Arabidopsis phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase 2 contains a functional nuclear localization sequence and interacts with alpha-importins.

The Arabidopsis phosphoinositide kinase PIP5K2 has been implicated in the control of membrane trafficking and is important for development and growth. In addition to cytosolic functions of phosphoinositides, a nuclear phosphoinositide system has been proposed, but evidence for nuclear phosphoinositides in plants is limited. Fluorescence-tagged variants of PIP5K2 reside in the nucleus of Arabidopsis root meristem cells, in addition to reported plasma membrane localization.

Guilt by Association: A Phenotype-Based View of the Plant Phosphoinositide Network.

Eukaryotic membranes contain small amounts of phospholipids that have regulatory effects on the physiological functions of cells, tissues, and organs. Phosphoinositides (PIs)-the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol-are one example of such regulatory lipids. Although PIs were described in plants decades ago, their contribution to the regulation of physiological processes in plants is not well understood.

Fungi from metal-polluted streams may have high ability to cope with the oxidative stress induced by copper oxide nanoparticles.

Increased commercialization of products based on metal oxide nanoparticles increases the likelihood that these nanoparticles will be released into aquatic environments, thus making relevant the assessment of their potential impacts on aquatic biota. Aquatic fungi are distributed worldwide and play a key role in organic matter turnover in freshwater ecosystems. The present study investigated the impacts of copper oxide spherical nanoparticles (CuO-NPs; <50 nm powder, 5 levels ≤200 mg/L) on cellular targets and antioxidant defenses in 5 fungal isolates collected from metal-polluted or nonpolluted streams.

Physiological responses to nanoCuO in fungi from non-polluted and metal-polluted streams.

Nanocopper oxide (nanoCuO) is among the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles which increases their chance of being released into freshwaters. Fungi are the major microbial decomposers of plant litter in streams. Fungal laccases are multicopper oxidase enzymes that are involved in the degradation of lignin and various xenobiotic compounds.