The aim of this study was to investigate the sugar-sensing processes modulating the expression of alpha-amylase in barley (Hordeum vulgaris L. var Himalaya) embryos. The results highlight the existence of independent glucose (Glc) and disaccharides sensing. Glc treatment destabilizes the alpha-amylase mRNA. Non-metabolizable disaccharides repress alpha-amylase induction, but have no effects on ...

The influence of indoleacetic acid, cacodylic acid (hydroxy-dimethylarsine oxide), and amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) on the petiole explant abscission rate was studied in three species. Indoleacetic acid increased the abscission rate in both bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney) and Coleus (Coleus blumei Benth) at 10(-3) and 10(-4)m but had no effect on abscission in privet (Ligustru...

Two new N-methyltransferases (NMT-I and NM T-II) were found to occur in Berberis vulgaris cell suspension cultures. One of these enzymes (NM T-I) was partially purified (100-fold) and characterized. This enzyme is specific for tetrahydrobenzylisoquinoline alkaloids and S-adenosylL-methionine serves as the methyl donor. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme is 68,000. The pH optimum of the...

A light-dependent reversible grana stacking-unstacking process, paralleled by a reorganization of thylakoid components, has been noticed in greening etiolated bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, var. red kidney) leaves upon transfer to darkness. The reorganization, based on biochemical and biophysical criteria, involves mainly the photosystem II (PSII) unit components: upon transfer to darkness, the ligh...

Introduction Species of the genus Beta are recognized as sources of various viruses. A con­ siderable number o f viruses have been isolated from the species Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera (sugar beet) (Sutic et al. 1999). One of the viruses occurring in this plant all over the world is beet mosaic potyvirus (BtMV). This virus belongs to Potyviridae, a taxonomic family of easily aphid-transmitt...

Iron deficiency in higher plants causes accumulation of salts of organic acids in the roots, the most characteristic being citrate. We show that citrate and malate accumulate in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var Prélude), not because of a lack of the iron-containing enzyme aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3), but in close coupling to the extrusion of protons during rhizosphere acidification, one of the ;Fe-e...

Aqueous leaf extract of Luffa acutangula Roxb. Var. amara. Lin. was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using antibacterial activity. The silver nanoparticles formation was confirmed by the color change of plant extracts (SNPs) and further confirmed with the help of UV – Vis spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR). The absorption spectra of silver nanoparticles studied us...

Oxidative stress and inflammation are common to many pathological conditions. Defense mechanisms protect cells from oxidative stress, but can become over-activated following injury and inflammation. NF-κB and Nrf2 transcription factors regulate proinflammatory and antioxidant gene expression, respectively. Studies have shown that many natural dietary compounds regulate NF-κB and Nrf2, preventin...

Ethylene stimulated the incorporation of (32)P into RNA in the abscission zone of bean explants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney). The enhancement was observed in all fractions separated by methylated albumin kieselguhr column chromatography, although the magnitude of the increase was not the same for each fraction. Differential extraction of the nucleic acids indicated that the ethylene ...