polyene/arabidopsis

Reduction of the delta 7 double bond of sterols, a key biosynthetic step in higher eukaryotes, is lacking in lower eukaryotes like the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, leading to terminal sterols with a delta 5,7-conjugated diene structure. Genes encoding two sterol reductases involved, respectively,

In an organized assembly in Arabidopsis thaliana plant, proton loss from the radical cation of zeaxanthin (Zea+) was found to occur under intense illumination, a possible component in photoprotection. A stable neutral radical is formed because of the favorable proton loss at C4(4') position(s) of

Streptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in soils and are well-known for producing secondary metabolites, including antimicrobials. Increasingly, they are being isolated from plant roots and several studies have shown they are specifically recruited to the rhizosphere and the endosphere of the

Shoot branching is inhibited by auxin transported down the stem from the shoot apex. Auxin does not accumulate in inhibited buds and so must act indirectly. We show that mutations in the MAX4 gene of Arabidopsis result in increased and auxin-resistant bud growth. Increased branching in max4 shoots

The stable, recessive Arabidopsis variegated 3 (var3) mutant exhibits a variegated phenotype due to somatic areas lacking or containing developmentally retarded chloroplasts and greatly reduced numbers of palisade cells. The VAR3 gene, isolated by transposon tagging, encodes the 85.9 kDa VAR3

Sterols are lipids found in membranes of eukaryotic cells. Functions of sterols have been demonstrated for various cellular processes including endocytic trafficking in animal, fungal, and plant cells. The ability to visualize sterols at the subcellular level is crucial to understand sterol