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Fancy a side of 3D printed carrots and crickets with your meal?

A Singapore-based research team has created a systematic engineering approach for optimizing the production of 3D printed food inks with alternative proteins. The method uses Response Surface Methodology to minimize time and resources, resulting in visually appealing, flavorful, and nutritionally adequate foods enhanced with sustainabl...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalFood Hydrocolloids·DateAug 5, 2022

An Achilles heel shared by plants and animals

Researchers discovered that diphthamide is formed in plants and plays a crucial role in protein biosynthesis, with reduced growth rates observed when its formation is impaired. Environmental stressors such as copper and cadmium also inhibit diphthamide production, highlighting a new factor influencing plant growth rates.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

What makes a plant grow towards light?

Researchers have identified a family of proteins called PIN-FORMED as essential for auxin transport, guiding plant growth and development. The discovery provides the first structural basis of auxin transport by PIN proteins and sheds light on how herbicides can be recognized by these proteins.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2022

NTU Singapore and ETH Zurich scientists decontaminate heavy metal water using protein from plant waste

Scientists have created a membrane made from a waste by-product of vegetable oil manufacturing that can filter out heavy metals from contaminated water. The membrane uses proteins derived from peanut or sunflower oil production to attract and trap heavy metal ions, purifying water to international drinking standards.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2022

A new light in rice flowering

The study clarifies the role of photoperiodism in regulating rice flowering time. Phytochrome B makes connection between light and Evening Complex, while active ELF3-1 protein triggers late flowering. Evening Complex plays essential role in inducing flowering, with inactive proteins leading to no flowering.

Building block for a longer life

Heidelberg University researchers have identified a key protein HYPK that regulates N-terminal acetylation, prolonging plant protein life and enhancing drought resistance. This mechanism appears to be ancient, retained across various organisms.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 15, 2022

Newly discovered protein in fungus bypasses plant defenses

A team of scientists has identified a protein called SsPINE1 that allows the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to overcome plant defenses. This discovery could lead to new avenues for controlling white mold stem rot pathogens and potentially even more effective, targeted breeding to make plants naturally resistant.

SourceUS Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2022

Nudging acceptance of alternative proteins

A recent study by SMU Associate Professors Mark Chong and Angela Leung found that the ultimate form and presentation of alternative protein products significantly impact their acceptance by consumers. Focusing on the end product and framing alternative proteins as a positive highlight of an exciting food future may foster greater accep...

Gene important in soybean protein content found after 30-year search

University of Illinois researchers found a key gene responsible for increasing soybean protein content by approximately 2%. The discovery could lead to significant increases in protein production, addressing global food security issues. However, the gene's function is unclear and may involve the plant's circadian machinery.

Help for stressed-out cells in a crisis

Researchers found that mitochondria can respire away harmful substances to protect protein folding, revealing an unexpected 'patron saint' role. This mechanism is triggered by reductive stress and protects proteins destined for export, showcasing the flexibility of plant mitochondria.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJan 26, 2022

Peanut studies reveal surprising truths about RNA and open the door to better understanding epigenetic mechanisms in plants

Scientists have discovered a new layer of regulation in plant-microbe interactions using peanut studies. An antisense long-noncoding RNA, DONE40, was found to bind to a protein involved in epigenetic control, suggesting a conserved function across plants and animals.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2022

Plants: RNA notes to self

Plant cells use RNA signals to coordinate growth, but these signals require a special escort protein to reach the right cells. Without this protein, plants fail to develop properly, highlights a crucial step in understanding how information is exchanged between cells.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalScience·DateJan 13, 2022

NTU Singapore scientists invent a protein-rich product made from plants that could replace dairy and eggs in certain foods

A team of scientists from NTU Singapore has developed a plant-based emulsifier that is rich in protein and antioxidants, allowing it to replace eggs or dairy in food staples. The emulsifier is made by fermenting brewers' spent grain and can help cut down on food waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalFood Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2021

Plants’ reaction to stress

Plants form cytoplasmic complexes called stress granules as a defense mechanism to promote cell survival. A recent study identified TSN protein as a crucial scaffolding protein that recruits plant-specific components, including SnRK1 kinase, to stress granules.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateNov 24, 2021

New knowledge about our Earth’s most important biochemical reaction: A step towards increasing CO2 uptake in plants

A team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen has identified a group of proteins, called CURT1, that control the development of green leaves in plants. This discovery sheds new light on photosynthesis, which is essential for life on Earth and could lead to more efficient CO2 absorption.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2021

Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered a mechanism that helps plants cope with water shortages

Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered a central mechanism in plants that helps them deal with drought conditions and water shortages. They found that the ABA signal molecule is stored in inactive state in leaves and released under desired conditions, allowing plants to rapidly respond to changing environmental conditions.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 2, 2021

Higher fasting ‘hunger hormone’ levels from healthy diet may improve heart health and metabolism

A clinical trial found that a green Mediterranean diet rich in leafy greens like Mankai and green tea can elevate fasting ghrelin levels, reducing belly fat and improving insulin sensitivity. This approach may also have additional cardiometabolic benefits.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 13, 2021

New study capture sugar transport fundamental to plants

Researchers at Aarhus University have elucidated structures of a sugar transport protein that drives transport of sugar in plants, revealing key elements involved in the transport cycle. The study provides new evidence for regulatory mechanisms conserved within the sugar porter family across all kingdoms of life.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2021

The microbial molecule that turns plants into zombies

Parasitic bacteria manipulate plant development by hijacking molecular machinery, causing abnormal growth and reprogramming the plant's lifecycle. Researchers identified a key protein that facilitates this process, opening doors to genetic editing technologies for durable resistance against phytoplasmas.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 17, 2021