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Millions at risk as deadly fungal infections acquire drug resistance http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/27/millions-at-risk-as-deadly-fungal-infections-acquire-drug-resistance?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other View in LinkedIn

SO ENDS this first weekend on the annual metabolic changes of pine trees. Most pine trees live in severe winter conditions, and much of the metabolic adaptation is a response to those changes. Much is understood at a biochemical level today about how these hardy trees have exploited this challenging niche, and developed smart workarounds to these stressors. View in LinkedIn

BIOTIC STRESS TRIGGERS. "Genes of DHNs in fir-tree buds and stems were expressed in response to wounding, drought, and cold stress. Differential expression of DHN genes has been shown for maritime pine: a decrease in DHN gene transcript number was found in fir-tree buds and needles during bud burst. At the proteome level, DHN accumulation has been detected in response to drought in embryogenic cell lines of black spruce and seeds of Colorado pine." (DHNs = Dehydrins). https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

COLD RESISTANCE BIOMARKERS. "The appearance of dehydrins (DHNs) in cells is required for the development of cold resistance. DHNs are therefore considered specific markers of cold resistance by some authors. DHNs accumulate in plants concomitantly with a reduction of intracellular water content, and presumably protect membranes and proteins from damage caused by moisture loss." https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

SEASONAL PEAKS. "In October, the highest DHN content was found in chloroplasts and mitochondria; in April, in chloroplasts and cell walls. Chloroplasts and mitochondria contain the largest amount of membrane structures, and a lot of DHN may be accumulated there during unfavorable spring and autumn periods to protect internal membranes of chloroplasts and mitochondria." (DHNs = Dehydrins). https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

PROTECTIVE BOOST. Dehydrin "content in pine needles increases in spring and autumn when moisture availability and temperatures are most unfavorable." https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

SUPER-STABILIZERS. "Stabilization of membranes, and protection of proteins from damage caused by moisture loss, is considered to be the key function of DHNs. DHNs also possess a cryoprotective activity and the capability to scavenge metal ions and reactive-oxygen species (ROS)." (DHNs = Dehydrins). https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

BIG SWITCH. "Within the last decade, increasing knowledge about the abundance of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in genetic- and epigenetic-regulation processes, has placed the dominant interest in the genetic storage medium DNA. Now RNA is in the driver's seat." http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12570/abstract View in LinkedIn

DEHYDRINS. "DHNs are class II LEA-proteins (late-embryogenesis-abundant proteins) and appear in plants or seeds at a later stage of maturation along with a decrease in intracellular water content in response to cooling or osmotic stress." (DHNs = Dehydrins). https://lnkd.in/etsa67h View in LinkedIn

BACTERIAL MEMORY. "At the current stage of research on RNA-mediated epigenetic processes, we know that, even in prokaryotes, epigenetic imprinting exists, and that bacterial populations can memorize and learn to adapt faster and tailor their behavior to special situations/environmental circumstances." http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12570/abstract View in LinkedIn