The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes "bakanae" disease of rice due to its ability to produce gibberellins (GAs), but it is also known for producing harmful mycotoxins. However, the genetic capacity for the whole arsenal of natural compounds and their role in the fungus' interaction with rice remained unknown. Here, we...
The synthesis of axially chiral polyfunctional derivatives of 8,8'-biquinolyl was explored and the catalytic action of appropriate derivative types investigated in three separate processes: (1) the silylcyanation of carbonyl groups and imines, (2) alkylation of a glycine Schiff-base via phase transfer-catalysis, and (3) direct amide bond formation from simple amines...
Veratrum californicum (common name: corn lily) is a wild plant species that grows in the Intermountain West, its range extending from British Columbia to Mexico. Corn lily is of interest because it has the potential to provide pharmaceutical precursors for use in the treatment of cancer. Pharmaceutical companies are currently...
In experimentally exposed mice, the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) produces significant suppression of adaptive immune responses at low doses. However, the underlying biochemical and cellular mechanisms of TCDD-induced immunotoxicity have remained elusive since the identification of these effects nearly 30 years ago. Antigen-presenting cells (APC) constitute various populations of...
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether
the beneficial effects which the consumption of fish oil
imparts on hemostatic function can be modified by the level
of dietary selenium. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed for
eight weeks semipurified diets containing 7% corn oil (by
weight) or 5.5%...
In a search for designed materials that mimic those found in biological systems, combining polymers with inorganic materials in sol-gel chemistry processes has gained momentum in the research world since the 1990's. This work methodically investigated the properties of several related polymer-SiO₂ hybrids prepared by a simple methodology that could...
Recent advances in wireless technologies have helped the proliferation of wireless devices, ranging from hand-held devices such as cellular phones to more powerful mobile computing platforms as such laptops [1]. Along with that, the end users’
applications running on these devices, ranging from text message to multimedia applications such as...
The fungus Cochliobolus victoriae causes Victoria blight of oats and Arabidopsis and is pathogenic due to its production of a compound called victorin, which induces programmed cell death in sensitive plants. Victorin sensitivity in Arabidopsis is conferred by the dominant gene LOCUS ORCHESTRATING VICTORIN EFFECTS1 (LOV1), which encodes a coiled-coil-nucleotide...
The past decade of research has potentiated a revolution in our understanding of mammalian health and evolution by revealing that the gut microbiome plays a central role in mammalian physiology. Our ability to unlock this potential hinges upon the identification of specific groups of gut microbes that elicit effects on...