Perception of the parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa, as an invader, by the tomato Solanum lycopersicum.

Cuscuta spp. are assigned to the family of the Morning glories (Convolvulaceae) and live as obligate holoparasitic plants, which infect the shoot of the host plants. They have a broad host spectrum and infect nearly all dicot plants with a few notable exceptions. For example, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is able to fend off the parasite’s attack with an active defense. It responds to extracts of C. reflexa in a similar manner as known for the detection of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) (e.g. increased ethylene biosynthesis and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)). Using recombinant inbred lines between the resistant S. lycopersicum and the susceptible S. pennellii allowed for mapping of the corresponding locus within the tomato genome, responsible for the response against Cuscuta. Further mapping led to the identification of the leucine-rich repeat receptor like protein (LRR-RLP) CuRe1 (Cuscuta Receptor 1). CuRe1 perceives a molecular pattern from C. reflexa and subsequently induces the defense responses described above. Initial characterization indicated for a proteinaceous defense trigger with potential secondary modifications. To identify this parasite associated molecular pattern (ParAMP) we used chromatographic purification techniques (SPE, FPLC, HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). After purification and subsequent analyses, we found multiple 2-3 kDa peptides in different fractions of the C. reflexa extract that could be correlated with the CuRe1 activation. After in-depth MS analyses and partial peptide sequencing, we found that these peptides are degradation products of the same precursor protein, a class II C. reflexa glycine-rich protein (CrGRP). We could specify the epitope within the protein to a 21 aa long peptide with six cysteine residues. Synthesized peptides as well as heterologously expressed CrGRP were able to induce CuRe1-dependent defense responses. These findings demonstrate CrGRP as the ParAMP which is specifically recognized by CuRe1 and enables tomato to detect C. reflexa as a pathogenic invader. Notably, GRPs are widespread among plants, microbes and animals. Tomato itself possesses this type of GRP with a comparable six Cysteine motif. Nevertheless, these tomato homologs do not activate CuRe1. Future work will address the question why this motif serves as a specific target for Cuscuta perception

Wirkungsorientiertes Non Profit Organisation-Controlling

"Benötigen 'Non-for-Profit-Organisationen' ein eigenes Controllinginstrumentarium, das sich von den Aufgaben, Verfahren und Methoden der 'normalen' Controllerarbeit unterscheidet? Müssen sich NPO-Controller nicht auch, so wie es im Controllerleitbild der International Group of Controlling formuliert ist, um Planung, Steuerung, Ergebnistransparenz, Wirtschaftlichkeit, Berichtswesen, Zielorientierung und betriebswirtschaftliche Informationsversorgung kümmern?" (Autorenreferat

Proteins and Lipoproteins in Yolk From Eggs of the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): A Comparison With Egg Yolk Of The Hen (Gallus domesticus)

1. The livetin patterns of the two species Crocodylus porosus and Gallus domesticus were very different and it was difficult to find a correspondence. 2. In C. porosus the granules were a larger proportion of the total yolk but they contained very little low-density lipoprotein when compared with granules from hens' eggs. 3. The low-density lipoprotein was a lower proportion of the yolk of C. porosus: 30% of the dry weight compared with 60% for the hen. Furthermore, the former apparently contained an unstable fraction consisting of large particles. 4. The apoprotein patterns of the low-density lipoprotein of C. porosus eggs had a higher proportion of high-molecular weight constituents than that of the hen. 5. A glycoprotein with M, approximately 2 x 104 has been isolated that does not correspond to a known avian protein. 6. The characteristic protein of avian egg yolk, apovitellenin I, if present, was a minor constituent

An improved method for preparing agarose

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31965/1/0000007.pd

Mixing device for generating simple chromatographic gradients

A linear gradient device consisting of two concentric reservoirs of equal cross-sectional area, in which the initial and limiting eluent solutions are maintained in hydrostatic equilibrium, may be constructed from several combinations of commercial acrylic resin cylinders. By the use of nesting cylinders, the areas of the reservoirs may be reduced independently, allowing an assortment of nonlinear gradients to be produced by simple adjustment of the area ratio of the two reservoirs.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31971/1/0000013.pd

The tomato receptor CuRe1 senses a cell wall protein to identify Cuscuta as a pathogen

Parasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta penetrate shoots of host plants with haustoria and build a connection to the host vasculature to exhaust water, solutes and carbohydrates. Such infections usually stay unrecognized by the host and lead to harmful host plant damage. Here, we show a molecular mechanism of how plants can sense parasitic Cuscuta. We isolated an 11 kDa protein of the parasite cell wall and identified it as a glycine-rich protein (GRP). This GRP, as well as its minimal peptide epitope Crip21, serve as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern and specifically bind and activate a membrane-bound immune receptor of tomato, the Cuscuta Receptor 1 (CuRe1), leading to defense responses in resistant hosts. These findings provide the initial steps to understand the resistance mechanisms against parasitic plants and further offer great potential for protecting crops by engineering resistance against parasitic plants