Tethered ribozyme ligation enables detection of molecular proximity in homogeneous solutions.

In contemporary drug discovery, bulk selection represents an important alternative to time consuming and expensive high-throughput screening. The selection methods, however, generally rely on affinity separation, a step that limits overall selection process efficiency. To overcome common drawbacks of conventional methods, we exploited the unique catalytic properties of an artificial enzyme, ribozyme ligase, to develop a selection methodology in which the entire detection process takes place in a homogeneous solution, thus eliminating the need for affinity separation.

Combining comparative sequence and genomic data to ascertain phylogenetic relationships and explore the evolution of the large GDSL-lipase family in land plants.

The GDSL-lipase gene family is a very large subfamily within the supergene family of SGNH esterases, defined by the distinct GDSL amino acid motif and several highly conserved domains. Plants retain a large number of GDSL-lipases indicating that they have acquired important functions. Yet, in planta functions have been demonstrated for only a few GDSL-lipases from diverse species.

Ascorbate peroxidase gene family in tomato: its identification and characterization.

The antioxidative response, where ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is a key enzyme, is an integral part of the plant tolerance response to environmental stresses. As a first step towards the study of the physiological role and the regulation of the members of the Apx gene family, the orthologs of the stress-sensitive cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82 (Slm) and of the wild salt-tolerant species S.

Lethal contractural syndrome type 3 (LCCS3) is caused by a mutation in PIP5K1C, which encodes PIPKI gamma of the phophatidylinsitol pathway.

Lethal congenital contractural syndrome (LCCS) is a severe form of arthrogryposis. To date, two autosomal recessive forms of the disease (LCCS and LCCS2) have been described and mapped to chromosomes 9q34 and 12q13, respectively. We now describe a third LCCS phenotype (LCCS3)--similar to LCCS2 yet without neurogenic bladder.

Lithium-calcium exchange is mediated by a distinct potassium-independent sodium-calcium exchanger.

Sodium-calcium exchangers have long been considered inert with respect to monovalent cations such as lithium, choline, and N-methyl-d-glucamine. A key question that has remained unsolved is how despite this, Li(+) catalyzes calcium exchange in mammalian tissues. Here we report that a Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, NCLX cloned from human cells (known as FLJ22233), is distinct from both known forms of the exchanger, NCX and NCKX in structure and kinetics.

Salinity up-regulates the antioxidative system in root mitochondria and peroxisomes of the wild salt-tolerant tomato species Lycopersicon pennellii.

The effect of salinity on the antioxidative system of root mitochondria and peroxisomes of a cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (Lem) and its wild salt-tolerant related species L. pennellii (Lpa) was studied. Salt stress induced oxidative stress in Lem mitochondria, as indicated by the increased levels of lipid peroxidation and H(2)O(2).

Coordinate induction of glutathione biosynthesis and glutathione-metabolizing enzymes is correlated with salt tolerance in tomato.

The acclimation of reduced glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and GSH-utilizing enzymes to salt stress was studied in two tomato species that differ in stress tolerance. Salt increased GSH content and GSH:GSSG (oxidized glutathione) ratio in oxidative stress-tolerant Lycopersicon pennellii (Lpa) but not in Lycopersicon esculentum (Lem). These changes were associated with salt-induced upregulation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase protein, an effect which was prevented by preincubation with buthionine sulfoximine.

Salt stress induces up-regulation of an efficient chloroplast antioxidant system in the salt-tolerant wild tomato species Lycopersicon pennellii but not in the cultivated species.

The response of the chloroplastic antioxidant system of the cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (Lem) and its wild salt-tolerant related species L. pennellii (Lpa) to NaCl stress was studied. An increase in H2O2 level and membrane lipid peroxidation was observed in chloroplasts of salt-stressed Lem.

Response of the cultivated tomato and its wild salt-tolerant relative Lycopersicon pennellii to salt-dependent oxidative stress: increased activities of antioxidant enzymes in root plastids.

Root plastids of the cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum (Lem) exhibited salt-induced oxidative stress as indicated by the increased H2O2 and lipid peroxidation levels which were accompanied with increased contents of the oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione. In contrast, H2O2 level decreased, lipid peroxidation level slightly decreased and the levels of the reduced forms of ascorbate and glutathione increased in plastids of L. pennellii (Lpa) species in response to salinity.

Response of the cultivated tomato and its wild salt-tolerant relative Lycopersicon pennellii to salt-dependent oxidative stress: The root antioxidative system.

The response of the antioxidant system to salt stress was studied in the roots of the cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. M82 (Lem) and its wild salt-tolerant relative L.