A team of researchers at CSIC and CRAG has discovered a new method to transform chloroplasts in leaves into chromoplasts, which produce high levels of carotenoids. This process can increase the nutritional value of crops and provide a sustainable source for the food and cosmetic industries.
SourceCentre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2020
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GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
Researchers find that manipulating magnesium intake can improve photosynthetic efficiency and growth in rice plants. By understanding the daily pattern of magnesium uptake, scientists may be able to develop new strategies for improving crop yields and addressing global food shortages.
SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Plants·DateJul 10, 2020
Researchers introduce fluorescence protein sensors into live plants to visualize dynamic changes in NADPH level and NADH/NAD+ ratio in different cell types. This allows for the study of photosynthesis and photorespiration, revealing the close connection between subcellular compartments for efficient metabolism.
SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 30, 2020
A Max Planck research team led by Tobias Erb developed an artificial chloroplast platform capable of capturing and converting greenhouse gas carbon dioxide with light. The system, created using synthetic biology and microfluidics, outperforms previous synthetic-biological approaches in binding rates for carbon dioxide.
SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMay 11, 2020
Researchers develop synthetic chloroplasts using microfluidics and spinach thylakoid membranes to mimic complex natural photosynthetic processes. The system enables light-powered CO2 fixation with potential applications in small-molecule synthesis and carbon sequestration.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMay 7, 2020
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown signaling pathway that protects chloroplasts from damage caused by intense sunlight. This pathway, involving the protein SAFE1, suppresses light-induced programmed cell death and promotes stress tolerance in plants.
SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2020
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A team of researchers from Japan and the UK has identified a crucial communication route in developing chloroplasts, the energy factories of plant cells. The newly characterized protein GUN1 regulates tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, controlling the cell's production of heme.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 15, 2019
Researchers discovered that Vitamin E works in plants under extreme conditions by sending signals from chloroplasts to the cell nucleus. This retrograde signalling mechanism helps regulate key aspects of plant development, such as senescence and ripening of fruits.
SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalTrends in Plant Science·DateOct 30, 2019
Researchers have discovered a protein that triggers a defense mechanism in plant cells when exposed to excessive light, protecting them from damage. This finding has implications for agriculture, as it could help crops withstand harsh climate conditions and increase the production of proteins used in vaccines.
Researchers aim to increase photosynthesis efficiency by introducing an algal structure into plants, potentially increasing crop productivity. The team plans to engineer Arabidopsis thaliana with a functional pyrenoid to enhance carbon fixation and growth.
Researchers have identified the HvAST gene as the cause of variegation in albostrians barley, a breakthrough that sheds new light on chloroplast biogenesis. The discovery provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying chloroplast development and has significant implications for plant biology.
SourceLeibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJul 11, 2019
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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
UC Riverside researchers identified two genes responsible for regulating plant greening through mutant plant experiments. The discovery sheds light on the complex process of photosynthesis and its control by the cell's nucleus and chloroplasts.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 14, 2019
Researchers discover GUN1 plays a crucial role in regulating chloroplast-to-nucleus communication, enabling plants to respond to stress. This finding may help breed plants that can better withstand environmental stressors and maintain food production.
SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 19, 2019
A new genetic tool has been developed by MIT researchers, allowing for easier engineering of plants that can survive drought or resist fungal infections. The technique uses nanoparticles to deliver genes into the chloroplasts of plant cells, which have the potential to revolutionize plant biology and agriculture.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateFeb 25, 2019
Scientists at University of Oxford have identified a novel biochemical pathway, CHLORAD, that enables plants to tolerate environmental stresses. This breakthrough could lead to more resilient crop varieties essential for global food security.
Researchers at CRAG have discovered that chloroplasts play a key role in regulating the shade avoidance syndrome in plants, allowing them to optimize photosynthesis. This discovery has important implications for improving crop productivity without increasing land use.
SourceCentre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateFeb 5, 2019
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A new study by the University of Illinois and Massachusetts Institute of Technology refutes the idea that C4 crops like corn and sugarcane are limited in their ability to produce Rubisco, an enzyme essential for photosynthesis. The researchers found that these crops' chloroplasts have sufficient space to house more than enough Rubisco ...
SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalJournal of Experimental Botany·DateNov 12, 2018
Researchers found that mature plant chloroplasts isolate ATP production, while young leaves allow for temporary import of ATP to support development. This strategy optimizes energy efficiency in plants.
SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2018
Researchers at Osaka University have discovered a huge novel transport channel and its associated protein transport motor that is essential for chloroplast formation. The motor complex functions as an import motor in a close association with the transport channel, utilizing an ancient enzyme to extract proteins from the membrane.
SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateOct 22, 2018
Researchers at MIT have developed a self-healing material that can grow, strengthen and repair itself by reacting with carbon dioxide from the air. The material, made from a polymer and chloroplasts, becomes stronger as it incorporates the carbon.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 11, 2018
Researchers have developed a sensitive new test to detect trace amounts of peanuts in foods using the peanuts' DNA. The new assay targets DNA from peanut chloroplasts, resulting in a detection limit of about 1 part per million.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateSep 5, 2018
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
Researchers at Université de Genève reveal the mechanism of seed germination, where proplastids differentiate into chloroplasts within 48 hours. The process is controlled by growth hormone gibberellic acid and protein TOC159, ensuring rapid transition to autonomous growth.
SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 2, 2018
A team of researchers at RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science has discovered a gene in plants called Heat Inducible Lipase 1 (HIL1) that helps protect them from excessive heat. This gene enables plants to modify their fats, which stabilize chloroplast membranes and prevent damage from high temperatures.
Researchers found antioxidants from SkQ ions slow down plant cell death and senescence, but not photosynthesis or respiration. They also contain plastoquinone, which influences plant cells and chloroplasts.
SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalMitochondrion·DateJun 8, 2018
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
Researchers found that Target of Rapamycin (TOR) modulates chloroplast rRNA transcription, linking cytosolic and chloroplast ribosome biogenesis in plants. This discovery sheds light on the regulation of growth in plant cells.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateFeb 14, 2018
A team of researchers has discovered that plants' daily cycle of heat resistance is triggered by light exposure and involves chloroplast signalling. This finding could lead to the development of crops that can withstand increasingly hot temperatures and more frequent heatwaves under climate change.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 13, 2018
Researchers developed a new tool to sequence chloroplast DNA from hundreds of plants at once, allowing for accurate tracking of seed dispersal across landscapes. This method has significantly reduced the costs of genetic studies, enabling biologists to investigate plant populations and their movements.
SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateDec 14, 2017
Researchers proposed a model explaining how plants regulate photosynthesis in response to varying light intensities through redox systems like thioredoxins and NTRC. The chloroplasts have protective antioxidant enzymes, such as 2-cys peroxiredoxin, which play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of these redox systems.
SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 21, 2017
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Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Researchers at CRAG have discovered a key gene (HsfA2) that activates chaperone synthesis to rescue cells from toxic effects of misfolded proteins. This mechanism is similar to those found in human nerve cells and may help understand and treat protein-misfolding diseases.
SourceCentre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 23, 2017
A new study reveals that the chloroplast lineage split from its closest cyanobacterial ancestor over 2.1 billion years ago in low salinity environments, marking a crucial step in photosynthesis evolution. The association of the chloroplast with its eukaryotic host took place around 800-750 million years ago in marine environments.
SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 14, 2017
Researchers discovered that hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in plant adaptation to sunlight. Plants use H2O2 to signal genes in their cell nuclei, allowing them to adjust and protect photosynthesis. This process ensures plants continue to thrive under varying light conditions.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 29, 2017
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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
Japanese researchers isolated a protein essential for chloroplast nucleoid segregation, improving understanding of chloroplast DNA dynamics. The moc1 gene functions as a 'Holliday junction resolvase', untangling DNA structures crucial for cell health.
A new mutation in the Lotus japonicus plant has been identified, resulting in leaves with white spots. The mutation is linked to a shortage of chloroplast proteins, which are crucial for plant growth, and may hold clues for improving ornamental plants.
SourceAarhus University·JournalMolecular Plant·DateMay 5, 2017
Researchers discovered that green algae use a unique protein machinery in their chloroplasts to assemble functional hydrogenases. This breakthrough enables biotechnological methods for efficient hydrogen production in green algae.
SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateMar 27, 2017
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Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Scientists at Tohoku University have discovered a previously unknown type of autophagy that removes damaged chloroplasts in plants, shedding light on the aging process. This finding could lead to new methods for controlling plant aging and enhancing crop yields.
SourceTohoku University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateFeb 8, 2017
Begonia species have evolved a nanoscale light-trapping structure to harvest energy in low-light environments. The iridoplasts, found only in dark conditions, reflect blue light and absorb green light to maximize photosynthesis.
SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Plants·DateOct 24, 2016
Scientists at Universität Bonn have discovered a lipid transfer process crucial for plant cell survival. This process enables the exchange of galactolipids between chloroplast membrane envelopes, facilitating photosynthesis and plant growth.
SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 5, 2016
Researchers have discovered a novel repair system in algae that can cut out interrupting sequences from proteins, potentially leading to new biotechnological applications such as producing pharmaceuticals or protein products. The study found that chloroplast extracts and light can restore RNA-cutting activity to inactive proteins.
SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 29, 2016
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Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
Researchers visualize peptidoglycan 'wall' in moss chloroplasts for the first time, overturning traditional understanding of chloroplast structure. The discovery has significant implications for our knowledge of plant cell biology and the origins of photosynthesis.
SourceKumamoto University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJul 13, 2016
Researchers at Université de Genève identified a protein Mac1 that plays a key role in recycling photosystem I components to recover iron. In response to nutrient deficiencies, the alga dismantles its photosystems and recycles some of their components.
SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateMay 11, 2016
The new model simulates light-harvesting across a thylakoid membrane, enabling the explanation of PSII's high quantum efficiency. The research paves the way for improving food crop yields and developing artificial photosynthesis technologies for solar energy systems.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2016
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CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
Researchers developed a strategy to recover plastid sequences from nuclear DNA in plants. This allows for the assembly of complete chloroplast genomes, providing valuable information about evolutionary relationships and plant processes linked to environmental changes.
SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateNov 11, 2015
Plants have developed a unique mechanism to selectively degrade damaged chloroplasts, allowing them to conserve energy and thrive in challenging environments. This discovery could lead to the development of stronger crops with improved yield and resistance to stressors.
A new protein has been identified that selectively clears damaged chloroplasts from plant cells, reducing oxidative stress and maintaining photosynthesis efficiency. The discovery reveals a complex quality control mechanism in plants.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateOct 22, 2015
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DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
Researchers at UC Davis and the University of Delaware discovered that chloroplast tubes play a key role in plants' immune defense. The discovery reveals how chloroplasts deliver signals to the nucleus, inducing programmed cell death and preparing other cells to resist infection.
SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 25, 2015
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz identified IM30 as a protein that triggers membrane fusion, crucial for thylakoid membrane system formation and maintenance. This discovery provides a starting point for future research on membrane fusion mechanisms in chloroplasts and blue-green algae.
SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 13, 2015
A new study provides an accurate description of citrus evolution, tracing the genus back to a single common ancestor and identifying six genes driving genetic variation. The research also sheds light on the emergence of popular citrus species like mandarins and lemons.
SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateApr 14, 2015
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Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
A research team aims to create semi-artificial chloroplasts to produce biofuels and other chemicals, using synthetic biology tools. The 'Sun2Chem' project, funded by the EU with 1.2 million euros, will modify natural chloroplasts to generate biotechnologically relevant products.
A recent study reveals that sea slugs can absorb genes from the algae they eat, enabling them to photosynthesize and survive for months on sunlight. This natural process has implications for gene therapy and rapid evolution in multicellular species.
SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalBiological Bulletin·DateFeb 3, 2015
Researchers at Ludwig Maximilians University have identified a novel chloroplast membrane protein that plays a central role in transporting fatty acids from chloroplasts into the cell cytoplasm. This discovery may lead to new strategies for producing biofuels, which are rich in TAG-rich plant oils.
Researchers found that fragmented chloroplast DNA sequences, known as cpSSRs, are still widely used to study plant genetics. The number of studies using cpSSRs has doubled in the past decade.
SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateJan 6, 2015
Researchers from RIKEN and Okayama University identified PHT4;4 as the transport protein allowing vitamin C to enter chloroplasts. This discovery could lead to crop plants with higher tolerances to environmental stress, reducing damage to farmland in regions with strong light.
SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 5, 2015
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Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
Researchers embedded carbon nanotubes into chloroplasts to capture light energy by 30 percent. Plants were also modified to detect nitric oxide, a common environmental pollutant. This represents the first steps in launching plant nanobionics, a field that could turn plants into self-powered devices.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 16, 2014
A new DNA barcode has been identified for palms, allowing for reliable species recognition and hybrid detection. The study successfully identified eight out of thirteen species and correctly identified over 82% of the individuals screened.
Researchers at Oxford University Press UK identified the tannosome organelle, responsible for producing complex chemicals used in plant defense and protection. This discovery sheds light on the synthesis of tannins, a key component in making tea and red wine taste their distinctive way.
SourceOxford University Press UK·JournalAnnals of Botany·DateSep 10, 2013
New research from Carnegie Institution for Science reveals that coral bleaching occurs even when algae are heat-stressed in the dark, suggesting novel mechanisms beyond toxic oxygen molecules. The study provides key details on the breakdown of photosynthetic apparatus and potential strategies to mitigate bleaching.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 5, 2013
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
A team of scientists identified a protein that induces membrane curvature in thylakoids, enabling the formation of stacks. The CURT1 protein enhances photosynthesis efficiency by increasing the degree of stacking and potentially boosting crop yields.
SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJul 10, 2013
Researchers aim to improve biosynthetic yield of valuable natural products using metabolically modified bacteria with optimized MEP pathways. The goal is to produce high-quality substances efficiently, reducing labor and costs in the process.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·DateJul 10, 2013
For the first time, a large complex of proteins and RNA has been identified in chloroplasts, which cuts non-coding regions out of messenger RNA to create a protein blueprint. The study reveals that this splicing complex contains 23 different proteins encoded in the cell nucleus.
SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateJul 2, 2013
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
Researchers date cyanobacterial invasion into one-celled plants to 900 million years ago, revealing new insights into the origins of photosynthesis. By analyzing fossil and genetic evidence, they estimated the age of this ancient event, providing a more precise timeline for the evolution of plant and animal cells.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 19, 2013