Researchers at Nagoya University have successfully visualized asymmetric cell division in fertilized plant cells using live cell imaging. The study reveals how the direction of this division determines the body axis of flowering plants, with a small cell forming on top and a large cell at the bottom.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a triarylmethane compound that selectively inhibits cell division in plant cells. This reversible compound may be effective in controlling plant growth by targeting cell division.
A team of organic chemists developed a new reaction to directly install amines into carbonyl compounds, resulting in the rapid formation of optically active α-aminocarbonyls. This method enables access to chiral α-aminocarbonyls from readily available carbonyl compounds and hydroxylamines.
Plant biologists at ITbM, Nagoya University, have made a key discovery that the contents in pollen tubes alone can increase the size of seeds, without the need for fertilization. This new plant phenomenon, named as POEM (pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology), shows that even in the absence of fertilization, release of the...
Researchers have developed a simple and effective method for synthesizing thiophene-fused PAHs, reducing the number of required steps and reagent costs. The new approach uses elemental sulfur to induce thienannulation reactions on arylethynyl-substituted PAHs.
Researchers have discovered a key substance called EPFL2 that creates plant teeth and found out how they work. The peptide inhibits the accumulation of auxin at the skirts of tooth tips, preventing the generation of leaf teeth in plants that are unable to make EPFL2.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a new strategy to synthesize covalent organic nanotubes (ONTs) with high mechanical strength. The 'helix-to-tube' method involves light-induced cross-linking of a helical polymer, resulting in ONTs with desirable functionalities.
Researchers at Nagoya University have identified a sugar chain molecule called AMOR that increases the efficiency of plant fertilization. The team synthesized a disaccharide version of AMOR, which also activates pollen tubes to respond to attractant molecules, leading to successful fertilization.
A study published in The Plant Cell reveals that clock genes produced during the evening are regulated by clock proteins produced in the morning. This discovery sheds light on how plants adapt to their environment through a complex biological clock system.
Researchers at Nagoya University have discovered a key kinase receptor in pollen tubes that allows them to detect LURE peptides produced by ovules, guiding fertilization. This finding may lead to improved efficiency of pollen tube growth and increased success rate of fertilization.
Scientists at ITbM developed a new fluorescent dye, C-Naphox, with enhanced photostability to enable continuous live cell imaging by STED microscopy. The dye has demonstrated extreme photoresistance and no significant toxicity towards cells, opening doors to real-time biological event observation for extended periods.
Takashi Yoshimura, a professor at Nagoya University, has made outstanding contributions to thyroid hormone research. His discoveries on seasonal reproduction in birds, mammals, and fish are expected to advance human reproductive health and mood disorders related to seasonal changes.
Researchers have identified the 'wake-up protein' responsible for germination of Striga seeds using a fluorescent probe, accelerating research to control Striga growth and prevent crop losses worth billions of dollars annually. The study reveals that Striga detects host crops through strigolactone receptors, leading to a devastating im...
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that roosters follow a systematic rule based on social ranking to determine the order of crowing. Dominant birds take priority to announce the break of dawn, while subordinate birds wait patiently for their turn.
Researchers at ITbM have developed a novel, relatively inexpensive synthetic strategy using nickel catalyst to form useful compounds. Esters have been identified as a clean coupling partner for the carbon-carbon bond forming cross-coupling reaction.
Researchers at ITbM have discovered new molecules that can change the circadian rhythm in mammals by targeting the clock protein CRY. The study found critical sites on the molecules for bioactivity, which were used to investigate the regulation of the clock protein in the body's timekeeping mechanism.
In a study on flowering plants, researchers have discovered a novel cell-elimination system based on an unusual cell fusion. Successful fertilization triggers cell fusion between the persistent synergid cell and the endosperm, leading to inactivation of the persistent synergid cell.
Cathleen Crudden, a Canadian scholar at Queen's University, has been awarded the 2015 Killam Research Fellowship. She will support her ongoing project on organically modified metal surfaces for biosensing and beyond. Her research focuses on using boron chemistry to catalyze organic synthesis and materials chemistry.
Researchers developed a single-step synthesis method for nanographenes, overcoming limitations of existing methods. The new reaction enables precise control on the nanometer-scale, making it suitable for next-generation organic electronic devices.
A team of chemists at Nagoya University has synthesized novel transition metal-complexed cycloparaphenylenes that enable selective monofunctionalization of CPPs. The discovery opens doors to the construction of unprecedented nanocarbons, including carbon nanotubes with new properties.
Chemists at Nagoya University have developed a new method to synthesize multi-substituted benzene derivatives, enabling the creation of novel functional organic materials. The study reveals the first example of controlled synthesis of benzene with different arene groups at all six positions.
Researchers at Emory University and Nagoya University developed a novel concise entry to dictyodendrins, a family of natural products with potential cancer chemotherapy and treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The study demonstrates sequential C-H functionalization can streamline the construction of complex structures.
A novel ultrafast quantum chemical method called FMO-DFTB enables rapid simulations of complex molecular systems, achieving a huge improvement over traditional methods. The method has successfully evaluated large molecules including polypeptides, DNA segments, small proteins, and fullerite surfaces.
Researchers at ITbM and the University of Chicago uncover the mechanism behind thyrotropin's two distinct functions, triggered by seasonal changes and metabolism. Tissue-specific glycosylation differentiates the hormone's activities without cross-interference.
Researchers develop a new method called synthetic fermentation to rapidly synthesize large numbers of bioactive molecules using just a few building blocks. The method enables the generation of about 6,000 unnatural peptide-like molecules directly screened for biological activity without purification.
A study by Professor Takashi Yoshimura and colleagues identified a deep brain photoreceptor in Japanese quails that directly responds to light, controlling seasonal breeding activities. The receptor, called cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons, also plays a role in detecting the arrival of spring.
Researchers have developed a new nickel catalyst that catalyzes the cross-coupling reaction between carbonyl compounds and phenol derivatives to form alpha-arylketones, which are found in many biologically active compounds. The study has potential applications in synthesizing biologically active molecules and organic materials.
Theoretical simulations reveal that carbon nanotube growth and hydrocarbon combustion share similarities, with the ethynyl radical playing a key role in both processes. This finding could lead to new ways to control CNT growth and increase understanding of fuel combustion processes.