SUN (Sad1/UNC-84) domain-containing proteins are highly conserved throughout evolution. They are localized to the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope and are involved in nuclear migration and ...nucleoskeleton formation. In the present study, a genome-wide investigation was performed in three dicotyledonous (Arabidopsis thaliana, Glycine max and Medicago truncatula) and three monocotyledonous (Oryza sativa, Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor) plants. A total of 56 SUN proteins encoded by 30 genes were identified. Based on their length, transmembrane topology, conserved domains and phylogenetic relationships, they could be divided into two previously defined groups- Cter-SUN and mid-SUN proteins. Expression of these genes was analyzed in different developmental stages, tissues and various unfavorable conditions such as salinity, drought, and hormonal treatment. Analyses indicated that the expression of SUN1/2 transcripts are ubiquitous; that of SUN3/4 are development/tissue regulated, and SUN5 are inflorescence stage-specific. This study provides an initial framework for the characterization and functional validation of the plant SUN family.
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•Presence of multiple copies of SUN proteins was observed in six plant species.•Two different classes of SUN proteins possess some universal and conserved features.•Transcript analysis strongly suggests their stress-specific alteration.
The massive accumulation of protein sequences arising from the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing, coupled with automatic annotation, results in high levels of incorrect annotations. In ...this study, we describe an approach to decrease annotation errors of protein families characterized by low overall sequence similarity. The GDSL lipolytic family comprises proteins with multifunctional properties and high potential for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. The number of proteins assigned to this family has increased rapidly over the last few years. In particular, the natural abundance of GDSL enzymes reported recently in plants indicates that they could be a good source of novel GDSL enzymes. We noticed that a significant proportion of annotated sequences lack specific GDSL motif(s) or catalytic residue(s). Here, we applied motif-based sequence analyses to identify enzymes possessing conserved GDSL motifs in selected proteomes across the plant kingdom.
Motif-based HMM scanning (Viterbi decoding-VD and posterior decoding-PD) and the here described PD/VD protocol were successfully applied on 12 selected plant proteomes to identify sequences with GDSL motifs. A significant number of identified GDSL sequences were novel. Moreover, our scanning approach successfully detected protein sequences lacking at least one of the essential motifs (171/820) annotated by Pfam profile search (PfamA) as GDSL. Based on these analyses we provide a curated list of GDSL enzymes from the selected plants. CLANS clustering and phylogenetic analysis helped us to gain a better insight into the evolutionary relationship of all identified GDSL sequences. Three novel GDSL subfamilies as well as unreported variations in GDSL motifs were discovered in this study. In addition, analyses of selected proteomes showed a remarkable expansion of GDSL enzymes in the lycophyte, Selaginella moellendorffii. Finally, we provide a general motif-HMM scanner which is easily accessible through the graphical user interface ( http://compbio.math.hr/ ).
Our results show that scanning with a carefully parameterized motif-HMM is an effective approach for annotation of protein families with low sequence similarity and conserved motifs. The results of this study expand current knowledge and provide new insights into the evolution of the large GDSL-lipase family in land plants.
In the Food-based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs), food classification is based on food groups and nutrient sources. Much research has already investigated multiple aspects of consumer understanding of ...the information described in these documents. However, no study has evaluated consumer understanding of all food items contained in the groups described in the FBDGs. This study aimed to assess Brazilian consumers' understanding of food classification according to food groups in the concepts of the FBDGs. Therefore, an instrument, Consumer Understanding of Food Groups (UFG), was constructed and validated to assess consumer understanding of food groups. The instrument comprised 44 items approved by experts (agreement > 80%). A total of 894 Brazilians from all regions participated in this study. The results suggest that 48.9% of the participants believe it is easier to classify food according to food groups. The classification of food groups is based on the origin of the food (animal and vegetable). Although consumers easily recognize foods according to their origin, we still identify asymmetries regarding including food items from the animal kingdom and species from the plant kingdom. This exploratory study highlights important information that can contribute to improving the FBDGs. It is essential to consider consumers' understanding and guide them regarding choices from a technical point of view.
This natural world, so to speak, is the raw material of the spiritual. Therefore, before man can understand the spiritual, he must understand the natural. This book explores the theory that all ...animals and plants have a soul and will survive death.
An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation
offer valuable insights for human thriving. We know that
plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing
carbon dioxide and ...producing oxygen. They nourish other living
organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well,
improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But
plants don't just passively provide. They also take action. Beronda
L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms
often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are
masters of adaptation. They "know" what and who they are, and they
use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a
kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They
distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to
ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of
fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative
behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in
a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment. Lessons from
Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows
how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just
what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes.
What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more
aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling
on perception and awareness? Montgomery's meditative study puts
before us a question with the power to reframe the way we live:
What would a plant do?
Despite the significant impacts of alien plant species (IAS), there has not been a concerted effort to tackle the problem across the region. This can mainly be ascribed to a lack of policy, little ...awareness and limited capacity at a national and regional level. The UN Environment-Global Environment Facility project, 'Removing Barriers to Invasive Species Management in Production and Protection Forests in SE Asia', which was active in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, identified these barriers and produced this Guide which will go a long way to creating awareness about invasive plants, their impacts and how best to manage them. This Guide serves as an invaluable aid in the identification, mapping, monitoring, and management of IAS that are already present in ASEAN member states, or which may become problematic in the future, due to increased trade and travel, economic development and climate change. It is hoped that this Guide would trigger similar efforts in other countries in Southeast Asia as the region moves toward socio-economic integration.
Medicinal plants are a source of a wide variety of biologically active compounds that have been used extensively over many centuries as crude material or pure compounds for treating various diseases. ...Of the estimated 250,000-500,000 species of plants on Earth, only 1%-10% are used by humans. Plant-based traditional medicine plays a key role in the development and advancement of modern studies by serving as a starting point for the development of novelties in drug discovery. This book presents a comprehensive overview of medicinal plants and their potential uses, with chapters on Chinese traditional medicine, antioxidant activity of faba bean extracts, and antiviral activity of several plant extracts. This book will prove useful to a wide variety of readers, from medical professionals to farmers and gardeners to those interested in herbs and herbal medicine.
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