Analysis of Glutamate Receptors in : Structure, Evolution, and Molecular Interactions.

Plant glutamate receptors (GLRs) are integral membrane proteins that function as non-selective cation channels, involved in the regulation of developmental events crucial in plants. Knowledge of these proteins is restricted to a few species and their true agonists are still unknown in plants. Using tomato SlGLRs, a search was performed in the pepper database to identify GLR sequences in habanero pepper ( Jacq.

Haplotype analysis, regulatory elements and docking simulation of structural models of different AT3 copies in the genus .

Capsaicinoids are responsible for the pungency in species. These are synthesized by the Capsaicin synthase (CS) encoded by the gene, which catalyzes the transference of an acyl moiety from a branched-chain fatty acid-CoA ester to the vanillylamine to produce capsaicinoids. Some gene copies have been identified on the genome.

Aluminum, a Friend or Foe of Higher Plants in Acid Soils.

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust, but its availability depends on soil pH. Despite this abundance, Al is not considered an essential element and so far no experimental evidence has been put forward for a biological role. In plants and other organisms, Al can have a beneficial or toxic effect, depending on factors such as, metal concentration, the chemical form of Al, growth conditions and plant species.

Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of a Na-Insensitive K Transporter of Jacq.

High-affinity K (HAK) transporters are encoded by a large family of genes and are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. These HAK-type transporters participate in low- and high-affinity potassium (K) uptake and are crucial for the maintenance of K homeostasis under hostile conditions. In this study, the full-length cDNA of gene was isolated from roots of the habanero pepper ().

Natural variation in primary root growth and K retention in roots of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) under salt stress.

In this work, we analysed the natural variation in mechanisms for protection against salt stress in pepper varieties (Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Rex, Chichen-Itza and Naranja and Capsicum annuum L.

Mechanisms of salt tolerance in habanero pepper plants (Capsicum chinense Jacq.): Proline accumulation, ions dynamics and sodium root-shoot partition and compartmentation.

Despite its economic relevance, little is known about salt tolerance mechanisms in pepper plants. To address this question, we compared differences in responses to NaCl in two Capsicum chinense varieties: Rex (tolerant) and Chichen-Itza (sensitive). Under salt stress (150 mM NaCl over 7 days) roots of Rex variety accumulated 50 times more compatible solutes such as proline compared to Chichen-Itza.

Differential effects of aluminum on in vitro primary root growth, nutrient content and phospholipase C activity in coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica).

Coffea arabica is a woody species that grows in acid soils, where aluminum is available and may affect growth and productivity. To determine the effect of aluminum on primary root growth of C. arabica cv.

Exogenous nitrate induces root branching and inhibits primary root growth in Capsicum chinense Jacq.

The effects of nitrate (NO₃⁻) on the root system are complex and depend on several factors, such as the concentration available to the plant, endogenous nitrogen status and the sensitivity of the species. Though these effects have been widely documented on Arabidopsis and cereals, no reports are available in the Capsicum genus. In this paper, we have determined the effect of an exogenous in vitro application of this nutrient on root growth in habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.

Patch clamp characterization of a non-selective cation channel of ER membranes purified from Beta vulgaris taproots.

The ER fraction from red beet taproot was purified on sucrose gradient and giant liposomes, suitable for patch clamping, were formed by dehydration-rehydration of the lipid film. Single-channel recordings on excised and attached patches revealed a large conductance (165 pS) cation (P(Cl-)/P(K+) < 0.03) channel with equal conductance and relative permeability for Na+ and K+.

Membrane-associated phosphoinositides-specific phospholipase C forms from Catharanthus roseus transformed roots.

We have previously reported that Catharanthus roseus transformed roots contain at least two phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-phospholipase C (PLC) activities, one soluble and the other membrane associated. Detergent, divalent cations, and neomycin differentially regulate these activities and pure protein is required for a greater understanding of the function and regulation of this enzyme. In this article we report a partia purification of membrane-associated PLC.

Aluminium-induced phospholipid signal transduction pathway in Coffea arabica suspension cells and its amelioration by silicic acid.

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is of economic importance worldwide. Its growth in organic-rich acidic soils is influenced by aluminium such that coffee yield may be impaired.

Mechanism of luminal Ca2+ and Mg2+ action on the vacuolar slowly activating channels.

The non-selective slow vacuolar (SV) channel can dominate tonoplast conductance, making it necessary to tightly control its activity. Applying the patch-clamp technique to vacuoles from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) taproots we studied the effect of divalent cations on the vacuolar side of the SV channel.

Aluminium differentially modifies lipid metabolism from the phosphoinositide pathway in Coffea arabica cells.

The effect of aluminium (Al) on phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) and lipid kinase activities was examined in a cellular suspension of coffee. Two main effects were seen when cells were treated with AlCl3. In periods as short as 1 minute, Al-exposed cells increased the activity of PLC and IP3 formation up to two fold.

Changes in some characteristics between the wild and Al-tolerant coffee (Coffea arabica L.) cell line.

An aluminium (Al)-tolerant cell line (LAMt) of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) was obtained from a cell suspension culture and biochemically and molecularly characterized in an MS medium at half ionic strength and low pH. LAMt grew 30% more than the control line (susceptible to Al) in the presence of different concentrations of Al, showed a lower free Al concentration in the medium and had higher phospholipase C specific activity (80%).

Potassium-selective channel in the red beet vacuolar membrane.

In higher plants the vacuolar K(+)-selective (VK) channel was identified solely in guard cells. This patch-clamp study describes a 40 pS homologue of the VK channel in Beta vulgaris taproot vacuoles. This voltage-independent channel is activated by submicromolar Ca(2+), and is ideally selective for K(+) over Cl(-) and Na(+).

Regulation of the fast vacuolar channel by cytosolic and vacuolar potassium.

At resting cytosolic Ca(2)(+), passive K(+) conductance of a higher plant tonoplast is likely dominated by fast vacuolar (FV) channels. This patch-clamp study describes K(+)-sensing behavior of FV channels in Beta vulgaris taproot vacuoles. Variation of K(+) between 10 and 400 mM had little effect on the FV channel conductance, but a pronounced one on the open probability.