Two chitinase-like proteins abundantly accumulated in latex of mulberry show insecticidal activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plant latex is the cytoplasm of highly specialized cells known as laticifers, and is thought to have a critical role in defense against herbivorous insects. Proteins abundantly accumulated in latex might therefore be involved in the defense system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We purified latex abundant protein a and b (LA-a and LA-b) from mulberry (<it>Morus </it>sp.) and analyzed their properties. LA-a and LA-b have molecular masses of approximately 50 and 46 kDa, respectively, and are abundant in the soluble fraction of latex. Western blotting analysis suggested that they share sequence similarity with each other. The sequences of LA-a and LA-b, as determined by Edman degradation, showed chitin-binding domains of plant chitinases at the N termini. These proteins showed small but significant chitinase and chitosanase activities. Lectin RCA120 indicated that, unlike common plant chitinases, LA-a and LA-b are glycosylated. LA-a and LA-b showed insecticidal activities when fed to larvae of the model insect <it>Drosophila melanogaster</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that the two LA proteins have a crucial role in defense against herbivorous insects, possibly by hydrolyzing their chitin.</p

Direct jointing of Ba-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconducting glass-ceramics by welding

Superconducting glass‐ceramics in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO) system were found to be successfully joined together by welding with an LNG‐O2 flame. Two edge portions of the glass‐ ceramics to be joined were set in close contact to each other and melted by the high‐temperature flame. After the welding, the joined portion was annealed with a soft flame, so that no crack formed in the product. The directly joined product was converted into a superconductor with Tc?90 K by a postheating at ?830°C. Its critical current density Jc, was almost the same as the of the original glass‐ceramic. This technique is very important for fabrication of large‐sized superconducting apparatus such as current leads or magnetic shields

Dense Coordination Network Capable of Selective CO₂ Capture from C1 and C2 Hydrocarbons

We elucidated the specific adsorption property of CO₂ for a densely interpenetrated coordination polymer which was a nonporous structure and observed gas separation properties of CO₂ over CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆, studied under both equilibrium and kinetic conditions of gases at ambient temperature and pressure

Dense Coordination Network Capable of Selective CO₂ Capture from C1 and C2 Hydrocarbons

We elucidated the specific adsorption property of CO₂ for a densely interpenetrated coordination polymer which was a nonporous structure and observed gas separation properties of CO₂ over CH₄, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆, studied under both equilibrium and kinetic conditions of gases at ambient temperature and pressure