Domestication has altered gene expression and secondary metabolites in pea seed coat.

The mature seed in legumes consists of an embryo and seed coat. In contrast to knowledge about the embryo, we know relatively little about the seed coat. We analyzed the gene expression during seed development using a panel of cultivated and wild pea genotypes.

Separation of Isomeric Tau Phosphopeptides from Alzheimer's Disease Brain by Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of increasing concern. It belongs to diseases termed tauopathies which are characterized by inclusions of abnormally hyperphosphorylated and truncated forms of the protein tau. Studies of tauopathies often focus on detection and characterization of these aberrant tau proteoforms, in particular the phosphorylation sites, which represent a significant analytical challenge for example when several phosphosites can be present on the same peptide.

The loss of polyphenol oxidase function is associated with hilum pigmentation and has been selected during pea domestication.

Seed coats serve as protective tissue to the enclosed embryo. As well as mechanical there are also chemical defence functions. During domestication, the property of the seed coat was altered including the removal of the seed dormancy.

Combination of electronically driven micromanipulation with laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry - The unique tool for analysis of seed coat layers and revealing the mystery of seed dormancy.

Electronically driven micromanipulation (EDM) with microscopic control was used as a novel tool for sample preparation prior to direct (matrix assisted) laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric ((MA)LDI-MS) analysis of mature pea seed coat composition in defined layers. Microscissors were used for seed coat fragment shape adjustment, microtweezers for sample holding and "microjackhammer" Milling Pro for precise mechanical removing of cell layers in defined depths (2, 5 or 10 μm). These procedures circumvent the application of embedding media or enzymatic digestion of seed coat that would complicate mass spectra interpretation (presence of matrix signals, analyte signals enhancement or attenuation) and represent alternative for 3D metabolites profiling.