Phytocystatins (PhyCYSs) are plant-specific proteinaceous inhibitors that are implicated in protein turnover and stress responses. Here, we characterized a PhyCYS from Arabidopsis thaliana, which was designated AtCYS5. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression of AtCYS5 in germinating seeds was induced by heat stress (HS) and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Analysis of the expression...

The seeds of parasitic plants of the genera Striga and Orobanche will only germinate after induction by a chemical signal exuded from the roots of their host. Up to now, several of these germination stimulants have been isolated and identified in the root exudates of a series of host plants of both Orobanche and Striga spp. In most cases, the compounds were shown to be isoprenoid and belong to ...

Cotyledons from Phaseolus vulgaris L. (var. Improved Tendergreen) were tested for their activity on alpha-N-benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) and azocasein during a germination periood of 10 days. Both activities increased throughout germination when activity was expressed on the basis of dry weight or protein. That these two activities were most likely due to the action of different e...

Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium difficile are closely related anaerobic Gram-positive, spore-forming human pathogens. C. sordellii and C. difficile form spores that are believed to be the infectious form of these bacteria. These spores return to toxin-producing vegetative cells upon binding to small molecule germinants. The endogenous compounds that regulate clostridial spore germination ...

The seeds of parasitic plants of the genera Striga and Orobanche will only germinate after induction by a chemical signal exuded from the roots of their host. Up to now, several of these germination stimulants have been isolated and identified in the root exudates of a series of host plants of both Orobanche and Striga spp. In most cases, the compounds were shown to be isoprenoid and belong to ...

In some plants, pollen grains accumulate storage lipids that serve as energy supply during germination. Here, three enzymes involved in early steps of oil body mobilization in the male gametophyte were functionally characterized for the first time. The effect of extracellular sugars on pollen performance and oil body dynamics was also analysed. Olive pollen oil bodies showed phospholipase A, li...

There is a paucity of information in the literature concerning the metabolic changes that occur in the endosperm, scutellum, and embryonic axis during the germination of corn. The work of Toole (20) constitutes a major exception, although this work was more concerned with morphological changes during germination than with changes in chemical constituents and metabolism. Although seed germinatio...

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in several recent studies. However, other studies have not shown this association, and the mechanism by which PPIs might promote CDI has not been elucidated. We hypothesized two possible mechanisms of causation: first, by raising pH, PPIs may prevent gastric contents from killing C. difficile spores; s...