Disease relevance of Citrullus

• AIM: To determine the efficacy of octreotide in patients with long-standing gastrointestinal bleeding due to acquired angiodysplasia and watermelon stomach, resistant to previous treatments and not suitable for surgery because of old age and/or concomitant disorders [1].
• RNA helicase II/Gu (RH II/Gu) is a mammalian nucleolar RNA helicase previously identified using an autoimmune serum from a patient with watermelon stomach disease [2].
• Molecular cloning of a cysteine synthase cDNA from Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) by genetic complementation in an Escherichia coli Cys- auxotroph [3].
• The open reading frames (ORFs) of NPs of different serogroups of tospoviruses, including Tomato spotted wilt virus, Impatiens necrotic spot virus, Watermelon silver mottle virus, Peanut bud necrosis virus, and Watermelon bud necrosis virus (WBNV), were in frame inserted in between the P1 and HC-Pro genes of the ZYMV vector [4].
• Body-weight gain in phytate-fed rats was 80 % greater in the watermelon skin fibre and yam-bean root fibre group than that in the cellulose group [5].

High impact information on Citrullus

• Mutational analysis of the N-terminal topogenic signal of watermelon glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase using the heterologous host Hansenula polymorpha [6].
• Molecular cloning and characterization of a plant serine acetyltransferase playing a regulatory role in cysteine biosynthesis from watermelon [7].
• A multi-enzyme complex was formed from recombinant proteins of SATase and cysteine synthase (O-acetylserine(thiol)-lyase) from watermelon, suggesting efficient metabolic channeling from serine to cysteine, preventing the diffusion of intermediary O-acetyl-L-serine [7].
• METHODS: Melon, zucchini, cucumber, and watermelon allergens were identified by means of IgE immunoblotting of sera from 21 patients with OAS after melon ingestion confirmed by means of double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge [8].
• In a transient expression system, beta-glucuronidase staining was detectable only in the integument tissues of developing watermelon seeds [9].

Biological context of Citrullus

• There was <4% sequence colinearity surrounding the watermelon and cucumber atp9 coding regions, and the much smaller watermelon mitochondrial genome possessed no significant amounts of cucumber repetitive DNAs [10].
• The genomic clones of Sat gene encoding serine acetyltransferase (SATase), a key enzyme in cysteine biosynthesis in plants, were isolated from the genomic library of Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) [11].
• Despite carrying out C3 photosynthesis, wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus sp.) exhibits exceedingly good tolerance to severe drought at high light intensities [12].
• In summary, three different amino acid residues have been modified in the active site domain of watermelon isocitrate lyase [13].
• PCR primer pairs flanking seven SSR loci were used to amplify SSRs from 32 morphologically variable watermelon genotypes from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Mexico and a single accession of Citrullus colocynthis from Chad [14].

Anatomical context of Citrullus

• The predicted amino-terminal sequence of pumpkin gCS was highly homologous to those of other microbody enzymes, such as 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase of rat and malate dehydrogenase of watermelon that are also synthesized as precursors of higher molecular mass [15].
• In vivo uptake of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase from watermelon by mitochondria of Xenopus laevis oocytes [16].
• In this study, we characterized wild watermelon cytochrome b561 (cyt b561), which potentially mediates regeneration of apoplastic ascorbate by transferring electrons from cytosolic ascorbate across the plasma membrane [12].
• The biosynthesis of bryonolic acid from mevalonic acid via isomultiflorenol has been elucidated by tracer and enzymological experiments using cultured cells of watermelon both in vitro and in vivo [17].

Associations of Citrullus with chemical compounds

• Glyoxysomal malate dehydrogenase from watermelon is synthesized with an amino-terminal transit peptide [18].
• Peroxisomal copper, zinc superoxide dismutase. Characterization of the isoenzyme from watermelon cotyledons [19].
• Drought-tolerant wild watermelon accumulates high levels of citrulline in the leaves in response to drought conditions [20].
• All 23 subjects consumed the W-20 (20.1 mg/d lycopene, 2.5 mg/d beta-carotene from watermelon juice) and C-0 treatments (controlled diet, no juice) [21].
• Citrulline, a novel compatible solute in drought-tolerant wild watermelon leaves, is an efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger [20].

Gene context of Citrullus

• The expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAL1 gene increases salt tolerance in transgenic watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun. & Nakai.] [22].
• We have cloned and sequenced the watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) cDNA homologue to the PTS1 receptor gene (PEX5) [23].
• We cloned and sequenced mitochondrial genomic regions near the rRNA, atp9 and cob genes from cucumber, melon, squash and watermelon (all members of the Cucurbitaceae family), and compared to the previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of Arabidopsis thaliana and sugar beet to study the distribution and arrangement of coding and repetitive DNAs [24].
• We made the transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing point-mutated watermelon SATase gene whose product was not inhibited by L-cysteine [25].
• Immunodiagnosis of groundnut and watermelon bud necrosis viruses using polyclonal antiserum to recombinant nucleocapsid protein of Groundnut bud necrosis virus [26].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Citrullus

• A C(18) reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed to analyze the concentration of 2-O-beta-D-glycopyranosyl-cucurbitacin E (synonym, elaterinide) in juice or reconstituted residues of juice derived from a bitter mutant of Hawkesbury watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai [27].
• The watermelon stomach: successful treatment by monopolar electrocoagulation and endoscopic injection of polidocanol [28].
• Rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method to quantitate elaterinide in juice and reconstituted residues from a bitter mutant of hawkesbury watermelon [27].
• Wild watermelon serves as a suitable model system to study drought responses of C3 plants, since this plant survives drought by maintaining its water content without any wilting of leaves or desiccation even under severe drought conditions [29].
• Bioassays for detection of aldicarb in watermelon [30].

References