Systemin is an important mediator of wound-induced defense gene activation in tomato plants, and it elicits a rapid alkalinization of the growth medium of cultured Lycopersicon peruvianum cells. A possible mechanistic link between proton fluxes across the plasma membrane and the induction of defense genes was investigated by modulating plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity. Inhibitors of H+-ATPase...

Salsola drummondii Ulbr. is a perennial halophyte found in salt deserts of southern Balochistan, Pakistan. Experiments were conducted to study the effects of salinity (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mM NaCl), thermoperiod (10/20, 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35C), light (12-h photoperiod and dark) and dormancy regulating chemicals (DRCs) on germination, recovery and viability of the seeds of S. drummond...

Plants acquire potassium (K+) ions for cell growth and movement via regulated diffusion through K+ channels. Here, we present crystallographic and functional data showing that the K+ inward rectifier KAT1 (K+Arabidopsis thaliana 1) channel is regulated by 14-3-3 proteins and further modulated by the phytotoxin fusicoccin, in analogy to the H+-ATPase. We identified a 14-3-3 mode III binding site...

14-3-3 proteins have been found to regulate the plant enzyme nitrate reductase by reversible phosphoserine binding. Plant plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPases, transporters that are activated by the phytotoxin fusicoccin, appear to be regulated in a similar fashion.

The goal of developing treatments for central nervous system (CNS) injuries is becoming more attainable with the recent identification of various drugs that can repair damaged axons. These discoveries have stemmed from screening efforts, large expression datasets and an improved understanding of the cellular and molecular biology underlying axon growth. It will be important to continue searchin...

When Avena coleoptile segments are immersed in a solution containing H(14)CO(3) (-), the appearance of label in the tissue is stimulated approximately 3-fold by fusicoccin application. This effect is rapid (1-2 minutes lag time), dependent upon respiratory energy, inhibited by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, but not appreciably altered by cycloheximide treatment. A large percentage of...