The 5'-end structure of potato virus X RNA was determined following enzymatic methylation in vitro. A single 3H-methyl group was introduced into the 2'-position of the 5'-penultimate residue and the end structure was determined as m7GpppG(m)pAp(Xp)3G. This part of the RNA apparently is involved in binding to ribosomes since it can be partially protected against RNase digestion by wheat germ 40S...

Lipid rafts are liquid-ordered subdomains within cell membranes that are hypothesized to be highly dynamic assemblies that play important roles in signal transduction and membrane trafficking in the plasma membrane of both animal and plant cells (reviewed in Bhat and Panstruga, 2005; Brown, 2006). However, solid evidence of their importance and functions remains sketchy (Shaw, 2006). Studies in...

Background Cancer/testis antigens is a group of proteins which expression is usually restricted to the human germ line but is also present at high levels in several types of cancer cells [1]. The antigen NY-ESO-1 is one of these antigens showing high immunogenicity and, therefore, holding great potential for a cancer vaccine [2]. Its heterologous expression is being tested in different expressi...

Aphids are amongst the most devastating sap-feeding insects of plants. Like most plant parasites, aphids require intimate associations with their host plants to gain access to nutrients. Aphid feeding induces responses such as clogging of phloem sieve elements and callose formation, which are suppressed by unknown molecules, probably proteins, in aphid saliva. Therefore, it is likely that aphid...