Parkinson’s disease affects about 2% of people over 60, in which the brain cells that produce dopamine die. This causes major symptoms with tremors, muscle stiffness, uncontrolled movements, metabolic changes, and cognitive decline, ultimately leading to death. One key player in this disease is a protein called α-synuclein, which usually helps brain cells to communicate. But sometimes α-synuclein misbehaves and clumps together to form aggregates in dopamine-producing neurons that lead to their death.

Pea (Pisum sativum) is a major legume crop of agronomic importance; however, its productivity is frequently compromised by powdery mildew, a foliar disease caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Erysiphe pisi. Functional screening of antifungal compounds or resistance genes necessitates a reliable inoculation protocol that ensures precise control over spore concentration and consistent inoculum distribution within and across experimental replicates. Additionally, robust methods for the quantitative evaluation of disease severity are essential.

Dissecting complex plant cell wall structures requires sensitive and quantitative methods. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is commonly used to identify specific linkages in cell walls, but quantification and spectral band assignment remain challenging, especially in crops.

Genetic manipulation of negatively regulated plant traits has emerged as a potential target for crop improvement. However, the biosafety regulations concerning genetically modified crops hinder public acceptance.

In Parkinson’s disease, abnormal protein clumps called Lewy bodies (LB) deposit in the brain, causing neurodegeneration. LB contains many proteins, including α-synuclein, a key player in their formation. A recently identified deubiquitinase, OTUB1, in the LB has been shown to form neurotoxic amyloid aggregates, but the mechanism is unknown.

The tumour microenvironment (TME) is very complex. Along with uncontrolled proliferating or cancer cells, stromal cells, including different immune cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, lead to the tumourigenic niche. The soluble factors, like cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and metabolites, work as mediators to maintain the crosstalk between the cells and create a proangiogenic and immunosuppressive environment.

Raising global temperatures and water scarcity increase drought episodes that affect food security. Rice is one of the most essential foods consumed by billions of people due to its dietary advantages, and rice protein is more easily digestible than pulses. Rice is grown in a puddled agriculture system and consumes a lot of water. However, intermittent irrigations and drought episodes, especially at the flowering stage, affect seed setting and yield.

The study presents the Small Molecule Cell Viability Database (SMCVdb), an open-access, R-based platform offering comprehensive toxicity data on drug candidate molecules. The database aims to address the critical need for a centralized resource that consolidates experimental data on cellular toxicity, facilitating drug discovery and development.

Lignocellulosic biomass is a complex structure composed of mainly cellulose, xylan and lignin. Individual properties and interactions between xylan and lignin contribute to biomass recalcitrance. Therefore, to reduce biomass complexity and study the effect on cell wall properties, we generated Arabidopsis plants with altered lignin composition and reduced xylan acetylation. Our study showed that both high G lignin (fah1-2) and low xylan acetylation (35S:AnAXE1) can improve xylan digestibility (Figure).