Directed Evolution of Silicatein Reveals Biomineralization Synergism between Protein Sequences.

Biomineralization is a green synthesis route for a variety of metal nanoparticles. Silicatein is a biomineralization protein originally found in marine sponge that converts inorganic precursors to metal oxide nanoparticles. In this work, we investigate the popular catalytic triad hypothesis and implement directed evolution with the aim to improve the solubility and kinetics of silicatein to enable increased nanoparticle synthesis.

Fitness of Cuscuta salina (Convolvulaceae) parasitizing Beta vulgaris (Chenopodiaceae) grown under different salinity regimes.

The distribution of saltmarsh dodder (Cuscuta salina) worldwide is restricted to areas of high salinity, where it parasitizes a variety of salt-tolerant plants. Because dodders do not maintain root connections to the soil, this pattern of parasitization may be related to the effects of salt stress on the host that increase the ability of attached dodders to more easily transfer host contents. This study explored whether a saline host environment is required for successful infection and whether stem contents of potential hosts become more concentrated in response to salinity.