion in general.

Two new coumarins from Euonymus hamiltonianus

Two new coumarins, named Euonidiol (1) and Euoniside (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euonymus hamiltonianus.

Euonymus alatus prevents the hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet in ICR mice

Euonymus alatus (EA), known as a Gui Jeon Wu in China, has been used as a folk medicine for regulating blood circulation, relieving pain, eliminating blood clot, and treating dysmenorrhea in Asian countries. Although EA has anecdotally ascertained to show the anti-hyperglycemic activity by enhancing insulin secretion, there is no sufficient experimental evidence for anti-hyperglycemic activity of EA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effect of 50% ethanol extract of EA in high-fat diet-induced hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic ICR mice. At 6 week old, the ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups; two control and three treatment groups. The control mice was to receive either a regular diet (RD) or high-fat diet (HFD), and the treatment groups were fed a high-fat diet with either 350, 700 mg/kg of EA (EA350 and EA700) or 250 mg/kg of metformin (MET250) for a 10-week period. EA not only reduced body weight in a dose dependent manner, but also corrected associated hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. EA exerted beneficial effects on glucose and lipid homeostasis in diabetes that are not secondary to its ability to decrease food intake but its specific effects on hepatic lipogenesis related genes (SREBPla, FAS, GAPT) and PPAR-gamma gene expression in periepididymal fat. Taken together, the combined effect of EA to reduce plasma glucose and lipid levels, and reduce the deposition of triglyceride in the liver are indicative of a marked improvement in obesity-related diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Laxifolone A suppresses LPS/IFN-gamma-induced NO synthesis by attenuating NF-kappaB translocation: role of NF-kappaB p105 level

Laxifolone A is a triterpene isolated from Euonymus laxiflorus Champ. Exposure of RAW264.7 macrophages to laxifolone A concentration-dependently suppressed lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN-gamma)-induced nitrite production (IC50 = 0.37 +/- 0.05 microM), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein, and iNOS mRNA expression. Translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) into the nucleus with subsequent activation of iNOS gene transcription is essential in NO signaling. Western blot analysis indicated that the cytosolic NF-kappaB/p65 was obviously decreased after LPS/IFN-gamma stimulation for 30 min and this phenomenon could be reversed by laxifolone A. Similarly, a time-related NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear translocation induced by LPS/IFN-gamma was diminished in the presence of laxifolone A. However, laxifolone A failed to interfere in LPS/IFN-gamma-evoked IkappaB degradation. Our results also showed that LPS/IFN-gamma-stimulation resulted in the degradation of NF-kappaB p105, the NF-kappaB precursor, and laxifolone A treatment significantly counteracted this effect. Furthermore, laxifolone A itself was able to enhance NF-kappaB p105 protein expression. In summary, these results suggest that inhibition of NF-kappaB p105 degradation in cytoplasm may participate in the abrogation of LPS/IFN-gamma-induced NF-kappaB translocation and subsequent NO synthesis by laxifolone A.

Inhibitory Effects ofScutellaria BarbataD. Don. andEuonymus Alatus Sieb. on Aromatase Activity of Human Leiomyomal Cells

It is now well documented that a large proportion of breast tumors express their own aromatase. This intratumoral aromatase produces estrogen in situ and therefore may contribute significantly to the amount of estrogen to which the cell is exposed. Thus it is not only important that aromatase inhibitors potently inhibit the peripheral production of estrogen and eliminate the external supply of estrogen to the tumor cell, but that they in addition potently inhibit intratumoral aromatase and prevent the tumor cell from making its own estrogen within the cell. To study the inhibition of intracellular aromatase, we have examined the aromatase-inhibiting potency of the Scutellaria barbata D. Don. (SB) and Euonymus alatus Sieb. (EA) in myometrial and leiomyomal cells which contain aromatase. We have also used human placental tissues. Although SB and EA are approximately equipotent in a cell-free aromatase system (human placental microsomes), EA is consistently 10-30 times more potent than SB in inhibiting intracellular aromatase in myometrial and leiomyomal cells. To provide insights into the effect of SB and EA on aromatase activity in leiomyomal cells, we examined the cell lines, which is induced to differentiate toward the more transformed cell phenotype by 12-tetradecanoylphorbal-13-acetate (TPA) as a protein kinase C activator and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Enzyme activity was inhibited in a time-and dose-dependent fashion by SB and EA and by either 1-50 nM TPA or 0.01-0.5 ng/ml TGF-beta1, with maximal responses after 2-3 h exposure.

Six new sesquiterpenes from Euonymus nanoides and their antitumor effects

Six new dihydro-beta-agarofuran [5,11-epoxy-5beta,10alpha-eudesm-4 (14)-ene] sesquiterpenes were isolated from the seeds of Euonymus nanoides Loes, including five with a novel substitution pattern: (1 R,2 S,4 S,5 R,7 R,9 S,10 R)-1alpha-benzoyloxy-2alpha,15-diacetoxy-4beta-hydroxy-9beta-cinnamoyloxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 1), 1alpha-(alpha-methyl)-butanoyl-2alpha,15-diacetoxy-4beta-hydroxy-9beta-(beta-)furoyloxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 2), 1alpha,2alpha-di-(alpha-methyl)-butanoyl-4beta-hydroxy-9beta-(beta-)furoyloxy-15-acetoxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 3), 1alpha-(alpha-methyl)-butanoyl-2alpha-(alpha-methyl)-propynoyloxy-4beta-hydroxy-9beta-(beta-)furoyloxy-15-acetoxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 4) and 1alpha,2alpha, 9beta-tri-(beta-)furoyloxy-4beta-hydroxy-15-acetoxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 5). The other dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpene was 1alpha,2alpha,6beta,15-tetraacetoxy-3alpha-(alpha-methyl)-butanoyl-4beta-hydroxy-9beta-(beta-)furoyloxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran ( 6). The structures of 1 - 6 were elucidated by means of (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopic studies, including 2D heteronuclear COSY (HMQC), long-range correlation spectra with inverse detection (HMBC), (1)H- (1)H COSY and NOESY. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by application of the CD exciton chirality method. Six compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antitumor effects (IC (50) values: 27.71 - 50.69 microg/mL) and the structure-activity relationship is discussed.

Studies on Galalpha3-binding proteins: comparison of the glycosphingolipid binding specificities of Marasmius oreades lectin and Euonymus europaeus lectin

The carbohydrate binding preferences of the Galalpha3Galbeta4 GlcNAc-binding lectins from Marasmius oreades and Euonymus europaeus were examined by binding to glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatograms and in microtiter wells. The M. oreades lectin bound to Galalpha3-terminated glycosphingolipids with a preference for type 2 chains. The B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) was preferred over the B5 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer), suggesting that the alpha2-linked Fuc is accommodated in the carbohydrate binding site, providing additional interactions. The lectin from E. europaeus had broader binding specificity. The B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid was the best ligand also for this lectin, but binding to the B6 type 1 glycosphingolipid (Galalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta3GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) was also obtained. Furthermore, the H5 type 2 glycosphingolipid (Fucalpha2Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer), devoid of a terminal alpha3-linked Gal, was preferred over the the B5 glycosphingolipid, demonstrating a significant contribution to the binding affinity by the alpha2-linked Fuc. The more tolerant nature of the lectin from E. europaeus was also demonstrated by the binding of this lectin, but not the M. oreades lectin, to the x2 glycosphingolipid (GalNAcbeta3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) and GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer. The A6 type 2 glycosphingolipid (GalNAcalpha3[Fucalpha2]Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer) and GalNAcalpha3Galbeta4GlcNAcbeta3Galbeta4Glcbeta1-Cer were not recognized by the lectins despite the interaction with B6 type 2 glycosphingolipid and the B5 glycosphingolipid. These observations are explained by the absolute requirement of a free hydroxyl in the 2-position of Galalpha3 and that the E. europaea lectin can accommodate a GlcNAc acetamido moiety close to this position by reorienting the terminal sugar, whereas the M. oreades lectin cannot.

Biological activity of Euonymus europaeus

The n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Euonymus europaeus have been screened for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity. General toxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay) of these extracts has also been assessed.

Inhibitory effect of methanol extract of Euonymus alatus on matrix metalloproteinase-9

Various extracts prepared from stems of Euonymus alatus were tested for cytotoxic activity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep3B cells using the XTT assay method. Also, the extracts were investigated the inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity using gelatin zymography. The methanol extract, hexane and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited weak cytotoxic activity (IC(50) of >100 microg/ml). However, butanol (IC(50)=65 microg/ml) and chloroform (IC(50)=85 microg/ml) fraction exhibited strongly cytotoxic activity. Gelatin zymography showed that the Hep3B cells secreted matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), probably including MMP-9, which may be involved in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The butanol fraction showed stronger inhibitory effect of proteolytic activity than other fractions. Also, the butanol fraction was able to decrease the proteolytic activity of MMP-9 in a concentration-dependent manner on zymography. These results suggest that the butanol fraction from E. alatus has highly inhibitory effect on MMP-9 in comparatively low cytotoxicity.