Seasonal changes in dry matter yield from Karst pastures as influenced by morphoclimatic features.

Pastures are strongly affected by local environmental variables in terms of their species richness, plant composition and herbage production. A multi-site monitoring study was conducted over three years to investigate the influence of morphoclimatic factors on the seasonal variations in dry matter (DM) yield from Karst pastures. Seven sites located on the Italian and Slovenian Karst regions were investigated that differed in terms of their geological and geomorphological features, as well as their soil types.

Aggregation and conformational transition in aqueous solution of a bombolitin III analogue containing a photoreactive side-chain group.

The peptide toxin bombolitin III [B(III)], originally isolated from bumblebee venom, has been shown to undergo a concentration-dependent conformational change from a random structure to an alpha-helix induced by aggregation. The aggregation process and the consequent folding results from a delicate balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The conformational change is strongly dependent on pH and salt concentration.