Plant Science and Omics
Are you interested in plant responses to environmental stress or their applications in mitigating health issues.......
this page is for you.
Exploring the Healing Potential: Proteomic Analysis of Jerusalem Artichoke (Kiku-Imo) Tuber
This study explores the proteome of the Jerusalem artichoke (JA) tuber, a plant with historical significance to Native Americans and later introduced to Europe and Japan as a folk remedy for diabetes. In this research we focused on understanding the protein components of the tuber, particularly in relation to its potential healing properties for diabetes. Utilizing high-throughput proteomics techniques, the researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of three commercially processed JA tuber products (dried powder and dried chips). A total of 2967 protein groups were identified, analyzed, and categorized using bioinformatics techniques. The study sheds light on the association of these proteins with health and disease regulatory metabolism. The data is available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030744.
Unveiling Transcriptomic Responses in Mature Koshihikari Rice Seeds under High-Temperature Stress
This study delves into the transcriptomics of mature Koshihikari rice seeds, particularly focusing on the impact of elevated temperatures during the final stages of seed development. The research, conducted in a town in central Kanto-plains (Japan) in 2010, addresses the decrease in rice kernel quality caused by record high temperatures in western and central Japan over the past decade. Three sets of commercially processed rice seeds (graded as Y1, Y2, and Y3) were analyzed using a high-throughput omics approach, DNA microarray (Agilent 4 × 44 K rice oligo DNA chip), and MapMan bioinformatics analysis. The study reveals alterations in genome-wide gene expression, indicating more than one hundred upregulated and downregulated genes in grade 2 (Y2) and grade 3 (Y3) seeds compared to grade 1 (Y1). The bioinformatic analysis of highly regulated differentially expressed genes provides insights into changes related to metabolism, defense/stress response, fatty acid biosynthesis, and hormones. This research pioneers the exploration of the seed transcriptome profile for classified low grades (grade 2 and out-of-grade; i.e., grade 3) of rice under high-temperature stress conditions.
Development of plant protein extraction technique
This research focuses on investigating the optimal conditions for extracting and purifying α-Amylase from the pericarp of Borassus flabellifer fruit. Utilizing Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design, the study explores the effects of pH (X1), temperature (X2 in °C), and CaCl2 concentration (X3 in ppm). Nine experiments were conducted, systematically varying each factor while keeping others constant. Significant t-values and p-values highlighted the essential contribution of all three variables to enzyme activity. Under the optimized conditions derived from RSM studies, enzyme production achieved a noteworthy activity of 28.8 U and a concentration of 1.4 mg/ml for the 90% ammonium sulfate-precipitated dialyzed enzyme sample. Furthermore, a pioneering affinity chromatographic process was devised for the purification process, resulting in an enzyme concentration of 0.032 mg/ml and an activity of 4.76 U.