MKK3-MPK6-MYC2 module positively regulates ABA biosynthesis and signalling in Arabidopsis

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Involvement of MAPK cascades is well studied in the regulation of ABA mediated responses such as stomatal opening, seed germination and stress...     

Comparative Evaluation of Metal Phytoremediation Potential of Trees,Grasses, and Flowering Plants from Tannery-Wastewater-Contaminated Soil in Relation with Physicochemical Properties

This study reports a comparative account of metal accumulation in the trees, grasses, and flowering plants from agricultural fields contaminated with tannery wastewater. Soil physico-chemical properties along the pollution gradient and soil depth were analyzed. Monitoring and assessment of the plants growing on contaminated sites revealed that the accumulation of Cr in the aboveground part of the trees ranged from 1.87 to 34.44 μg g^?1 dw with maximum concentration in Dendro-calamus strictus (34.44 μg g^?1 dw). Chrysanthemum coronarium and Tagetes erecta showed better accumulation of Cr than other flowering plants. Separate field experiments were conducted on the contaminated area. The shoots of Vetiveria zizanoides (532 mg 4 m^?2) and Cymbopogan winterianus (535.46 mg 4 m^?2) have shown almost similar removal potential of Cr, with maximum removal potential in the roots of C. winterianus (1206.43 mg 4 m^?2). Seasonal flowering plants (i.e., C. coronarium) have shown better accumulation of Cr than T. erecta. The results indicate that the plants of V. zizanoides, C. coronarium, and C. winterianus are suitable for phytoremediation of contaminated sites and trees can successfully be used for phytostabilization.     

Surface Plasmon Polariton Band Gap-Enabled Plasmonic Mach–Zehnder Interferometer: Design,Analysis, and Application

In this paper, we propose a design for surface plasmon polariton band gap (SPPBG)-enabled plasmonic Mach–Zehnder interferometer (PMZI) comprising of array of silver nanorods embedded upright into silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate and analyze its potential in sensing, intended for cancer therapy. Periodic arrangement of nanorods embedded into SOI substrate grants strong spatial confinement and assist waveguidance to the propagating plasmon mode due to the SPPBG effect. This arrayed system triggers local field enhancement promoting sensing proficiency of the device and is assessed in terms of wavelength and phase shift. Proposed design of SPPBG-enabled PMZI sensor is successfully employed for detection and classification of various cancerous cells. The structural parameters of PMZI are optimized in compliance with the plasmonic band gap in the range of 400–800 nm yielding exceptionally high sensitivity at input wavelength of 633 nm. Volumetric analysis of the analyte reveals that very small analyte volume of the order of 10^?15 cc is sufficient to yield significant phase shift. Phase shift obtained for the breast adenocarcinoma and blood cancer cell lines are 1.2357radian and 0.3351radian, respectively, which read very high value of phase shifts to identify extremely small changes in refractive index of the analyte. Figure of merit calculated thereby expose impressive device performance outdoing preceding plasmonic sensors leading to validation of proposed ultra-compact-sensitive PMZI design.     

The Calcium-mobilizing Messenger Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Participates in Sperm Activation by Mediating the Acrosome Reaction

Before a sperm can fertilize an egg it must undergo a final activation step induced by the egg termed the acrosome reaction. During the acrosome reaction a lysosome-related organelle, the acrosome, fuses with the plasma membrane to release hydrolytic enzymes and expose an egg-binding protein. Because NAADP (nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate) releases Ca²⁺ from acidic lysosome-related organelles in other cell types, we investigated a possible role for NAADP in mediating the acrosome reaction. We report that NAADP binds with high affinity to permeabilized sea urchin sperm. Moreover, we used Mn²⁺ quenching of luminal fura-2 and ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ to directly demonstrate NAADP regulation of a cation channel on the acrosome. Additionally, we show that NAADP synthesis occurs through base exchange and is driven by an increase in Ca²⁺. We propose a new model for acrosome reaction signaling in which Ca²⁺ influx initiated by egg jelly stimulates NAADP synthesis and that this NAADP acts on its receptor/channel on the acrosome to release Ca²⁺ to drive acrosomal exocytosis.     

Control of erythrocyte membrane microviscosity by insulin

The human erythrocyte membrane binds insulin through high-affinity, low-capacity binding sites (dissociation constant Kd1 2.45 X 10(-9)M; capacity n1 207 fmol/mg protein) and low-affinity, high-capacity binding sites (Kd2 0.63 X 10(-6) M; n2 37 pmol/mg protein). Treatment of the erythrocyte membrane or the intact cells with the physiological concentration of insulin, which is within the range of Kd value of the high-affinity sites, results in a significant reduction of the membrane microviscosity and the filtration time of the intact cells. Use of supraphysiological concentrations of the hormone reverses the effect of the lower concentration of insulin on the membrane microviscosity and the filtration time.