Theoretical and experimental vibrational study of phenylurea: structure, solvent effect and inclusion process with the β-cyclodextrin in the solid state

FTIR and Raman vibrational spectroscopic techniques as well as DFT quantum chemical calculation were used for characterizing conformational changes of phenylurea (a herbicide parent molecule) occurring from solid state to aqueous medium. Experimental infrared frequencies were assigned on the base of urea and benzenic derivatives spectroscopic data available in the literature and vibrational normal modes analytical calculation at the fully optimized geometry. Investigation of isotopic and solvent effects has revealed that the structure of phenylurea is particularly sensitive to the electrostatic environment via hydrogen non covalent bonds. The ability of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to form host–guest inclusion complex with phenylurea in the solid state was also evidenced by significant frequency shifts observed in the 1400–1800 cm−1 spectral range

¹H NMR study of inclusion compounds of phenylurea derivatives in &beta

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), which has become an important tool for the study “in situ” of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complexes, was used to study and structurally characterize the inclusion complexes formed between β-CD and isoproturon, fenuron, monuron and diuron. The high variation of the chemical shifts from the proton located inside the cavity (H-3, H-5 and H-6) coupled with the non variation of the one located outer sphere of the β-CD (H-1, H-2 and H-4) provided clear evidence of the inclusion phenomena. Two-dimensional rotating frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY) experiments were carried out to further support the proposed inclusion mode

The POK/AtVPS52 protein localizes to several distinct post-Golgi compartments in sporophytic and gametophytic cells

International audienceThe organization and dynamics of the plant endomembrane system require both universal and plant-specific molecules and compartments. The latter, despite the growing wealth of information, remains poorly understood. From the study of an Arabidopsis thaliana male gametophytic mutant, it was possible to isolate a gene named POKY POLLEN TUBE (POK) essential for pollen tube tip growth. The similarity between the predicted POK protein sequence and yeast Vps52p, a subunit from the GARP/VFT complex which is involved in the docking of vesicles from the prevacuolar compartment to the Golgi apparatus, suggested that the POK protein plays a role in plant membrane trafficking. Genetic analysis of Arabidopsis mutants affecting AtVPS53 or AtVPS54 genes which encode putative POK partners shows a transmission defect through the male gametophyte for all lines, which is similar to the pok mutant. Using a combination of biochemical approaches and specific antiserum it has been demonstrated that the POK protein is present in phylogenetically divergent plant species, associated with membranes and belongs to a high molecular weight complex. Combination of immunolocalization studies and pharmacological approaches in different plant cells revealed that the POK protein associates with Golgi and post-Golgi compartments. The role of POK in post-Golgi endomembrane trafficking and as a member of a putative plant GARP/VFT complex is discussed

Characterization of Raphanus sativus Pentatricopeptide Repeat Proteins Encoded by the Fertility Restorer Locus for Ogura Cytoplasmic Male Sterility[W]

Cytoplasmic male sterility is a maternally inherited trait in higher plants that prevents the production of functional pollen. Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility in radish (Raphanus sativus) is regulated by the orf138 mitochondrial locus. Male fertility can be restored when orf138 accumulation is suppressed by the nuclear Rfo locus, which consists of three genes putatively encoding highly similar pentatricopeptide repeat proteins (PPR-A, -B, and -C). We produced transgenic rapeseed (Brassica napus) plants separately expressing PPR-A and PPR-B and demonstrated that both encoded proteins accumulated preferentially in the anthers of young flower buds. Immunodetection of ORF138 showed that, unlike PPR-B, PPR-A had no effect on the synthesis of the sterility protein. Moreover, immunolocalization experiments indicated that complete elimination of ORF138 from the tapetum of anthers correlated with the restoration of fertility. Thus, the primary role of PPR-B in restoring fertility is to inhibit ORF138 synthesis in the tapetum of young anthers. In situ hybridization experiments confirmed, at the cellular level, that PPR-B has no effect on the accumulation of orf138 mRNA. Lastly, immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that PPR-B, but not PPR-A, is associated with the orf138 RNA in vivo, linking restoration activity with the ability to directly or indirectly interact with the orf138 RNA. Together, our data support a role for PPR-B in the translational regulation of orf138 mRNA

Did high Neo-Tethys subduction rates contribute to early Cenozoic warming ?

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Did high Neotethys subduction rates contribute to the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum?

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