Varying the expression pattern of the strigolactone receptor gene results in phenotypes distinct from both wild type and knockout mutants.

The action of the petunia strigolactone (SL) hormone receptor DAD2 is dependent not only on its interaction with the PhMAX2A and PhD53A proteins, but also on its expression patterns within the plant. Previously, in a yeast-2-hybrid system, we showed that a series of a single and double amino acid mutants of DAD2 had altered interactions with these binding partners. In this study, we tested the mutants in two plant systems, and petunia.

Is mushroom polysaccharide extract a better fat replacer than dried mushroom powder for food applications?

Introduction: β-glucans found in the cell walls of mushrooms can be a beneficial food additive in replacing fat in commercial food products.

Methods: Four commonly consumed mushroom species in Singapore, i.e.

A Rapid qPCR for the Detection of MLST2 - A Highly Pathogenic Fungus on Kiwifruit.

A highly pathogenic fungus characterized as multilocus sequence type 2 (MLST2) is an emerging fungal pathogen causing Verticillium wilt on kiwifruit. Although MLST2 has not been reported outside Chile, there is a risk that this pathogen could spread through the global movement of germplasms to other countries. Current diagnostic methods for this fungus rely on a laborious and time-consuming plating assay for morphological identification and DNA sequence analysis.

Carotenoids, tocopherols and phylloquinone content of 26 green leafy vegetables commonly consumed in Southeast Asia.

Carotenoids, tocopherols and phylloquinone are highly valued in vegetables due to their potential health benefits. The profile of eight carotenoids, four tocopherols, and phylloquinone in 26 green leafy vegetables (GLV) commonly consumed in Southeast Asia were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS/MS). Lutein, β-carotene and α-tocopherol were the predominant carotenoids and tocopherol in the GLV.

Physicochemical and functional properties of red lentil protein isolates from three origins at different pH.

Red lentils (Lens culinaris) present an attractive raw material for meat mimics due to its red-coloured proteins, abundance, high protein and low cost. However, data on its functional properties at various pH remain scarce. In this study, the physicochemical and functional properties of red lentil proteins (RLP) from three origins (USA, Nepal and Turkey), isolated by isoelectric precipitation, were evaluated.

Nutritional metabolites in Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis var. parachinensis (choy sum) at three different growth stages: Microgreen, seedling and adult plant.

Choy sum is a commonly consumed Asian green leafy brassica vegetable. A comprehensive spectrum of nutritional important metabolites, including amino acids, plant sugars, essential minerals, vitamins (A, B, E, and K) and glucosinolates were systematically quantified using LC-QQQ-MS, GC-QQQ-MS and ICP-MS. Significant metabolic profile shifts were observed during the three major developmental stages (microgreen, seedling and adult) studied.

Datasets on spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals concentration in recent sediment at merang river system, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Heavy metal pollution in an aquatic environment has become of the main concern to the world due to their non-biodegradable properties, toxicity, persistence, and their ability to adsorb into food chains. With rapid industrialization and development nowadays, heavy metals are introduced continuously into the estuaries and coastal region through rivers, runoff, and land-based point sources. These heavy metals may degrade the aquatic environment and harm the living organisms and toward human indirection through secondary contact.

Flexibility of the petunia strigolactone receptor DAD2 promotes its interaction with signaling partners.

Strigolactones (SLs) are terpenoid-derived plant hormones that regulate various developmental processes, particularly shoot branching, root development, and leaf senescence. The SL receptor has an unusual mode of action. Upon binding SL, it hydrolyzes the hormone, and then covalently binds one of the hydrolytic products.

Simultaneous Quantification of 22 Glucosinolates in 12 Vegetables by Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Glucosinolates, which are unique to vegetables, have diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer actions. In this study, we applied hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) to the simultaneous quantification of 22 glucosinolates in 12 vegetables, including pak choi, choy sum, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Kai Lan, Brussels sprouts, rocket salad, daikon radish, red cherry radish, and watercress. Significant differences in concentration and composition of glucosinolates were observed among these vegetables.

Chemical synthesis and characterization of a new quinazolinedione competitive antagonist for strigolactone receptors with an unexpected binding mode.

Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional plant hormones regulating essential physiological processes affecting growth and development. In vascular plants, SLs are recognized by α/β hydrolase-fold proteins from the D14/DAD2 (Dwarf14/Decreased Apical Dominance 2) family in the initial step of the signaling pathway. We have previously discovered that -phenylanthranilic acid derivatives (e.

Characterization of Plant Volatiles Reveals Distinct Metabolic Profiles and Pathways among 12 Brassicaceae Vegetables.

Plants emit characteristic organic volatile compounds (VOCs) with diverse biological/ecological functions. However, the links between plant species/varieties and their phytochemical emission profiles remain elusive. Here, we developed a direct headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique and combined with non-targeted gas chromatography‒high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) platform to investigate the VOCs profiles of 12 common Brassicaceae vegetables (watercress, rocket, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kai lan, choy sum, pak choi, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, radish and cherry radish).

Profiling of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of 12 Cruciferous Vegetables.

The phenolic profiles of 12 cruciferous vegetables (pakchoi, choysum, Chinese cabbage, kailan, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rocket salad, red cherry radish, daikon radish, and watercress) were studied with UHPLC-MS/MS. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) were also evaluated. A total of 74 phenolic compounds were identified, including 16 hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives, and 58 flavonoids and derivatives.

Inhibition of strigolactone receptors by -phenylanthranilic acid derivatives: Structural and functional insights.

The strigolactone (SL) family of plant hormones regulates a broad range of physiological processes affecting plant growth and development and also plays essential roles in controlling interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic fungi. Recent progress elucidating details of SL biosynthesis, signaling, and transport offers many opportunities for discovering new plant-growth regulators via chemical interference. Here, using high-throughput screening and downstream biochemical assays, we identified -phenylanthranilic acid derivatives as potent inhibitors of the SL receptors from petunia (DAD2), rice (OsD14), and (AtD14).

Antimicrobial efficacy of Cinnamomum javanicum plant extract against Listeria monocytogenes and its application potential with smoked salmon.

Extracts from medicinal plants have been reported to possess good antimicrobial properties, but a majority of them remain unexplored. This study aimed at identifying a novel plant extract with antimicrobial activity, to validate its efficacy in food model, and to elucidate its composition and antimicrobial mechanism. A total of 125 plant extracts were screened, and Cinnamomum javanicum leaf and stem extract showed potential antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes (MIC=0.

Dissecting structural transitions in the HIV-1 dimerization initiation site RNA using 2-aminopurine fluorescence.

A highly conserved 35 nucleotide RNA stem-loop, the dimerization initiation site (DIS), in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) genome has been identified as the sequence primarily responsible for initiation of viral genome dimerization. The DIS initiates viral genome dimerization through a loop-loop 'kissing' interaction and is converted from an intermediate 'kissing' to a more thermodynamically stable extended duplex dimer in a conformational rearrangement that is chaperoned by the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7). Here we describe fluorescence methods designed to probe local RNA dynamics and structural transitions associated with the DIS dimer formation and its NCp7 chaperoned structural conversion.