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Parsley is a commonly cultivated Apiaceae species of culinary and medicinal importance. Parsley has several recognized health benefits and the species has been utilized in traditional medicine since ancient times. Although parsley is among the most commonly cultivated members of Apiaceae, no systematic genomic research has been conducted on parsley. In the present work, parsley genome was sequenced using the long-read HiFi (high fidelity) sequencing technology and a draft contig assembly of 1.57 Gb that represents 80.9% of the estimated genome size was produced. The assembly was highly repeat-rich with a repetitive DNA content of 81%. The assembly was phased into a primary and alternate assembly in order to minimize redundant contigs. Scaffolds were constructed with the primary assembly contigs, which were used for the identification of AMP (antimicrobial peptide) genes. Characteristic AMP domains and 3D structures were used to detect and verify antimicrobial peptides. As a result, 23 genes (PcAMP1-23) representing defensin, snakin, thionin, lipid transfer protein and vicilin-like AMP classes were identified. Bioinformatic analyses for the characterization of peptide physicochemical properties indicated that parsley AMPs are extracellular peptides, therefore, plausibly exert their antimicrobial effects through the most commonly described AMP action mechanism of membrane attack. AMPs are attracting increasing attention since they display their fast antimicrobial effects in small doses on both plant and animal pathogens with a significantly reduced risk of resistance development. Therefore, identification and characterization of AMPs is important for their incorporation into plant disease management protocols as well as medicinal research for the treatment of multi-drug resistant infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The date palm, or Phoenix dactylifera L., is one of the world's oldest fruit trees. The entire date palm tree is used to produce a variety of goods, including food, clothing, fibre, and shelter. Tissue culture is one of the most recent methods used to multiply date palms and produce disease-free offspring. Plant tissue culture technology has advantages over conventional methods of propagation for the quick and extensive multiplication of significant plants in vitro, regardless of the season, and disease-free. This is because it preserves space and time. For this study, three different cultivars were used (Barhy, Sakkoti, and Shamia). For the three cultivars, ¾ MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L indole butyric acid IBA and 0.25 mg/l activated charcoal (AC) provided the optimal in vitro culture conditions. Plant gene function research and cultivar development are now both possible thanks to the advancement of plant transformation technologies. Date palm plants were given the AT1G12660 "Thio-60" gene to make them resistant to fungus infection. Utilizing chitosan nanoparticles for genetic transformation, the gene was introduced into three cultivars of dates (Barhy, Sakkoti, and Shamia). Run a conventional PCR to verify genetic fusion into all three cultivars. The fungal infection with Fusarium oxysporum was used to determine the resistance of the transgenic cultivar lines after it was established that the thionin gene had been transferred into transgenic date palm cultivars. Date crop transgenic lines showed strong resistance and a decline in the percentage of fungal infection-induced inhibition. Key message: Phoenix dactylifera in vitro culture was optimized on MS medium supplemented with phytohormones. Chitosan nanoparticle was applied for thionin genetic transformation into different cultivars to be resistant to Fusarium infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic cathode materials (OCMs) have been widely applied in aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries (ARZBs), but there are still many novel structures to be explored for better electrochemical performance and clearer mechanism. Herein, we have studied an organic biological dye, namely thionin (Thn‐CH3COO), as a bipolar‐type OCM for ARZBs based on its electroactive phenothiazine unit. In the optimal electrolyte of 2 M Zn(CF3SO3)2, Thn‐CH3COO exhibited the lowest solubility and thus the highest cycling stability (94 % capacity retention after 100 cycles), with a reversible capacity of 162 mAh g−1 (the theoretical value is 186 mAh g−1) and a discharge plateau at ∼0.8 V vs. Zn2+/Zn. Various characterization and DFT calculations have revealed that both CH3COO− and CF3SO3− anions and H+ cations participated the p‐type and n‐type reactions, respectively. In brief, the novel structure, competitive performance, and exhaustive mechanism investigation will facilitate the further development of ARZBs based on OCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transgenic plants are becoming a more powerful tool in modern biotechnology. Genetic engineering was used in biotech-derived products to create genetically modified (GM) plants resistant to diseases. The onion (Allium cepa, L.) is a common, important perennial vegetable crop grown in Egypt for food and economic value. Onions are susceptible to a variety of fungal infections and diseases. Aspergillus niger is a common onion phytopathogen that causes diseases such as black mould (or black rot), which is a major issue, particularly when exporting onions. A. niger grows between the bulb's outer (dead, flaky) skin and the first fleshy scales, which become water-soaked. Thionin genes produce thionin proteins, which have antimicrobial properties against a variety of phytopathogens, including A. niger. Chitosan nanoparticles act as a carrier for the thionin gene, which allows A. cepa to resist infection by A. niger. Methods and results: Thionin gene (Thio-60) was transformed into A. cepa to be resistance to fungal infection. The gene was loaded on chitosan nanoparticles to be transformed into plants. Transgenic A. cepa had a 27% weight inhibition compared to non-transgenic one, which had a 69% inhibition. The expressed thionin protein has a 52% inhibitory effect on A. niger spore germination. All these findings supported thionin protein's antifungal activity as an antimicrobial peptide. Furthermore, the data presented here demonstrated the efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles in gene transformation. Conclusion: The present study describes the benefits of producing transgenic onion resistance to black rot diseases via expression of thionin proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Antimicrobial peptides are very primitive innate defense molecules of almost all organisms, from microbes to mammalians and vascular seed-bearing plants. Antimicrobial peptides of plants categorized into cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) and others and most of the antimicrobial peptides belong to CRPs group. These peptides reported showing the great extent of protecting property against bacteria, fungi, viruses, insect, nematode, and another kind of microbes. To develop a resistant plant against pathogenic fungi, there have been several studies executed to understand the efficiency of transgenicity of these antimicrobial peptides. Main text Apart from the intrinsic property of the higher organism for identifying and activating microbial attack defense device, it also involves innate defense mechanism and molecules. In the current review article, apart from the structural and functional characterization of peptides defensin and thionin, we have attempted to provide a succinct overview of the transgenic development of these defense peptides, that are expressed in a constitutive and or over-expressive manner when biotic and abiotic stress inflicted. Transgenic of different peptides show different competence in plants. Most of the transgenic studies made for defensin and thionin revealed the effective transgenic capacity of these peptides. Conclusion There have been several studies reported successful development of transgenic plants based on peptides defensin and thionin and observed diverse level of resistance-conferring potency in different plants against phytopathogenic fungi. But due to long regulatory process, there has not been marketed any antimicrobial peptides based transgenic plants yet. However, success report state that possibly in near future transgenic plants of AMPs would be released with devoid of harmful effect, with good efficiency, reproducibility, stability, and least production cost.

Thionins are the family of small (∼5 kDa) cationic cysteine-rich peptides involved in the immune response in plants. Viscotoxin A3 (VtA3) is the thionin from mistletoe (Viscum album) demonstrating antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity against cancer cells in vitro. VtA3 (charge +6) interacts with the membranes containing anionic lipids and forms cation-selective ion channels. Here we studied the VtA3 structure in membrane-mimicking media by NMR spectroscopy. Spatial structure of VtA3, consisting of a helical hairpin and a short β-sheet, was stable and did not undergo significant changes during micelle binding. VtA3 molecule bound with high affinity to the surface of zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelle by hydrophobic patch in the helical hairpin. Oligomerization of VtA3 was observed in the anionic micelles of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS). No direct contacts between the peptide molecules were observed and the possible interfaces of detergent-assisted oligomerization were revealed. The data obtained suggest that the VtA3 membrane activity, depending on the concentration, obeys the 'toroidal' pore model or the 'carpet' mechanism. The model of the membrane disrupting complex, which explains the ion channel formation in the partially anionic membranes, was proposed. [Display omitted] • Spatial structure of VtA3 was studied by NMR in membrane-mimicking micelles. • VtA3 binds to the surface of zwitterionic DPC micelle by helical hairpin. • Oligomerization of VtA3 was observed in the presence of anionic SDS micelles. • No direct contacts between the peptide molecules were observed in SDS. • Configuration of the membrane-embedded toroidal pore was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Si reverses Cd- and As-driven inhibition of rice plant growth via shared mechanisms. • Shared transcriptomic mechanisms were involved in the Si-mediated stress response. • Si may play a fundamental, active role in heavy metal/loid stress amelioration. • Metal/loid translocation and ROS production were alleviated by Si treatment. • MYB transcription factor and thionin may be involved in Si-mediated defense response. The inessential heavy metal/loids cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As), which often co-occur in polluted paddy soils, are toxic to rice. Silicon (Si) treatment is known to reduce Cd and As toxicity in rice plants. To better understand the shared mechanisms by which Si alleviates Cd and As stress, rice seedlings were hydroponically exposed to Cd or As, then treated with Si. The addition of Si significantly ameliorated the inhibitory effects of Cd and As on rice seedling growth. Si supplementation decreased Cd and As translocation from roots to shoots, and significantly reduced Cd- and As-induced reactive oxygen species generation in rice seedlings. Transcriptomics analyses were conducted to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying the Si-mediated response to Cd or As stress in rice. The expression patterns of the differentially expressed genes in Cd- or As-stressed rice roots with and without Si application were compared. The transcriptomes of the Cd- and As-stressed rice roots were similarly and profoundly reshaped by Si application, suggesting that Si may play a fundamental, active role in plant defense against heavy metal/loid stresses by modulating whole genome expression. We also identified two novel genes, Os01g0524500 and Os06g0514800 , encoding a myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor and a thionin, respectively, which may be candidate targets for Si to alleviate Cd and As stress in rice, as well as for the generation of Cd- and/or As-resistant plants. This study provides valuable resources for further clarification of the shared molecular mechanisms underlying the Si-mediated alleviation of Cd and As toxicity in rice. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants express various antimicrobial peptides including thionins to protect themselves against pathogens. It was recently found that, in addition to four thionin genes, Arabidopsis contains 67 thionin-like (ThiL) genes including six pseudogenes. It is known that thionins have antimicrobial activity and are part of the plant defense system, however, nothing is known about ThiL genes. In this study, we present a bioinformatic analysis of the (ThiL) gene family in Arabidopsis. We identified 15 different motifs which positioned the ThiL peptides in four groups. A comparison of amino acid sequences showed that the ThiL peptides are actually more similar to the acidic domain of thionin proproteins than to the thionin domain. We selected 10 ThiL genes to study the expression and possible function in the Arabidopsis plant. RT-PCR and promoter:GUS fusions showed that most genes were expressed at a very low level but in several organs and at different developmental stages. Some genes were also expressed in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachti in roots while others were downregulated in syncytia. Some overexpression lines supported lower number of nematodes that developed on the roots after inoculation. Two of the genes resulted in a strong hypersensitive response when infiltrated into leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. These results indicate that ThiL genes might be involved in the response to biotic stress. ThiL genes have been expanded in the Brassicales and specifically the Brassicaceae. The most extreme example is the CRP2460 subfamily that contains 28 very closely related genes from Arabidopsis which are mostly the result of tandem duplications. • Arabidopsis contains 4 thionin genes and 67 thionin-like genes. • Thionin-like peptides are more related to the acidic domain of thionin proproteins. • Expression and function of 10 genes was studied in response to Heterodera schachtii (beet cyst nematode). • Some overexpression lines showed enhanced resistance to H. schachtii and 2 genes resulted in a strong HR in N. benthamiana. • Thionin-like genes are involved in the response to biotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • MoS2 UTNS surface-functionalized with thionin is explored for electrochemical sensing of TdT activity. • Sensitive response is achieved based on the intercalation and electrostatic interaction of TdT-derived dsDNA with thionin. • This work opens great opportunities and serves as a springboard for constructing novel multifunctional biosensing platform. Abstract An efficient electrochemical biosensing strategy for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) activity is developed based on thionin functionalized MoS 2 ultrathin nanosheets (Th/MoS 2 UTNS) and TdT-induced DNA polymerization. MoS 2 ultrathin nanosheets is firstly achieved via a facile pyrolytic approach assisted by g-C 3 N 4 sacrificial template. Followed by subsequent surface-functionalization with thionin, the Th/MoS 2 UTNS composite is obtained and designed as a sensing platform for TdT activity detection. In this approach, TdT catalyzes the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides triphosphate (dNTP) substrate of 50% dATP-50% dTTP to the 3′-OH terminus of DNA primer and in-situ produces dsDNA consequently, which can be strongly immobilized onto thionin by intercalation and electrostatic interaction, resulting in a decreased redox signal of thionin. The proposed sensor exhibits a wide linear response for TdT in the range from 0.01 U to 2.44 U with a low detection limit of 0.0025 U. By elucidating an efficient biosensing platform on the basis of surface engineered MoS 2 ultrathin nanosheets, this work sheds light on the development of novel strategy for detecting other nucleic acid or protein analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have evolved differently from AMPs from other life forms. They are generally rich in cysteine residues which form multiple disulfides. In turn, the disulfides cross-braced plant AMPs as cystine-rich peptides to confer them with extraordinary high chemical, thermal and proteolytic stability. The cystine-rich or commonly known as cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) of plant AMPs are classified into families based on their sequence similarity, cysteine motifs that determine their distinctive disulfide bond patterns and tertiary structure fold. Cystine-rich plant AMP families include thionins, defensins, hevein-like peptides, knottin-type peptides (linear and cyclic), lipid transfer proteins, α-hairpinin and snakins family. In addition, there are AMPs which are rich in other amino acids. The ability of plant AMPs to organize into specific families with conserved structural folds that enable sequence variation of non-Cys residues encased in the same scaffold within a particular family to play multiple functions. Furthermore, the ability of plant AMPs to tolerate hypervariable sequences using a conserved scaffold provides diversity to recognize different targets by varying the sequence of the non-cysteine residues. These properties bode well for developing plant AMPs as potential therapeutics and for protection of crops through transgenic methods. This review provides an overview of the major families of plant AMPs, including their structures, functions, and putative mechanisms.

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An ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated by employing reduced graphene oxide-thionin-hemin-Au (H-rGO-Thi-Au) nanohybrid as probe to measure neuron specific enolase (NSE), a lung cancer biomarker. In this work, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was used as support material to immobilize hemin and thionin through aromatic π-π interaction. Then Au nanoparticles were reduced by thionin in situ on the probe. The immunoprobe offers several advantages as follows: (1) thionin can be enriched for signal amplification; (2) the catalysis ability of hemin can be enhanced by preventing the molecules aggregation; (3) the reduced graphene oxide-hemin (H-rGO) acts as signal amplifier to accelerate the redox cycling with H 2 O 2 ; (4) the composite with good conductivity is beneficial to improve response current. Apart from that, polyaniline hydrogel as substrate prepared by electrochemical polymerization on the glassy carbon electrode showed excellent conductivity which can further improve the performance of immunosensor. Thus, the proposed immunosensor showed excellent analytical performance for the detection of NSE with wide linear range from 0.1 pg mL −1 to 100 ng mL −1 and low detection limit of 0.026 pg mL −1 . It is also of note that human serum samples were determined with satisfactory results, indicating its value on clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bimediator compound has been synthesized by covalently linking two redox mediators and used for fabrication of bimediator modified electrode to perform electrocatalytic oxidation and reduction of substrates. Ferrocene monocarboxylic acid and thionin have been linked via amide bond using ( N -3-Dimethylaminopropyl)- N ′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl) and N -Hydroxy benzotriazole (HOBt) as cross-linking agents. The electrochemical characterization and surface characterization have confirmed the presence of both redox mediators in the bimediator compound on the modified electrode surface which has facilitated electron transfer between analyte and the electrode. The ferrocene has mediated electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine at positive potentials while thionin has mediated electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide at negative potentials. Effective utilization of this bimediator modified electrode has been examined under static and dynamic conditions by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric techniques. Ferrocene has been found to oxidise dopamine at a potential of 0.35 V in the concentration range of 0.569 μM to 515 μM with a detection limit of 0.190 μM and sensitivity of 142 μA mM − 1 cm − 2 whereas thionin has been found to reduce hydrogen peroxide at a potential of − 0.3 V in the concentration range of 0.569 μM to 785 μM with a detection limit of 0.190 μM and sensitivity of 128 μA mM − 1 cm − 2 . This bimediator modified electrode has also been used for real sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thionins are a family of plant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which participate in plant defense system against pathogens. Here we describe some aspects of the CaThi thionin-like action mechanism, previously isolated from Capsicum annuum fruits. Thionin-like peptide was submitted to antimicrobial activity assays against Candida species for IC50 determination and synergism with fluconazole evaluation. Viability and plasma membrane permeabilization assays, induction of intracellular ROS production analysis and CaThi localization in yeast cells were also investigated. Results: CaThi had strong antimicrobial activity against six tested pathogenic Candida species, with IC50 ranging from 10 to 40 μg.mL-1. CaThi antimicrobial activity on Candida species was candidacidal. Moreover, CaThi caused plasma membrane permeabilization in all yeasts tested and induces oxidative stresses only in Candida tropicalis. CaThi was intracellularly localized in C. albicans and C. tropicalis, however localized in nuclei in C. tropicalis, suggesting a possible nuclear target. CaThi performed synergistically with fluconazole inhibiting all tested yeasts, reaching 100 % inhibition in C. parapsilosis. The inhibiting concentrations for the synergic pair ranged from 1.3 to 4.0 times below CaThi IC50 and from zero to 2.0 times below fluconazole IC50. Conclusion: The results reported herein may ultimately contribute to future efforts aiming to employ this plant-derived AMP as a new therapeutic substance against yeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have evolved differently from AMPs from other life forms. They are generally rich in cysteine residues which form multiple disulfides. In turn, the disulfides cross-braced plant AMPs as cystine-rich peptides to confer them with extraordinary high chemical, thermal and proteolytic stability. The cystine-rich or commonly known as cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) of plant AMPs are classified into families based on their sequence similarity, cysteine motifs that determine their distinctive disulfide bond patterns and tertiary structure fold. Cystine-rich plant AMP families include thionins, defensins, hevein-like peptides, knottin-type peptides (linear and cyclic), lipid transfer proteins, α-hairpinin and snakins family. In addition, there are AMPs which are rich in other amino acids. The ability of plant AMPs to organize into specific families with conserved structural folds that enable sequence variation of non-Cys residues encased in the same scaffold within a particular family to play multiple functions. Furthermore, the ability of plant AMPs to tolerate hypervariable sequences using a conserved scaffold provides diversity to recognize different targets by varying the sequence of the non-cysteine residues. These properties bode well for developing plant AMPs as potential therapeutics and for protection of crops through transgenic methods. This review provides an overview of the major families of plant AMPs, including their structures, functions, and putative mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of vanadium using thionin as a chromogenic reagent. The proposed method is based on the reaction of vanadium(V) with potassium iodide in acid medium to liberate iodine, which bleaches the violet colour of thionin and is measured at 600 nm. This decrease in absorbance is directly proportional to the vanadium(V) concentration and obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.2-10 μgmL-1 of V(V). The molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity, detection limit and quantitation limit of the method were found to be 2.298 x 104 Lmol-1cm-1, 0.52 x 10-2 μgcm-2, 0.035 μgmL-1 and 0.11 μgmL-1, respectively. The optimum reaction conditions and other analytical conditions were evaluated. The effect of interfering ions on the determination is described. The developed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of the vanadium in synthetic and alloy samples.

The barley protease BAJ93208 belongs to the subtilase family of serine proteases. We have expressed BAJ93208 in the cytoplasm of the Escherichiacoli strain SHuffle C3030 using a rhamnose-inducible promoter. The expression construct included a (His)6-tag at the N-terminus and a strep-tag at the C-terminus. Western blot analysis revealed that the protein was processed at the N- and C-terminus. To exclude that this processing was due to contaminating E. coli proteases, a mutated BAJ93208 protease was constructed. This inactive mutant was not processed, demonstrating that the processing was an autocatalytic process. To define the exact cleavage sites mass spectrometry was used which detected four differently processed versions of the protease. At the N-terminus, the self-processing removed the internal inhibitor and an additional 19 amino acids. At the C-terminus there was a cleavage site after Ala765 which also removed the strep-tag. This explained the inability to detect the purified (His)6-BAJ93208-strep protease with an anti-strep-tag antibody. Finally, an additional alanine was removed either at the N-terminus (Ala119) or at the C-terminus (Ala764). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thionins are antimicrobial plant peptides produced as preproproteins consisting of a signal peptide, the thionin domain, and a so-called acidic domain. Only thionin itself has been isolated from plants. To study the processing of the precursor, it has to be produced in a heterologous system. Since both domains contain several cysteines and, due to the known antimicrobial activity of the thionin, we tested the expression of all four Arabidopsis proproteins as fusion proteins. Periplasmic expression as fusion with maltose binding protein was not successful but cytoplasmic expression as His-tagged TRX fusion proteins with a TEV recognition sequence resulted in proteins of correct size. Use of the SHuffle strain C3030 further improved the expression. Fusion proteins inhibited growth of Escherichia coli. They could be cleaved by TEV protease, releasing authentic proproteins without any additional amino acid at the N-terminus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black rot of sweet potato caused by pathogenic fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata severely deteriorates both growth of plants and post-harvest storage. Antimicrobial peptides from various organisms have broad range activities of killing bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi. Plant thionin peptide exhibited anti-fungal activity against C. fimbriata. A gene for barley α-hordothionin (αHT) was placed downstream of a strong constitutive promoter of E12Ω or the promoter of a sweet potato gene for β-amylase of storage roots, and introduced into sweet potato commercial cultivar Kokei No. 14. Transgenic E12Ω:αHT plants showed high-level expression of αHT mRNA in both leaves and storage roots. Transgenic β-Amy:αHT plants showed sucrose-inducible expression of αHT mRNA in leaves, in addition to expression in storage roots. Leaves of E12Ω:αHT plants exhibited reduced yellowing upon infection by C. fimbriata compared to leaves of non-transgenic Kokei No. 14, although the level of resistance was weaker than resistance cultivar Tamayutaka. Storage roots of both E12Ω:αHT and β-Amy:αHT plants exhibited reduced lesion areas around the site inoculated with C. fimbriata spores compared to Kokei No. 14, and some of the transgenic lines showed resistance level similar to Tamayutaka. Growth of plants and production of storage roots of these transgenic plants were not significantly different from non-transgenic plants. These results highlight the usefulness of transgenic sweet potato expressing antimicrobial peptide to reduce damages of sweet potato from the black rot disease and to reduce the use of agricultural chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genomic DNA sequence of a γ-thionin in the Panax ginseng plant, termed Pgγ-thionin, contains 2 exons coding a 225-bp open reading frame with its deduced 75 amino acid sequence interrupted by 1 internal intron. The mRNA transcript level of Pgγ-thionin was ubiquitously expressed in the leaf, flower bud, stem, root and rhizome, with its highest expression in the roots. Pgγ-thionin was responsive to both biotic and abiotic stresses, such as an 18-fold increase after exposure to ABA. Fluorescent tagged-Pgγ-thionin protein was localized to cell wall-bound extracellular spaces. Our finding indicates that Pgγ-thionin might be involved in cellular defense responses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We demonstrate a novel electrochemical sensor for highly sensitive detection of natural double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) based on thionin (Th) attached to Mo6S9−X I X nanowires (MoSI NWs) self-assembled on a gold electrode. The sensing detection is based on a decrease of the voltammetric response of the immobilized Th due to the binding of Th with dsDNA through intercalation. MoSI NWs act as molecular connectors to provide an amplification and conductive sensing platform for the electrochemical detection of dsDNA, because many sulfur atoms at the ends and sides of MoSI NWs permit covalent bonds to be formed with gold as well as MoSI NWs with negative charges allow electrostatic binding with Th. A determination limit of 0.62ng/mL for dsDNA with this novel sensor is achieved, which is three orders of magnitude lower than that in the absence of MoSI NWs. The operation is simple and label-free. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

sensitive amperometric sensor has been constructed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (HP). It is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from thionin, EDTA, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and chitosan. Thionin was covalently immobilized on the surface of the electrode. The sensor exhibits a powerful electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of HP. The amperometric signal is proportional to the concentration of HP in the range from 0.2 μM to 85.0 μM, with a detection limit of 0.065 μM. The sensor displays excellent selectivity, good reproducibility and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the use of natural anthraquinone derivative, Physcion, in controlling powdery mildew in Blumeria graminis. Based on bioassay and microarray methods, Physcion does not show effectiveness on the conidial germination of Blumeria graminis but shows significant results in conidial germination in vivo. In conclusion, Physcion controls powdery mildew by enhancing the expression of defence related genes in barley leaves.

Abstract: Thorium is an important element not only from an environmental perspective but also in industrial applications. In this study, Arsenazo III, Thorin and Thionin were used as complexation reagents for the determination of Thorium using flow cell, dip probe and microchip systems [P. Caglar, S.A. Tuncel, N. Malcik, J.P. Landers, J. Ferrance, A microchip sensor for calcium determination, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 386 (2006) 1303–1312]. For this aim, the spectral characteristics of Th4+–dye complexes, and the effects of pH on the formation of Th4+–Ars III, Th4+–Thorin and Th4+–Thionin complexes have been determined. The determination of the complex stoichiometries and the complex formation constants were also studied using the three systems. The complex stoichiometries were found to be 1:1 for all ligands and for all systems under study in this paper. Nevertheless, the formation constants (K f) have been determined as 2.340×106, 8.156×105, and 6.732×105 molL−1 for Th4+–Ars III, Th4+–Thorin and Th4+–Thionin complexes, respectively, using the dip probe system. The K f values were found to be 9.422×104, 6.752×104, and 4.199×104 molL−1 for Th4+–Ars III, Th4+–Thorin and Th4+–Thionin complexes, respectively, for the flow cell system, whereas these values were determined as 8.526×104, 5.988×104, and 3.892×104 molL−1 for Th4+–Ars III, Th4+–Thorin and Th4+–Thionin complexes, respectively, using the microchip system. The response times of the sensors, the linear range of the sensor response, the detection limits and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the sensors have also been found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new pH optical sensor for a wide pH range was prepared by chemical immobilization of a mixture of two indicators of Neutral Red and Thionin on an agarose film coated glass slide (ACGS). For preparation of the sensor, the two dyes were immobilized on an epoxy activated agarose support and the effects of the coupling pH and the dyes ratio and concentrations were optimized. The sensor was mounted in a flow cell and successfully applied for on-line pH monitoring in a wide pH range of 0.5–12 with two linear calibration curve regions. The pH sensor could perform fast response (within 1–2min) and long-term stability (continuous use for at least 3 months) with no evidence of dye leaching. The sample ionic strengths up to 0.5molL−1 did not significantly influence the responses. A reproducibly better than 0.20% (R.S.D.) was obtained for 6 replicated pH measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]