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Background Phospholipids are important structural and signaling molecules in plant membranes. Some fluorescent dyes can stain general lipids of membranes, but labeling and visualization of specific lipid classes have yet to be developed for most components of the membrane. New techniques for visualizing membrane lipids are needed to further delineate their dynamic structural and signaling roles in plant cells. In this study we examined whether propargylcholine, a bioortholog of choline, can be used to label the major membrane lipid, phosphatidylcholine, and other choline phospholipids in plants. We established that propargylcholine is readily taken up by roots, and that its incorporation is not detrimental to plant growth. After plant tissue is harvested and fixed, a click-chemistry reaction covalently links the alkyne group of propargylcholine to a fluorescently-tagged azide, resulting in specific labeling of choline phospholipids. Results Uptake of propargylcholine, followed by click chemistry with fluorescein or Alexa Fluor 594 azide was used to visualize choline phospholipids in cells of root, leaf, stem, silique and seed tissues from Arabidopsis thaliana. Co-localization with various subcellular markers indicated coinciding fluorescent signals in cell membranes, such as the tonoplast and the ER. Among different cell types in the leaf epidermis, guard cells displayed strong labeling. Mass spectrometry-based lipidomic analysis of the various plant tissues revealed that incorporation of propargylcholine was strongest in roots with approximately 50% of total choline phospholipids being labeled, but it was also incorporated in the other tissues including seeds. Phospholipid profiling confirmed that, in each tissue analyzed, incorporation of the bioortholog had little impact on the pool of choline plus choline-like phospholipids or other lipid species. Conclusion We developed and validated a click-chemistry based method for fluorescence imaging of choline phospholipids using a bioortholog of choline, propargylcholine, in various cell-types and tissues from Arabidopsis. This click-chemistry method provides a direct way to metabolically tag and visualize specific lipid molecules in plant cells. This work paves the way for future studies addressing in situ localization of specific lipids in plants. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13007-018-0299-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Resettlement can be an uncertain time for refugees as they have often suffered life-threatening circumstances prior to flight from their countries, yet few resettlement programs screen for mental health. The purpose of this study was to pilot the Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) to assess mental health and the Pathways to Wellness intervention to identify internal and structural barriers affecting resettlement with a refugee women's sewing group. Community collaborations that create healthy social and physical environments through access to resources, economic opportunities, and social support promote a holistic approach to health and can improve quality of life for this vulnerable population.

Two fungal-secreted α-fucosidases and their genes were characterized. FoFCO1 was purified from culture filtrates of Fusarium oxysporum strain 0685 grown on l-fucose and its encoding gene identified in the sequenced genome of strain 4287. FoFCO1 was active on p-nitrophenyl-α-fucoside (pNP-Fuc), but did not defucosylate a nonasaccharide (XXFG) fragment of pea xyloglucan. A putative α-fucosidase gene (FgFCO1) from Fusarium graminearum was expressed in Pichia pastoris. FgFCO1 was ∼1,800 times less active on pNP-Fuc than FoFCO1, but was able to defucosylate the XXFG nonasaccharide. Although FgFCO1 and FoFCO1 both belong to Glycosyl Hydrolase family 29, they share

in: III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Volume 4: Targeted Screening of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Economics and Law

Two fungal-secreted α-fucosidases and their genes were characterized. FoFCO1 was purified from culture filtrates of Fusarium oxysporum strain 0685 grown on L-fucose and its encoding gene identified in the sequenced genome of strain 4287. FoFCO1 was active on p-nitrophenyl- α-fucoside (pNP-Fuc), but did not defucosylate a nonasaccharide (XXFG) fragment of pea xyloglucan. A putative α-fucosidase gene (FgFCO1) from Fusarium graminearum was expressed in Pichia pastoris. FgFCO1 was ∼1,800 times less active on pNP-Fuc than FoFCO1, but was able to defucosylate the XXFG nonasaccharide. Although FgFCO1 and FoFCO1 both belong to Glycosyl Hydrolase family 29, they share

Antiangiogenic compounds are gaining more and more interest as a new approach in the prevention and treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the antiangiogenic effect of a red clover extract (RCE) used in food supplements for menopausal complaints as well as of its main isoflavones in an in vivo system, the chorioallantoic membrane assay of fertilized hen's eggs. At a dosage of 250 microg/pellet the red clover extract showed excellent inhibition of angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic activity of the non-methylated isoflavones daidzein and genistein was higher than that of the methylated compounds formononentin and biochanin A. The results demonstrate that RCE is not only suitable for menopausal complaints, but might also be a powerful chemopreventive agent against chronic diseases e.g. which have a high incidence especially in elderly female.

High-throughput MS/MS was used to identify proteins secreted by Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) during growth on 13 media in vitro and in planta during infection of wheat heads. In vitro secreted proteins were collected from the culture filtrates, and in planta proteins were collected by vacuum infiltration. A total of 289 proteins (229 in vitro and 120 in planta) were identified with high statistical confidence. Forty-nine of the in planta proteins were not found in any of the in vitro conditions. The majority (91-100%) of the in vitro proteins had predicted signal peptides, but only 56% of the in planta proteins. At least 13 of the nonsecreted proteins found only in planta were single-copy housekeeping enzymes, including enolase, triose phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase, calmodulin, aconitase, and malate dehydrogenase. The presence of these proteins in the in planta but not in vitro secretome might indicate that significant fungal lysis occurs during pathogenesis. On the other hand, several of the proteins lacking signal peptides that were found in planta have been reported to be potent immunogens secreted by animal pathogenic fungi, and therefore could be important in the interaction between F. graminearum and its host plants.

Additional file 7: Table S5. Mole percent of non-choline lipids in propargylcholine-treated and untreated control plants.

Additional file 5: Table S3. Mole percent of choline phospholipids in propargylcholine-treated and untreated control plants.

Additional file 7: Table S5. Mole percent of non-choline lipids in propargylcholine-treated and untreated control plants.

Additional file 5: Table S3. Mole percent of choline phospholipids in propargylcholine-treated and untreated control plants.

Zika virus (ZIKV) invades and persists in the central nervous system (CNS), causing severe neurological diseases. However the virus journey, from the bloodstream to tissues through a mature endothelium, remains unclear. Here, we show that ZIKV-infected monocytes represent suitable carriers for viral dissemination to the CNS using human primary monocytes, cerebral organoids derived from embryonic stem cells, organotypic mouse cerebellar slices, a xenotypic human-zebrafish model, and human fetus brain samples. We find that ZIKV-exposed monocytes exhibit higher expression of adhesion molecules, and higher abilities to attach onto the vessel wall and transmigrate across endothelia. This phenotype is associated to enhanced monocyte-mediated ZIKV dissemination to neural cells. Together, our data show that ZIKV manipulates the monocyte adhesive properties and enhances monocyte transmigration and viral dissemination to neural cells. Monocyte transmigration may represent an important mechanism required for viral tissue invasion and persistence that could be specifically targeted for therapeutic intervention., Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect the central nervous system, but it is not clear how it reaches the brain. Here, Ayala-Nunez et al. show in ex vivo and in vivo models that ZIKV can hitch a ride in monocytes in a Trojan Horse manner to cross the endothelium and disseminate the virus.

Although eucalypts are the most planted hardwood trees worldwide, the majority of them are frost sensitive. The recent creation of frost-tolerant hybrids such as Eucalyptus gundal plants (E. gunnii × E. dalrympleana hybrids), now enables the development of industrial plantations in northern countries. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of cold on the wood structure and composition of these hybrids, and on the biosynthetic and regulatory processes controlling their secondary cell-wall (SCW) formation. We used an integrated approach combining histology, biochemical characterization and transcriptomic profiling as well as gene co-expression analyses to investigate xylem tissues from Eucalyptus hybrids exposed to cold conditions. Chilling temperatures triggered the deposition of thicker and more lignified xylem cell walls as well as regulation at the transcriptional level of SCW genes. Most genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, except those specifically dedicated to syringyl unit biosynthesis, were up-regulated. The construction of a co-expression network enabled the identification of both known and potential new SCW transcription factors, induced by cold stress. These regulators at the crossroads between cold signalling and SCW formation are promising candidates for functional studies since they may contribute to the tolerance of E. gunnii × E. dalrympleana hybrids to cold.

International audience; Many different environmental factors (nutrients, pollutants, chemicals, physical activity, lifestyle, physical and mental stress) can modulate epigenetic markers in the developing and adult organism. Epigenetics, in turn, can cause and is associated with several neurodegenerative and aging-dependent human diseases. Alzheimer's disease certainly represents one of the most relevant neurodegenerative disorders due to its incidence and its huge socio-economic impact. Therefore, it is easy to understand why recent literature focuses on the epigenetic modifications associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. One of the most intriguing and, at the same time, worrying evidence is that even "mild" environmental factors (such as behavioral or physical stress) as well as the under-threshold exposure to pollutants and chemicals, can be effective. Finally, even mild nutrients disequilibria can result in long-lasting and functional alterations of many epigenetic markers, although they don't have an immediate acute effect. Therefore, we will probably have to re-define the current risk threshold for many factors, molecules and stresses. Among the many different environmental factors affecting the epigenome, nutrition represents one of the most investigated fields; the reasons are probably that each person interacts with nutrients and that, in turn, nutrients can modulate at molecular level the epigenetic biochemical pathways. The role that nutrition can exert in modulating epigenetic modifications in Alzheimer's disease will be discussed with particular emphasis on the role of B vitamins and DNA methylation.

International audience; Miscanthus represents a key candidate energy crop for use in biomass-to-liquid fuel-conversion processes and biorefineries to produce a range of liquid fuels and chemicals; it has recently attracted considerable attention. Its yield, elemental composition, carbohydrate and lignin content and composition are of high importance to be reviewed for future biofuel production and development. Starting from Miscanthus, various pre-treatment technologies have recently been developed in the literature to break down the lignin structure, disrupt the crystalline structure of cellulose, and enhance its enzyme digestibility. These technologies included chemical, physicochemical, and biological pre-treatments. Due to its significantly lower concentrations of moisture and ash, Miscanthus also represents a key candidate crop for use in biomass-to-liquid conversion processes to produce a range of liquid fuels and chemicals by thermochemical conversion. The goal of this paper is to review the current status of the technology for biofuel production from this crop within a biorefinery context.

The recovery of planktons from red tide is investigated by magnetic seeding method experimentally. A species of marine plankton, Hornellia is used in this experiment. Magnetic seeding material, is magnetite. PAC is the effective coagulant below pH9.6. The recovery is 100% at pH9.3, PAC concentration of 80 ppm and magnetite concentration of 50 ppm. Not only PAC but also aluminum sulfate are effective above pH9.6. Also the recovery is 96% at pH 9.9 and magnetite concentration of 50 ppm without coagulant.