A no hydrotropic response root mutant that responds positively to gravitropism in Arabidopsis.

For most plants survival depends upon the capacity of root tips to sense and move towards water and other nutrients in the soil. Because land plants cannot escape environmental stress they use developmental solutions to remodel themselves in order to better adapt to the new conditions. The primary site for perception of underground signals is the root cap (RC).

Age-induced diminution of free radical scavenging capacity in bee pollens and the contribution of constituent flavonoids.

Bee-collected pollen ("bee pollen") is promoted as a health food with a wide range of nutritional and therapeutic properties. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the contribution made through the free radical scavenging capability of bee-collected floval pollens by their flavonoid/phenolics constituents, and to determine whether this capability is affected by aging. The free radical scavenging effectiveness of a bee pollen (EC(50)) as measured by the DPPH method is shown to be determined by the nature and levels of the constituent floral pollens, which can be assayed via their phenolics profiles by HPLC.

Relaxation of uterine and aortic smooth muscle by glaucolides D and E from Vernonia liatroides.

Vernonia spp. (Asteraceae) are used in herbolaria in Latin America in menstrual and stomach disorders, suggesting smooth muscle relaxing properties of some of their chemical constituents. For pharmacological support for this belief, sesquiterpene lactones glaucolides D and E were assayed on isolated rat smooth muscle.

The use of kinin B1 and B2 receptor knockout mice and selective antagonists to characterize the nociceptive responses caused by kinins at the spinal level.

The mechanisms by which kinins induce hyperalgesia in the spinal cord were investigated by using B(1) or B(2) knockout mice in conjunction with kinin selective agonists and antagonists. The i.t.

Cross-regulation between a novel two-component signal transduction system for catabolism of toluene in Pseudomonas mendocina and the TodST system from Pseudomonas putida.

The tmoABCDEF genes encode the toluene-4-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas mendocina KR1. Upstream from the tmoA gene an open reading frame, tmoX, encoding a protein 83% identical to TodX (todX being the initial gene in the todXFC1C2BADEGIH operon from Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E) was found. The tmoX gene is also the initial gene in the tmoXABCDEF gene cluster.

The unique occurrence of the flavone aglycone tricetin in Myrtaceae pollen.

In pollen, flavonoids are usually found as glycosides and in particular, flavonol 3-O-diglycosides. However, in members of the Myrtaceae, subfamily Leptospermoideae, the rare flavone aglycone tricetin, along with other flavonoid aglycones including 3-O-methyl quercetin and luteolin, have been found to comprise a significant portion of the constituent flavonoids.

A novel cacalolide from Psacalium decompositum.

A new cacalolide sesquiterpenoid, named as Romo-A, was isolated from the roots of Psacalium decompositum, Asteraceae, a Mexican medicinal shrub with antidiabetic properties. Its structure was elucidated by NMR, MS, IR, UV, and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.

Anatomical differences in uterine sensitivity to prostaglandin F(2alpha) and serotonin in non-pregnant rats.

The ovarian steroids regulate the sensitivity of a population of uterine receptors to prostaglandin F(2alpha), serotonin and oxytocin. However, the uterine sensitivity to prostaglandin F(2alpha) and oxytocin does not coincide with the estrogen-induced increase in the number of receptors. Anatomical differences affect the uterine sensitivity to agonists.

The role of migrating leukocytes in IL-1 beta-induced up-regulation of kinin B(1) receptors in rats.

1. The present study examines the role of migrating leukocytes in the ability of IL-1 beta to induce the functional up-regulation of B(1) receptors, as assessed by kinin B(1) agonist-induced oedema in the rat paw. 2.