Cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase isoform mediates metabolic adjustments in bean fruit pericarp to support seed growth.

Seed development requires substantial metabolic resources and is influenced by adverse environmental conditions. However, the ability of plants to produce viable seeds under restrictive conditions suggests the existence of mechanisms that make this process less sensitive to environmental stress. Uncovering their regulation could lead to the development of genotypes better adapted to stressful conditions.

Starch degradation in the bean fruit pericarp is characterized by an increase in maltose metabolism.

The bean fruit pericarp accumulates a significant amount of starch, which starts to be degraded 20 days after anthesis (DAA) when seed growth becomes exponential. This period is also characterized by the progressive senescence of the fruit pericarp. However, the chloroplasts maintained their integrity, indicating that starch degradation is a compartmentalized process.

Starch accumulation in bean fruit pericarp is mediated by the differentiation of chloroplasts into amyloplasts.

The sucrose supply to bean fruits remains almost constant during seed development, and the early stages of this process are characterized by a significant amount of starch and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) accumulated in the pericarp. Bean fruits are photosynthetically active; however, our results indicated that starch synthesis in the pericarp was largely dependent on the photosynthetic activity of the leaves. The photosynthetic activity and the amount of the Rubisco large subunit were gradually reduced in the fruit pericarp, and a large increase in the amount of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit (AGPase SS) was observed.

Human Metapneumovirus: Laboratory Methods for Isolation, Propagation, and Plaque Titration.

Unlabelled: The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important viral agent associated with severe infections of the upper and lower airways, especially in young children and immunosuppressed subjects. Nevertheless, in vitro studies of hMPV are very difficult due to the little knowledge we have on its laboratory manipulation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to isolate and propagate hMPV from patients, and to establish a method to quantify the virus by plaque assay.

Possible role played by R1 protein in starch accumulation in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings under phosphate deficiency.

The effect of phosphate (Pi) deficiency on starch accumulation was studied in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). After 3 weeks of Pi deprivation total Pi concentration in root and shoot was reduced by 68% and 42%, respectively; however, only shoot growth was affected. In leaves, Pi deprivation induced glucose, fructose and starch accumulation.