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1. SAXS structure of homodimeric oxyHemoglobin III from bivalve Lucina pectinata

   https://doi.org/10.1002/bip.23427  

   Marchany‐Rivera, Darya; Estremera‐Andújar, Rafael A.; Nieves‐Marrero, Carlos; Ruiz‐Martínez, Carlos R.; Bauer, William; López‐Garriga, Juan (April 2021, Biopolymers)

   Abstract Hemoglobin III (HbIII) is one of the two oxygen reactive hemoproteins present in the bivalve,Lucina pectinata. The clam inhabits a sulfur‐rich environment and HbIII is the only hemoprotein present in the system which does not yet have a structure described elsewhere. It is known that HbIII exists as a heterodimer with hemoglobin II (HbII) to generate the stable Oxy(HbII‐HbIII) complex but it remains unknown if HbIII can form a homodimeric species. Here, a new chromatographic methodology to separate OxyHbIII from the HbII‐HbIII dimer has been developed, employing a fast performance liquid chromatography and ionic exchange chromatography column. The nature of OxyHbIII in solution at concentrations from 1.6 mg/mL to 20.4 mg/mL was studied using small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The results show that at all concentrations, the Oxy(HbIII‐HbIII) dimer dominates in solution. However, as the concentration increases to nonphysiological values, 20.4 mg/mL, HbIII forms a 30% tetrameric fraction. Thus, there is a direct relationship between the Oxy(HbIII‐HbIII) oligomeric form and hemoglobin concentration. We suggest it is likely that the OxyHbIII dimer contributes to active oxygen transport in tissues ofL pectinata, where the Oxy(HbII‐HbIII) complex is not present. 

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2. FgPal1 regulates morphogenesis and pathogenesis in Fusarium graminearum

   https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15266  

   Yin, Jinrong; Hao, Chaofeng; Niu, Gang; Wang, Wei; Wang, Guanghui; Xiang, Ping; Xu, Jin‐Rong; Zhang, Xue (December 2020, Environmental Microbiology)

   null (Ed.)
3. Structural stability and the low‐lying singlet and triplet states of BN ‐ n ‐acenes, n  = 1–7

   https://doi.org/10.1002/jcc.27038  

   Milanez, Bruno D.; dos Santos, Gustavo M.; Pinheiro, Jr, Max; Ueno, Leonardo T.; Ferrão, Luiz F. A.; Aquino, Adelia J. A.; Lischka, Hans; Machado, Francisco B. C. (November 2022, Journal of Computational Chemistry)

   Abstract The chemical stability and the low‐lying singlet and triplet excited states of BN‐n‐acenes (n = 1–7) were studied using single reference and multireference methodologies. From the calculations, descriptors such as the singlet‐triplet splitting, the natural orbital (NO) occupations and aromaticity indexes are used to provide structural and energetic analysis. The boron and nitrogen atoms form an isoelectronic pair of two carbon atoms, which was used for the complete substitution of these units in the acene series. The structural analysis confirms the effects originated from the insertion of a uniform pattern of electronegativity difference within the molecular systems. The covalent bonds tend to be strongly polarized which does not happen in the case of a carbon‐only framework. This effect leads to a charge transfer between neighbor atoms resulting in a more strengthened structure, keeping the aromaticity roughly constant along the chain. The singlet‐triplet splitting also agrees with this stability trend, maintaining a consistent gap value for all molecules. The BN‐n‐acenes molecules possess a ground state with monoconfigurational character indicating their electronic stability. The low‐lying singlet excited states have charge transfer character, which proceeds from nitrogen to boron. 

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4. Anatomy and relationships of the early diverging Crocodylomorphs Junggarsuchus sloani and Dibothrosuchus elaphros

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24949  

   Ruebenstahl, Alexander A.; Klein, Michael D.; Yi, Hongyu; Xu, Xing; Clark, James M. (October 2022, The Anatomical Record)
5. The maize PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE ( PTOX ) locus controls the carotenoid content of kernels

   https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16618  

   Nie, Yongxin; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Guan; Ding, Haiping; Han, Beibei; Liu, Lei; Shi, Jian; Du, Jiyuan; Li, Xiaohu; Li, Xinzheng; et al (April 2024, The Plant Journal)

   SUMMARY Carotenoids perform a broad range of important functions in humans; therefore, carotenoid biofortification of maize (Zea maysL.), one of the most highly produced cereal crops worldwide, would have a global impact on human health.PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE(PTOX) genes play an important role in carotenoid metabolism; however, the possible function ofPTOXin carotenoid biosynthesis in maize has not yet been explored. In this study, we characterized the maizePTOXlocus by forward‐ and reverse‐genetic analyses. While most higher plant species possess a single copy of thePTOXgene, maize carries two tandemly duplicated copies. Characterization of mutants revealed that disruption of either copy resulted in a carotenoid‐deficient phenotype. We identified mutations in thePTOXgenes as being causal of the classic maize mutant,albescent1. Remarkably, overexpression ofZmPTOX1significantly improved the content of carotenoids, especially β‐carotene (provitamin A), which was increased by ~threefold, in maize kernels. Overall, our study shows that maizePTOXlocus plays an important role in carotenoid biosynthesis in maize kernels and suggests that fine‐tuning the expression of this gene could improve the nutritional value of cereal grains. 

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