Flowers of marigold (Tagetes) species as a source of xanthophylls

yesBSUThe accumulation of xanthophylls in flowers of marigold (Tagetes) species cultivated under conditions of the Belgorod region has been studied. Five cultivars representing three marigold species were investigate

Flowers of marigold (Tagetes) species as a source of xanthophylls

The accumulation of xanthophylls in flowers of marigold (Tagetes) species cultivated under conditions of the Belgorod region has been studied. Five cultivars representing three marigold species were investigatedyesBS

Studies of Physalis alkekengi L. fruits as a source of xanthophylls

yesBSUThe studies reported here established that fruits of the perennial and quite hardy plant Physalis alkekengi grown in the conditions of the Belgorod area accumulate zeaxanthin (and B-cryptoxanthin) derivatives at levels of up to 20 mg/g of husks, which are needed for the prevention of age-related visual los

Studies of Physalis alkekengi L. fruits as a source of xanthophylls

The studies reported here established that fruits of the perennial and quite hardy plant Physalis alkekengi grown in the conditions of the Belgorod area accumulate zeaxanthin (and B-cryptoxanthin) derivatives at levels of up to 20 mg/g of husks, which are needed for the prevention of age-related visual lossyesBS

Structural flexibility of the Gαs α-helical domain in the β2-adrenoceptor Gs complex

The active-state complex between an agonist-bound receptor and a guanine nucleotide-free G protein represents the fundamental signaling assembly for the majority of hormone and neurotransmitter signaling. We applied single-particle electron microscopy (EM) analysis to examine the architecture of agonist-occupied β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR) in complex with the heterotrimeric G protein Gs (Gαsβγ). EM 2D averages and 3D reconstructions of the detergent-solubilized complex reveal an overall architecture that is in very good agreement with the crystal structure of the active-state ternary complex. Strikingly however, the α-helical domain of Gαs appears highly flexible in the absence of nucleotide. In contrast, the presence of the pyrophosphate mimic foscarnet (phosphonoformate), and also the presence of GDP, favor the stabilization of the α-helical domain on the Ras-like domain of Gαs. Molecular modeling of the α-helical domain in the 3D EM maps suggests that in its stabilized form it assumes a conformation reminiscent to the one observed in the crystal structure of Gαs-GTPγS. These data argue that the α-helical domain undergoes a nucleotide-dependent transition from a flexible to a conformationally stabilized state