Cellular metabolism and hormone signalling: connecting growth and defence.

Plants, as sessile organisms, have developed mechanisms to balance growth and defence strategies against biotic and abiotic stresses. Two recent studies by Hong et al. and Lu et al.

Guard cells and mesophyll: a delicate metabolic relationship.

Understanding cell type-specific metabolism, especially under unfavorable conditions, is paramount. Recent discoveries by Shi et al. and Auler et al.

Functional analysis of the extraplastidial TRX system in germination and early stages of development of Arabidopsis thaliana.

A series of processes occur during seed formation, including remarkable metabolic changes that extend from early seed development to seedling establishment. The changes associated with processes initiated mainly after seed imbibition are usually characterized by extensive modification in the redox state of seed storage proteins and of pivotal enzymes for reserve mobilization and usage. Such changes in the redox state are often mediated by thioredoxins (TRXs), oxidoreductase capable of catalyzing the reduction of disulfide bonds in target proteins to regulate its structure and function.

Leukoreduction as a control measure in transfusion transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infection is a risk for transfusion safety. Leukoreduction has been an alternative for the prevention of some blood-borne diseases, including VL. This study aimed to evaluate the role of leukoreduction of cellular blood components as a control measure for transfusional VL transmission.