Articles tagged with Plant Biochemistry
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Mannitol outperforms other green additives in slowing re-polymerisation of cellulose-lignin linkages, cutting molecular weight and raising hydrogenolysis monomer yield. The additive forms an average of 28 hydrogen bonds per simulation box, effectively capping sites where carbocations normally form.
Researchers found that diverse plant communities emit more complex chemical signals, which can affect individual plants and the entire ecosystem. The study highlights the importance of biodiversity in maintaining natural signaling systems and supports sustainable agriculture practices to promote plant diversity.
Scientists at the University of York discovered a plant gene that produces a powerful alkaloid, securinine, in a unique process driven by bacterial-like genes. This finding allows for the mass production of valuable compounds in labs, reducing reliance on rare plants and harsh chemicals.
A new AI method has identified 51 old pea varieties with high starch and protein content, potentially suitable for producing plant-based foods. The study shows a close relationship between seed appearance and chemical composition, enabling partial prediction of properties based on images.
A UAlbany researcher will study how PFAS 'forever chemicals' accumulate in plants, affecting their nutritional quality and safety. The study aims to understand the dynamics of PFAS in soil-plant systems and develop regulatory standards to protect public health.
Researchers at Chonnam National University identified a hidden molecular switch that quickly reprograms root development to withstand cold conditions. The discovery highlights opportunities to protect crops from rising climate instability by enhancing specific signaling pathways or stabilizing key regulators.
Researchers will leverage genetic diversity and advanced phenotyping to understand sorghum's stress resilience, linking genotype to phenotype through genomics and gene editing. The project aims to develop crops that thrive in stressful environments, informing engineering and breeding strategies for future climates.
A new iron transporter protein, OsIET1, has been identified in rice, crucial for delivering iron to young leaves. The study reveals OsIET1 mediates inter-vascular Fe transfer, promoting optimal plant growth and productivity.
Researchers discovered that plants respond to compacted soil by thickening their roots and changing their structure, allowing them to penetrate harder. This mechanism is similar to basic engineering principles, such as a pipe's diameter and outer wall strength affecting its ability to resist buckling.
Researchers achieved hydroxyl groups esterification and lignin dissolution through a two-hour pyridine-benzoyl chloride bath. The resulting fibers became photobleaching and stable under accelerated weathering, with a 15-unit ΔE* swing and 96% plunge in tensile strength.
The 2025 Tata Transformation Prize recognizes Padubidri V. Shivaprasad's epigenetic engineering for climate-resilient rice, Balasubramanian Gopal's sustainable bio-manufacturing platform using E. coli bacteria, and Ambarish Ghosh's cancer-targeting magnetic nanorobots.
This book provides an in-depth overview of 120 wild vegetable species from India's Western Ghats biodiversity region, covering their morphology, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and nutritional composition. It connects indigenous knowledge with modern plant science to promote the sustainable use of underutilized edible plants.
A study found that fungal oxalic acid (OA) regulates the extracellular domain (ECD) of CERK1 through site-specific deamidation, impairing chitin-triggered plant immunity. This mechanism enables fungal pathogens to suppress host defenses.
A collaborative research team is studying how photosynthetic cells retain 'heat stress memory', a key adaptive mechanism that could help crops withstand intense heat waves. The team aims to decode this process using genome-scale and high-throughput approaches.
Scientists have created a micro-algal platform that allows for automated and fast testing of chloroplast genetic modifications, opening up plant chloroplasts to high-throughput applications. This platform enables researchers to fine-tune genetic circuits and identify which modifications have real potential.
A new approach allows scientists to directly correlate gene expression with metabolite abundance, enabling the elucidation of complex plant natural product biosynthetic pathways. This method can help identify specialized cell types involved in producing therapeutically relevant chemical compounds.
Researchers show low-molecular-weight kraft lignin restores insulin sensitivity and slashes blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The fractionation process is simple, scalable, and cost-effective, positioning lignin as a renewable and non-toxic active ingredient for functional foods or therapies.
A team of scientists at Heidelberg University has discovered a protein complex in chloroplasts that triggers the closure of microscopic pores on leaves to prevent water loss. This hormone, abscisic acid, is formed via biosynthesis and ensures plant survival during extreme drought conditions.
The Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides comprehensive support for groundbreaking research in plant science. The program aims to nurture innovative scientists and foster collaboration between disciplines.
University of Arkansas researchers have found a new way to clean wastewater of toxic and carcinogenic dyes commonly used in the garment industry. They developed an environmentally friendly solution using lignin, a low-cost biopolymer derived from plant cell walls.
Scientists developed a novel single-atom copper pesticide that maximizes copper utilization while minimizing environmental impact. The new Cu1/CaCO3 pesticide achieves high disease control efficacy and reduces copper soil residue by 20-fold.
Researchers found that conifer resin contains a mix of ancient and recent diterpenes, which may aid in combating bark beetles. The team's genetic analysis revealed that some diterpenes originated 300 million years ago, while others developed more recently and independently in different tree species.
The Danforth Plant Science Center has hired George "Cody" Bagnall as Director of its Field Research Site, a 140-acre testing ground for real-world plant science applications. The site allows researchers to test hypotheses in authentic field conditions, bridging applied and basic plant science with environmental realities.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified a way for harmful bacteria like Pseudomonas syringae to bypass a plant's defenses using a protein called PmeR that detects auxin and activates genes making the germs more aggressive. This finding could lead to new approaches for protecting crops by understanding how bact...
Researchers found that freeze-drying preserves sulfoethylated kraft lignin's functional integrity, maintaining charge density, solubility, and sulfonic acid groups. Oven drying compromised performance, triggering chemical changes that reduced solubility and increased glass transition temperature.
Scientists have developed wheat plants that produce their own fertilizer through a bacterial work-around, opening the path toward less air and water pollution worldwide. This breakthrough could be a boon for food security in developing countries, especially Africa where fertilizers are often unaffordable.
Lucia Strader's lab at Salk will explore how plants sense and integrate environmental cues to shape their growth and development. Her work aims to advance fundamental understanding of plant biology and design more resilient crop varieties.
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
Researchers develop biodegradable polyurethane using natural polymer lignin and captured carbon dioxide, reducing energy consumption and toxic chemicals. The material is strong, heat-resistant, and easily processed, making it a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Researchers found that mangrove populations have nearly tripled in areas with oysters, leading to significant acidification of oyster reef sediment. Oyster shell dissolution could impact reef viability and services like filtration and storm surge reduction.
A novel, needle-type biosensor allows for real-time monitoring of sucrose uptake in plants, revealing light-dependent stomatal uptake and daily rhythms. The sensor's high sensitivity and stability enable the detection of subtle physiological events, shedding new light on plant biology.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Spearhead Bio a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant to develop improved corn varieties. The company's breakthrough platform, TAHITI, enables precise and seamless gene insertion into crops.
Researchers have charted how plant metabolism responds to genetic changes that increase oil production, finding simultaneous increases in both oil and protein content. The study's findings will provide scientists with clues for optimizing biofuel production in plants such as camelina and pennycress.
The Moon-Rice project is developing a super-dwarf rice variety that can thrive in microgravity and produce high yields, addressing nutritional deficiencies in space. Researchers are also exploring ways to enrich the protein content of the crop to support astronaut health.
Research presents fig tree species storing calcium carbonate in trunks, converting CO2 from atmosphere. The oxalate-carbonate pathway increases soil pH and nutrient availability, making it a potential means to mitigate CO2 emissions.
Indole biosynthesis in flowering plants is mediated by the pseudoenzyme TSB-like, which enables the release of free indole as a volatile compound. This mechanism allows plants to defend against pests and attract pollinators through their scent.
Researchers developed a method to edit crop plant genes, discovering influence on taste and shape. The technique enables examining thousands of genes, overcoming challenges like genetic redundancy.
Research reveals myosin XI's essential role in guiding AtNIP5;1 to its correct location on the cell membrane, enabling active boron absorption. Plants lacking myosin XI exhibit severe growth defects and reduced boron levels, highlighting the protein's critical function.
A Kobe University team has identified a new molecule, solanoeclepin C, that plants secrete to attract soil microbes. This newly found compound is converted into hatching factors that cause potato cyst nematodes to hatch prematurely, potentially offering a novel approach to parasite control.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology elucidated the biosynthetic pathway of ipecacuanha alkaloids in two distantly related plant species. The study reveals that both species developed the same pathway independently, with a surprising twist: the first step does not involve an enzyme, but occurs spontaneously.
A new nanoparticle smart spray developed by NUS researchers protects plants from harmful bacteria by delivering antibacterial compounds directly to the plant's stomata. Plants treated with the targeted particles are 20 times more resistant to infection than those given non-targeted treatments.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found a mutant protein that helps plants fight mildew, but also accelerates leaf aging and yellowing. The discovery could contribute to crop yield improvement and sustainable agriculture.
A new study suggests that reforestation efforts can lower global average temperatures by 0.34 degrees Celsius, roughly one-quarter of the warming already experienced. This is due to the chemical interactions between trees and the atmosphere, which amplify their cooling effect.
Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology discovered five novel small molecules that can delay flowering in plants without heat treatment. These compounds, called devernalizers, reactivated the expression of a key gene suppressor of flowering, allowing for enhanced crop yield and resilience.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg have developed a new avenue to combat the Cucumber mosaic virus by directing the plant's natural defences. The RNA-based active agents have shown high efficacy in laboratory experiments, protecting 80-100% of treated plants from infection.
Researchers have developed ExPOSE, a method that allows for the visualization of plant cells with greater resolution, enabling studies on protein and RNA location, and cellular response. The technique uses protoplasts to overcome cell wall challenges, paving the way for a powerful new toolkit in plant biology.
Ferulic acid significantly reduced cell viability in three human colon cancer cell lines, suppressing cell growth and migration. The compound induced cell cycle arrest and upregulated tumor suppressor proteins, suggesting its potential as a dietary strategy for colon cancer prevention.
Researchers mapped yerba mate's genome, discovering an ancestor that duplicated its genome 50 million years ago. This event led to the evolution of caffeine biosynthesis in yerba mate and coffee through convergent pathways. The study provides opportunities for creating plant varieties with new characteristics.
A Dartmouth-led study reveals the fundamental genetic pathways and biological mechanisms behind the corpse flower's heat production and odorous chemicals. The researchers identify a new component of the corpse flower's odor, an organic chemical called putrescine, which is released when the plant blooms.
Researchers developed a new system to produce high-yield proteins in lettuce by silencing specific genes. This method increases recombinant protein expression by over two times, making it a promising alternative for large-scale production.
Researchers found specific gene mutations in barley affect starch synthesis, forming elongated starch granules with altered properties. Mutations disrupt enzymes, altering glucose chain formation and branching.
The study reveals the genes that enable plants to make DMSP, allowing them to thrive in salty and drought conditions. This breakthrough could improve agricultural productivity in nitrogen-poor soils, making crops more sustainable in the face of global climate change.
Researchers are developing soybeans that can handle extreme weather conditions, allowing farmers to maintain yields under pressure. By studying plant adaptation strategies, scientists aim to create more resilient soybean varieties.
A study found increased antioxidant content and activity in Japanese apricot pickles made with salted red perilla leaves. The phenolic compounds' release was highest before digestion, but a significant increase occurred between 60 minutes and 120 minutes of small intestinal digestion.
Researchers at the University of Delaware found that flooded rice fields contain higher amounts of arsenic and lower amounts of cadmium. The drier conditions lead to lower arsenic and higher cadmium levels. This study provides potential guidance for reducing toxic metals in foods typically eaten by infants and children.
Researchers developed a method to collect and plant genetically diverse red spruce seeds, resulting in higher establishment success and increased forest resilience. The approach pools multiple seed sources, increasing evolvability and minimizing deleterious mutations.
In this study, researchers identified PIF transcriptional regulators and KAT1 gene as essential players in regulating stomata aperture during day/night cycles. This understanding can be used to optimize plant yield and adaptation to different stressors, such as drought conditions.
Researchers review Silibinin's efficacy in managing inflammation, a key factor in tumour development and aging. The molecule may reduce drug-related toxicity and increase therapeutic potential in integrated cancer therapies.
Researchers have discovered that complementary genes in bacteria and algae living in the same algal colonies coordinate the use and movement of nutrients within the colony. This discovery could lead to new ways to prevent harmful algal blooms, improving water quality and habitat for aquatic organisms.
Researchers have determined the molecular level function of free-forming structures in plant cells that help sense light and temperature, enabling plants to distinguish a range of different light intensities. The formation of these organelles is not random but is linked to specific locations within the cell, particularly near centromeres.