Assessing Global DNA Methylation Changes Associated with Plasticity in Seven Highly Inbred Lines of Snapdragon Plants ().

Genetic and epigenetic variations are commonly known to underlie phenotypic plastic responses to environmental cues. However, the role of epigenetic variation in plastic responses harboring ecological significance in nature remains to be assessed. The shade avoidance response (SAR) of plants is one of the most prevalent examples of phenotypic plasticity.

A chiral unified chromatography-mass spectrometry method to analyze free amino acids.

In this project, we aimed at analyzing native (or free) amino acids with supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric detection, with modern instruments and methods, and maintaining as simple a mobile phase as possible to ensure applicability of the method. The purpose was twofold: (i) a generic method allowing for satisfactory elution of a wide range of amino acids (acidic, basic, or neutral residue) and (ii) resolution of the enantiomeric pairs. The Chiralpak ZWIX (+) and (-) stationary phases were selected as they are well-known for the enantioresolution of amino acids in liquid chromatographic modes.

Purification of drug degradation products supported by analytical and preparative supercritical fluid chromatography.

A stressed degradation (oxidation) was employed to produce metabolites from an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with large molecular weight (about 900 g/mol). An analytical chromatographic method was desired to compare the products generated by different degradation methods while a multi-gram-scale preparative chromatographic method was necessary to purify the produced metabolites. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was selected for both tasks as no other chromatographic method had achieved the resolution of the API and metabolites (two isomeric mono-oxide species and one di-oxide).

Hyphenation of ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation high resolution mass spectrometry: Part 2. Study of chromatographic and mass spectrometry parameters for the analysis of natural non-polar compounds.

An analytical method based on Ultra-High-Performance Sub/Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (UHPSFC) coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS) equipped with an Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation source (APCI-Q-TOF-HRMS) was developed for the screening of various compounds in oily samples. The hyphenation was achieved using a hybrid UHPSFC system for the vegetable oil analysis, mainly composed of fatty acids, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols but containing also some minor bioactive compounds. No split was used with this ionisation source in this optimized configuration, allowing the introduction of all compounds in the mass spectrometer, ensuring a better sensitivity.

Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases, key to the lignan synthesis in plants.

This paper provides an overview on activity, stereospecificity, expression and regulation of pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases in plants. These enzymes are shared by the pathways to all 8-8' lignans derived from pinoresinol. Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases (PLR) are enzymes involved in the lignan biosynthesis after the initial dimerization of two monolignols.

Probing Jovian Broadband Kilometric Radio Sources Tied to the Ultraviolet Main Auroral Oval With Juno.

Observations of Jovian broadband kilometric (bKOM) radiation and ultraviolet (UV) auroras were acquired with the Waves and Juno-UVS instruments for ∼2 hr over the northern and southern polar regions during Juno's perijoves 4, 5, and 6 passes (PJ4, PJ5, and PJ6). During all six time periods, Juno traversed auroral magnetic field lines connecting to the UV main auroral ovals, matching the estimates of bKOM radio source footprints. The localized bKOM radio sources for the PJ4 north pass map to magnetic field lines having distances of 10 to 12 Jovian radii (R ) at the magnetic equator, whereas the extended bKOM radio sources for the other events map to field lines extending to 20-61 R .

Excess water storage induced by viscous strain localization during high-pressure shear experiment.

Strain localization in viscously deformed rocks commonly results in fine-grained shear zones where massive fluid circulation is regularly observed. Recently attributed to strain-induced pumping, this phenomenon may have major implications for the distribution of ores deposits and rock rheology. However, although grain size reduction and/or creep cavitation have been proposed as important processes, the source mechanism of fluid concentration remains unresolved, particularly at high pressure.

Effect of modified di- and trisaccharides on hyaluronidase activity assessed by capillary electrophoresis-based enzymatic assay.

The activity of eukaryote hydrolase-type of hyaluronidases was studied using a miniaturized capillary electrophoresis (CE) assay developed in our laboratory. Few nanoliters of reagents are sufficient and no labeling is required for this assay. The effect of natural and original synthetic effectors of hyaluronidase was evaluated.

Green Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Rosmarinic Acid from (L.) R.Br. Leaves.

Painted nettle ( (L.) R.Br.

Addressing the Compartmentalization of Specific Integrin Heterodimers in Mouse Sperm.

Integrins are transmembrane cell receptors involved in two crucial mechanisms for successful fertilization, namely, mammalian intracellular signaling and cell adhesion. Integrins α6β4, α3β1 and α6β1 are three major laminin receptors expressed on the surface of mammalian cells including gametes, and the presence of individual integrin subunits α3, α6, β1 and β4 has been previously detected in mammalian sperm. However, to date, proof of the existence of individual heterodimer pairs in sperm and their detailed localization is missing.

Unravelling the effects of mobile phase additives in supercritical fluid chromatography-Part II: Adsorption on the stationary phase.

The mobile phases employed in current practice of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are usually composed of a mixture of pressurized carbon dioxide and a co-solvent. The co-solvent is most often an alcohol and may contain a third component in small proportions, called an additive (acid, base or salt). In the first part of this series, the effects of mobile phase additives on the polarity and apparent pH of the mobile phase were explored.

Formulation and Characterization of New Polymeric Systems Based on Chitosan and Xanthine Derivatives with Thiazolidin-4-One Scaffold.

In the past many research studies have focused on the thiazolidine-4-one scaffold, due to the important biological effects associated with its heterocycle. This scaffold is present in the structure of many synthetic compounds, which showed significant biological effects such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic effects. It was also identified in natural compounds, such as actithiazic acid, isolated from strains.

Biochar effect associated with compost and iron to promote Pb and As soil stabilization and Salix viminalis L. growth.

Soil pollution by metal(loid)s is one of the most significant problems in Europe. To remediate and potentially rehabilitate these contaminated sites, phytoremediation procedures are being put into place, often using amendments to help offset the extreme conditions of such soils. The aim of this study was to define the best amendment to use on the field.

Higher energy and safer sodium ion batteries via an electrochemically made disordered NaV(PO)F material.

The growing need to store an increasing amount of renewable energy in a sustainable way has rekindled interest for sodium-ion battery technology, owing to the natural abundance of sodium. Presently, sodium-ion batteries based on NaV(PO)F/C are the subject of intense research focused on improving the energy density by harnessing the third sodium, which has so far been reported to be electrochemically inaccessible. Here, we are able to trigger the activity of the third sodium electrochemically via the formation of a disordered NaV(PO)F phase of tetragonal symmetry (I4/mmm space group).

Neonicotinoid insecticides mode of action on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors using binding studies.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are the main target of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are widely used in crop protection against insect pests. Electrophysiological and molecular approaches have demonstrated the presence of several nAChR subtypes with different affinities for neonicotinoid insecticides. However, the precise mode of action of neonicotinoids on insect nAChRs remains to be elucidated.

(Wall. ex Benth.) Codd In Vitro Cultures: Establishment, Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Activities.

(Wall. ex Benth.) Codd accumulates large amounts of phenolics and pentacyclic triterpenes.

Invasion Dynamics of A Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, at Different Spatial Scales in France.

Termites are social insects that can also be major pests. A well-known problem species is the subterranean termite, . It is invasive in France and is thought to have arrived from Louisiana during the 18th century.

Near-infrared emitting lanthanide(iii) complexes as prototypes of optical imaging agents with peptide targeting ability: a methodological approach.

A methodological approach to design prototypes of specific near-infrared emitting imaging agents based on a small molecular compound combining a lanthanide(iii) ion, the cyclen derivative as a coordinating unit and the azo-dye as a sensitizer with a Arg-Gly-Asp cyclopeptide as a targeting moiety, is presented here.

Tailoring the textural properties of an activated carbon for enhancing its adsorption capacity towards diclofenac from aqueous solution.

A series of activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by modifying a commercial AC by physical activation using CO during different activation times. The ACs were designated as F, F12, F24, and F40 corresponding to the activation times of 0, 12, 24, and 40 h, respectively. The surface area, total pore volume, micropore volume, and mean micropore width were determined for all the ACs.

Monitoring of successive phosphorylations of thymidine using free and immobilized human nucleoside/nucleotide kinases by Flow Injection Analysis with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Nucleosides and their analogues play a crucial role in the treatment of several diseases including cancers and viral infections. Their therapeutic efficiency depends on their capacity to be converted to the active nucleoside triphosphates form through successive phosphorylation steps catalyzed by nucleoside/nucleotide kinases. It is thus mandatory to develop an easy, rapid, reliable and sensitive enzyme activity tests.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes⁻4.

Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials, which is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal . [..

The LPG1x family from Leishmania major is constituted of rare eukaryotic galactofuranosyltransferases with unprecedented catalytic properties.

Galactofuranosyltransferases are poorly described enzymes despite their crucial role in the virulence and the pathogenicity of numerous microorganisms. These enzymes are considered as potential targets for therapeutic action. In addition to the only well-characterised prokaryotic GlfT2 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, four putative genes in Leishmania major were previously described as potential galactofuranosyltransferases.

Flavonoids from Gaertn., a Medicinal Plant: Uses in Traditional Medicine, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities.

Gaertn. has been used as an important ingredient for traditional medicines since ancient times, especially in Asian countries. Nowadays, many new or unknown phytochemical compounds from are still being discovered.

Highlighting type A RRs as potential regulators of the dkHK1 multi-step phosphorelay pathway in Populus.

In previous studies, we highlighted a multistep phosphorelay (MSP) system in poplars composed of two hybrid-type Histidine aspartate Kinases, dkHK1a and dkHK1b, which interact with three Histidine Phosphotransfer proteins, dkHPt2, 7, and 9, which in turn interact with six type B Response Regulators. These interactions correspond to the dkHK1a-b/dkHPts/dkRRBs MSP. This MSP is putatively involved in an osmosensing pathway, as dkHK1a-b are orthologous to the Arabidopsis osmosensor AHK1, and able to complement a mutant yeast deleted for its osmosensors.

Adsorption of Pb (II) Ions onto Hydroxyapatite Nanopowders in Aqueous Solutions.

Contamination of water with heavy metals such as lead is a major worldwide problem because they affect the physiological functions of living organisms, cause cancer, and damage the immune system. Hydroxyapatite, (Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH) is considered one of the most effective materials for removing heavy metals from contaminated water. The hydroxyapatite nanopowders (N-HAp) obtained by a co-precipitation method were used in this research to determine the effectiveness in removing lead ions from contaminated solutions.