Genome-wide characterization of the xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase family genes and their response to plant hormone in sugar beet.

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) play a crucial role in plant growth and development. However, their functional response to phytohormone in sugar beet still remains obscure. In this study, we identified 30 putative BvXTH genes in the sugar beet genome.

Characterization and Expression of KT/HAK/KUP Transporter Family Genes in Willow under Potassium Deficiency, Drought, and Salt Stresses.

The K transporter/high-affinity K/K uptake (KT/HAK/KUP) transporters dominate K uptake, transport, and allocation that play a pivotal role in mineral homeostasis and plant adaptation to adverse abiotic stresses. However, molecular mechanisms towards K nutrition in forest trees are extremely rare, especially in willow. In this study, we identified 22 KT/HAK/KUP transporter genes in purple osier willow (designated as to ) and examined their expression under K deficiency, drought, and salt stress conditions.

small basic protein (Sbp) forms amyloid fibrils, consistent with its function as a scaffolding protein in biofilms.

Biofilms are communities of microbes embedded in a microbial extracellular matrix. Their formation is considered the main virulence mechanism enabling the opportunistic bacterial pathogen to cause devastating nosocomial, implant-associated infections. Biofilms often contain proteins, and an 18-kDa protein called small basic protein (Sbp) recently was discovered in the biofilm matrix and may serve as a scaffolding protein in both polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA)-dependent and accumulation-associated protein (Aap)-dependent biofilm formations.

Infrared Probe Technique Reveals a Millipede-like Structure for Aβ(8-28) Amyloid Fibril.

Amyloid fibrils are unique fibrous polypeptide aggregates. They have been associated with more than 20 serious human diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Besides their pathological significance, amyloid fibrils are also gaining increasing attention as emerging nanomaterials with novel functions.

New insight into amyloid fibril formation of hen egg white lysozyme using a two-step temperature-dependent FTIR approach.

Hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) is widely used in the mechanistic study of amyloid fibril formation. Yet, the fibrillation mechanism of HEWL is not well understood. In particular, in situ structural evidence for the on-pathway oligomeric intermediate has never been captured.