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Flavonoids belong to a group of plant natural products with variable phenolic structures and play important roles in protection against biotic and abiotic stress. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) seeds and stems contain flavonol glycosides and isoflavone derivatives. Up to now, the molecular features of fenugreek flavonoid biosynthesis have not been characterized. Here we present cloning of a cDNA encoding a chalcone isomerase (namely TFGCHI-1) from the leaves of T. foenum-graecum which convert chalcones to flavanones in vitro. Transformation of Arabidopsis loss-of-function tt5 (chi) mutant with a TFGCHI-1 cDNA complemented tt5 and produced higher levels of flavonol glycosides than wild-type Col-0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the findings of a study conducted by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia that show that patterns of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in DNA from stem cells and brain cells has its own distinct functions. It reveals that 5-hmC has specific functions in the brain and stem cells which may allow a gene to be activated after being repressed. It describes how the pattern of its distribution in the genome changes during development.

Reports on CuraGen's use of mini-ratchets for separating fragments of DNA. Mini-ratchets as built into silicon chips; Arrangement of microscopic electrodes in a way that creates a sawtoothed electrical potential; Loading of negatively charged DNA onto the positive electrode; Construction of a prototype.