Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as antipyretics and modulators of a molecular clock(s) in the appendix of Sauromatum venosum inflorescence.

The appendix of the Sauromatum senosum inflorescence is a striking example of thermogenesis in plants. On the day of opening, the Sauromatum appendix becomes hot, reaching up to 32 °C. Aspirin, salicylic acid and 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, a subclass of NSAIDs, induce a temperature rise from three mitochondrial sources: alternative oxidase, F F -ATP synthase and adenine nucleotide translocator.

Neuropeptide FF (FLFQPQRF-NH2) and its Fragments Bind to α2δ Subunit of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels.

Purpose: Gabapentin, a drug for neuropathic pain, exerts its therapeutic effect via inhibition of the a2d subunit of N-type Ca2+ channels. Thus, finding peptides that specifically displace gabapentin from its binding site may lead to the development of new drugs.

Methods: Displacement of bound [3H]-gabapentin in membrane preparations of rat cerebral cortex and of human Cav2.

Crystal and molecular structure of the analgesic tetrapeptide, L-Phe-L-Leu-L-Pro-L-Ser.

The tetrapeptide, L-Phe-L-Leu-L-Pro-L-Ser (FLPS), alleviates pain in a rat model of post-surgery pain. The crystal structure of the tetrapeptide is solved at high resolution (0.54 Å).

Thermoregulation in the appendix of the Sauromatum guttatum (Schott) inflorescence.

Background: Three phenolic compounds are capable of activating the process that simultaneously leads to temperature rise and odor-production in the Sauromatum appendix. These compounds are salicylic acid, aspirin, and 2,6 dihydroxybenzoic acid. The objectives of the present study were to examine the effect of various concentrations of the these inducers on the temperature rise and to study the effect of mitochondrial inhibitors (KCN and SHAM) and an uncoupler (DNP) on the temperature rise.

Human ortholog of a plant salicylic acid receptor found in SK-N-SH cell line.

Our previous studies have described the purification and characterization of a novel plant NAD(P)-reductase like protein (RL) from the thermogenic appendix of the Sauromatum guttatum inflorescence. RL is mainly located in cytoplasm of thermogenic plants and it can act like a bistable switch. It adopts a compact conformation during heat-production and a more expanded conformation when heat is not generated.

A NAD(P) reductase like protein is the salicylic acid receptor in the appendix of the inflorescence.

The mode of action of the thermogenic inducers (salicylic acid, aspirin, and 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid) in the appendix of the inflorescence is poorly understood. Using ESI-MS and light scattering analysis, we have demonstrated that NAD(P) reductase like protein (RL) is the salicylic acid receptor in the appendix. RL was self-assembled in water into a large unit with a hydrodynamic diameter of 800 nm.

Two global conformation states of a novel NAD(P) reductase like protein of the thermogenic appendix of the Sauromatum guttatum inflorescence.

A novel NAD(P) reductase like protein (RL) belonging to a class of reductases involved in phenylpropanoid synthesis was previously purified to homogeneity from the Sauromatum guttatum appendix. The Sauromatum appendix raises its temperature above ambient temperature to ~30 °C on the day of inflorescence opening (D-day). Changes in the charge state distribution of the protein in electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry spectra were observed during the development of the appendix.

Purification of a NAD(P) reductase-like protein from the thermogenic appendix of the Sauromatum guttatum inflorescence.

A NAD(P) reductase-like protein with a molecular mass of 34.146 ± 34 Da was purified to homogeneity from the appendix of the inflorescence of the Sauromatum guttatum. On-line liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry was used to isolate and quantify the protein.

Developmental changes in the ultrastructure of the Sauromatum guttatum (Araceae) mitochondria.

Electron microscopic studies show that the electron density of the mitochondria of the thermogenic appendix of Sauromatum guttatum inflorescences changes during development. Two to 3 days before heat-production, the mitochondria accumulate osmiophilic, electron-dense material between the inner and outer membranes. During heat-production and the release of volatiles compounds the osmiophilic material disappears from the inter membrane space.

Cytochemical evidence for the presence of actin in the nucleus of the voodoo lily appendix.

Immunoflorescence microscopy of sections of the voodoo lily Sauromatum guttatum appendix stained with monoclonal antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin and cytoplasmic actin revealed different staining intensity of different parts of the cell. The anti-cytoplasmic-actin recognized antigens present mainly in the cytoplasm, and the anti-alpha-smooth muscle-actin recognized more intensively antigens present in the nuclei. A positive staining of the nucleus was also obtained with FITC-phalloidin confirming the presence of actin in its filamenous form in the nucleus.

Further studies of the glandular tissue of the Sauromatum guttatum (Araceae) appendix.

Electron microscopic studies showed that the trans-Golgi network (trans indicates the polarity of cisternae within the Golgi apparatus; it is opposite to the cis-face that is adjacent to the rough endoplasmic reticulum) was involved in the processing of the osmiophilic material present in the appendix of the inflorescence of Sauromatum guttatum. This material accumulated in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and in special pockets of the plasma membrane prior to heat production. Associations between the endoplasmic reticulum and trans-Golgi network were observed.

The Sauromatum guttatum appendix as an osmophore: excretory pathways, composition of volatiles and attractiveness to insects.

This report combines chemical, electron microscopic and ecological studies on the volatiles liberated by the Sauromatum guttatum appendix on D-Day, the day of inflorescence-opening and heat-production. More than 100 compounds from at least nine different chemical classes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, fatty acids, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, indole, and phenolic and sulphur compounds) are liberated during the thermogenic activity. The volatiles were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Pathway of terpene excretion by the appendix of Sauromatum guttatum.

Electron microscopy of the cells of the thermogenic appendix of Sauromatum guttatum has revealed a fusion event between pocket-like structures of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and the plasma membrane. As a result of the fusion event, many regions of the plasma membrane have paired unit membranes (four leaflets instead of two). The fusion allows the transfer of osmiophilic material from the rER pockets to the plasma membrane, where the osmiophilic material is confined to bilayer, pocket-like structures.

Oleic Acid and Its Positional Isomer, cis-Vaccinic Acid, in the Appendix of Sauromatum guttatum during Anthesis.

The fatty acid profiles of various organs of the thermogenic inflorescence of Sauromatum guttatum and of the sporophylls of thermogenic male cones of two cycad species (Encephalartos ferox and Dioon edule var edule and var angustifolium) were determined by gas chromatography. During anthesis, palmitate (16:0), oleate [18:1 (9)], cis-vaccinate [18:1 (11)], and linoleate [18:2 (9, 12)] were the most abundant fatty acids in the Sauromatum appendix. cis-Vaccinic acid, a positional isomer of oleic acid, was identified by comparing its retention time on a gas chromatography column and its mass spectrum to an authentic compound.

Heat Production in the Voodoo Lily (Sauromatum guttatum) as Monitored by Infrared Thermography.

The pattern of surface temperatures of the inflorescence of Sauromatum guttatum was investigated by using an infrared camera. The male flowers are weakly thermogenic on the first day of inflorescence opening (D-day) as well as on the next day (D + 1), reaching 0.5 to 1 degrees C above ambient temperature.

Infrared thermography ofArum lily inflorescences.

The infrared radiation emitted from the surface of inflorescences of 12 aroid species was monitored with an infrared camera, capable of 0.1°C resolution, and the data were converted to temperature values by means of temperature reference standards. Images representing surface temperatures were obtained forAmorphophallus bulbifer Blume,A.

Oxidation of Proline and Glutamate by Mitochondria of the Inflorescence of Voodoo Lily (Sauromatum guttatum).

In appendices of Sauromatum guttatum that are developing thermogenicity, mitochondria isolated from successive developmental stages of the inflorescence show an increase in the oxidation rates of proline and glutamate. A similar rise in the oxidation rates of these compounds is observed in mitochondria obtained from the spathe, a nonthermogenic organ of the inflorescence. Changes in oxidative metabolism were also observed in mitochondria isolated from sections of immature appendix treated with salicylic acid (SA) at 0.

A development-dependent hemagglutinin from cucumber surfaces: I. Hemagglutinin activity of cotyledon surfaces.

During studies on the chemistry of plant surfaces, we observed that concomitant with the development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv ;ELEM') cotyledons an agglutinin that agglutinates human erythrocytes appeared on epicuticular surfaces. The agglutinin was released from cotyledon surfaces into distilled water by a 1-minute immersion (or even less).