Sulfur is in the Air: Cyanolichen Marriages and Pollution.

Cyanolichens are symbiotic organisms involving cyanobacteria and fungi (bipartite) or with the addition of an algal partner (tripartite). Cyanolichens are known for their heightened susceptibility to environmental pollution. We focus here on the impacts on cyanolichens due to rising air pollution; we are especially interested in the role of sulfur dioxide on cyanolichen biology.

Genetic, Structural, Physicochemical, and Molecular Epidemiological Landscape of Three New Mutations Found in the Spike (S) Protein of Highly Transmissible Sri Lankan Delta Variant Sub-lineage AY.28: A222V, A701S, and A1078S.

Recently, three new mutations were identified in Sri Lanka in the spike protein of the rapidly spreading delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus identified by the sublineage AY.28. They were A222V, A701S, and A1078S.

Cyanotoxins uptake and accumulation in crops: Phytotoxicity and implications on human health.

The invasive nature of cyanotoxin-producing cyanobacteria and the adverse effects concerning their toxic impacts have gained heightened scientific attention of late. The persistence of cyanotoxins in irrigation water leads to bioaccumulation in plants, the development of phytotoxic effects, and the threat of groundwater contamination. The accumulation of cyanotoxins in plants is caused by several factors leading to severe toxic effects, including reduced plant growth and seed germination, enhanced oxidative stress, lowered rate of mineral uptake, decreased photosynthetic efficiency, and loss of chlorophyll content.

An Study of Two Transcription Factors Controlling Diazotrophic Fates of the Major Cyanobiont .

The cyanobiont lives symbiotically within fronds of the genus Azolla, and assimilates atmospheric nitrogen upon N-limitation, which earmarks this symbiosis to be a valuable biofertilizer in rice cultivation, among many other benefits that also include carbon sequestration. Therefore, studying the regulation of nitrogen fixation in is of great importance and benefit, especially the two topmost rungs of regulation, the NtcA and HetR transcription factors that are able to regulate the expression of myriads of downstream genes. Bioinformatics tools were used to zoom in on the NtcA and HetR transcription factors from to elaborate on what makes this particular cyanobiont different from other symbiotic as well as more distinct counterparts, in their commitment to nitrogen fixation.

An Exploration of Common Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Cyanobiont of the Symbiosis and Clues as to Nod Factors in Cyanobacteria.

is a genus of aquatic ferns that engages in a unique symbiosis with a cyanobiont that is resistant to cultivation. spp. are earmarked as a possible candidate to mitigate greenhouse gases, in particular, carbon dioxide.

Preparation of Functional, Fluorescently Labeled mRNA Capped with Anthraniloyl-m(7)GpppG.

Fluorescent mRNA molecules offer a wide range of applications for studying capping/decapping reactions, translation, and other biophysical studies. Furthermore, fluorescent tags prove invaluable for tracking RNA molecules in cells. Here, we describe an efficient synthesis of a fluorescent cap analog, anthranioyl-GTP, its purification, and in vitro cap labeling of transcribed mRNA catalyzed by the recombinant vaccinia capping enzyme to produce anthranioyl-m(7)GpppG-capped RNA.

PDZ Binding Domains, Structural Disorder and Phosphorylation: A Menage-a-trois Tailing Dcp2 mRNA Decapping Enzymes.

Diverse cellular activities are mediated through the interaction of protein domains and their binding partners. One such protein domain widely distributed in the higher metazoan world is the PDZ domain, which facilitates abundant protein-protein interactions. The PDZ domain-PDZ binding domain interaction has been implicated in several pathologies including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Down syndrome.

Efficient preparation and properties of mRNAs containing a fluorescent cap analog: Anthraniloyl-m(7)GpppG.

A method has been developed for synthesising fluorescently labeled capped mRNA. The method incorporates a single fluorescent molecule as part of the 5'-mRNA or oligonucleotide cap site. The fluorescent molecule, Ant-m(7)GTP is specifically incorporated into the cap site to yield Ant-m(7)GpppG-capped mRNA or oligonucleotide.

Identification of functional domains in Arabidopsis thaliana mRNA decapping enzyme (AtDcp2).

The Arabidopsis thaliana decapping enzyme (AtDcp2) was characterized by bioinformatics analysis and by biochemical studies of the enzyme and mutants produced by recombinant expression. Three functionally significant regions were detected: (i) a highly disordered C-terminal region with a putative PSD-95, Discs-large, ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-binding motif, (ii) a conserved Nudix box constituting the putative active site and (iii) a putative RNA binding domain consisting of the conserved Box B and a preceding loop region. Mutation of the putative PDZ domain-binding motif improved the stability of recombinant AtDcp2 and secondary mutants expressed in Escherichia coli.

Structure and substrate-binding mechanism of human Ap4A hydrolase.

Asymmetric diadenosine 5',5'''-P(1),P(4)-tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) hydrolases play a major role in maintaining homeostasis by cleaving the metabolite diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) back into ATP and AMP. The NMR solution structures of the 17-kDa human asymmetric Ap(4)A hydrolase have been solved in both the presence and absence of the product ATP. The adenine moiety of the nucleotide predominantly binds in a ring stacking arrangement equivalent to that observed in the x-ray structure of the homologue from Caenorhabditis elegans.