Tobacco holds a notorious reputation for giving people health problems across the world when smoked or dipped, but the plant itself may prove helpful to us by facilitating the cleaning of our environment.
Strains of tobacco that were genetically modified with the addition of an antibody to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) lowered levels of MC-LR toxins in ponds. More commonly referred to as toxic pond scum, MC-LR can make fishing, swimming, and drinking deleterious to human health.  The modified plant produces MC-LR antibody in its leaves before releasing the antibody into the ground below. The antibody is allowed to run-off into MC-LR contaminated water. The antibodies bind to MC-LR particles, negating the toxicity of the MC-LR molecule.

Although MC-LR poisoning is much more commonplace in developing countries, this new strain of tobacco plants could help prevent MC-LR toxicity in multitude of water sources across the globe.

Discussion Question: Do you think this transgenic approach could be utilized in other plants to help lower MC-LR toxicity?
News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301091550.htm
Scientific Abstract: http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/3/882

However, among the four top-most produced crops, potatoes are the easiest targets for various fungi, viruses, and other infectious agents. The two most common fungal diseases found among potato crops are black dot (colletotrichum coccodes) and powdery scab (spongospora subterranea). Currently, there is no cure for powdery scab, and black dot can be cured by fungicides but requires multiple applications, making the treatment much too expensive to be economically feasible. These diseases destroy other crops in the same soil, and can affect 25% of the surrounding crops.

The Agricultural Research Services, along with professors from Washington State University, have been cultivating five varieties of potato crops since 2004 to determine a breed that will be most resistant to these fungi.  Solanum hougasii, a breed from Mexico was found to have the most genetic resistance to both fungi. The crops that the researchers have cultivated will not be used for consumption purposes, but rather to provide seeds from breeding facilities globally.

Discussion Question: Why is the potato crop an easier target for diseases than other crops?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100303113954.htm
Article Abstract: http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PDIS-93-11-1116

In fact, beans are not fixing nitrogen at all. Rather it is the bacteria that exist in a symbiotic relationship within certain nodules located on the plants’ roots.

A new study performed by Stanford researchers discovered the legume’s efficiency in nitrogen fixation is due to the presence of a specific signal, which allows them to control the behavior of the bacteria living symbiotically in their nodules.  The signal triggers the bacteria to begin converting nitrogen into ammonia.  The researchers identified the gene that is involved in inducing this pathway, so that now, scientists may alter efficiency of the bacteria’s nitrogen production by increasing or decreasing the amount of trigger signals the plant sends out.

The hope is that by increasing the efficiency of natural nitrogen fixation in legume plants, there will be a decreased need for chemical fertilizers to create more nutrient rich soils. This decrease in chemical fertilizers, if implemented in a wide-spread fashion, will greatly impact the chemical footprint that farmers leave on their surroundings.

Discussion question: What are some kinds of legumes that could be altered to implement this efficiency increase?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301091552.htm
Journal Article: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/327/5969/1126

Many scientists have been addressing the commercialization of the algal biofuel production process. Thus far, the obstacle has mainly been a battle with efficiency. The most recently proposed solution is not a change in the process or methodology of the production, but rather, in the location.

By coupling the location of algae based biofuel factories with oil refineries, coal-fueled productions plants, and even cement plants, the efficiency issue may come to a resolution. The amount of CO2 found in the water and other resources near these production facilities is typically off the charts, and is released as waste from the factories. For example, municipal wastewater treatment plants turn out so-called cleansed water into the nearby lakes and streams. This water is too high in nitrogen, phosphorous and CO2 to be used by humans for drinking water, however these high levels are optimal for facilitating algae growth.

The use of co-location will cause an increase in algal growth. This will allow for algae to be converted into animal feed or even a syrupy liquid called “bioleum” and burned as a fuel for these factories.

In the grand scheme of things, the idea is to create a ‘symbiotic’ relationship between production plants in the area; where the factories can feed off of each other’s byproducts and keep each other running as an efficient family of production facilities. This would in turn boost efficiencies in a large scale, not only of algal biofuels, but all of the neighboring industries.

Discussion Question: What other production facilities could fit nicely into this sort of “co-location” family?

News Article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=co-location-could-make-algae-biofue-2010-02-22

The first step in preparing this delectable treat is to bake some fresh bread to be used as the base of the pudding. As many of you who have ever baked bread at home probably know, yeast is an extremely important component of this process. Serendipitously enough, later in the day when I was enjoying my bread pudding and browsing the New York Times website, I came across an article describing a new study that has discovered a newly found (and perhaps more important) use of this single-celled fungi in the natural environment.

Carlos M. Herrera and María I. Pozo at the Doñana Biological Station of the Spanish Council for Scientific Research in Seville discovered that yeast serves as an almost fungal sweater or coat for plants by keeping them warm throughout the often harsh winter season.

Previous studies have shown that pollinating bumblebees bring this yeast to the dungwort flower, however, the ways in which this benefited the plant were never sufficiently researched. Being a fungi, the yeast obviously benefits from the constant source of sugar that the plant nectar provides. Therefore, at first glance, it appeared that the relationship between yeast and the flowering plant was almost antagonistic.

The results of this study, however, show a much more symbiotic relationship; namely, by breaking down the sugar in the nectar, the yeast produces a significant amount of heat that benefits the plant. “Because H. foetidus blooms in the relative cold of winter, the heat produced in the nectar probably benefits both the plant and the pollinator,” Dr. Herrera wrote. “Among the possible advantages for the plant,” he said, “are faster growth of pollen tubes. For the bumblebees, the result is a heat “reward” that might ultimately affect winter survival.”

Discussion Question: Given your knowledge of biological interactions, do you think this is a unique or rather common relationship between the yeast and the plant? Why or why not?

News Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/science/02obwarm.html?ref=science
Scientific Article: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/277/1682/747

While attempting to revive dying plants, researchers discovered that inserting a human protein as a substitute for a similar plant protein rescued a nearly lifeless Arabidopsis plant.  The plant protein, aminopeptidase M1 (APM1), plays a crucial role in root development and restoring this protein in a plant lacking APM1 restores life; however, inserting the similar human protein called “insulin responsive aminopeptidase (IRAP)” yielded identical results.

APM1’s function in plants is not fully understood, though it is clearly essential for survival.  Scientists speculate that M1 aminopeptidases may activate or deactivate proteins by removing amino acids, but so far, no APM1 target proteins have been identified.

IRAP, the human counterpart to the APM1 plant protein, is important for human health.  People with aberrant IRAP function can develop leukemia and other cancers.  Building a better understanding of APM1 and IRAP, both members of the same class of proteins, could support future studies in which established data on APM1 in plants could help scientists understand IRAP mechanisms and functionalities in humans.

Discussion Question: With more knowledge on this family of proteins, what other research developments/discoveries could take place concerning both plants and animals?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216114030.htm

Paper Abstract: http://www.plantphysiol.org

A Tel Aviv University professor, Aviah Zilberstein, and her colleagues have been testing these compounds for future use as components in human anti-fungal medication. In addition to breaking down chitin of fungi, these compounds may also possess certain benefits over the current line of anti-fungal medications. For example, current medications catalyze the evolution of drug-resistant fungi, but these more natural compounds most likely will not. These compounds may also be able to help treat more severe fungal infections in humans, which are currently untreatable.

Discussion Question: Why do you think Nepenthes khasiana can help treat a variety of fungal illnesses?

News Article: http://www.physorg.com/news185727587.html
Paper Abstract: http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/erp359

The problem of drug resistance is not only for common in illnesses such as the cold or bacterial infections, but also in much more severe conditions such as breast cancer.  Luckily, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have found a natural additive for Tamoxifen (the most common treatment for breast cancer) that will prevent patients from developing resistance against it.

Tamoxifen is the most prevalent prescription for estrogen positive breast cancers. The presence of estrogen perpetuates cancer in these cases; tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors on cell surfaces.  When estrogen doesn’t bind to the cancer cell, it is accepted as a signal for apoptosis (cell death).  The cell death signal activates the protein CASP8, which in turn activates another protein, Bcl2.  These two proteins activate programmed cell death and eliminate cancer cells.  The problem is that the protein complex nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) can also be activated when estrogen is not present and NF-kB turns off both CASP8 and Bcl2. So even though Tamoxifen works and prevents the cellular binding of estrogen, NF-kB overrides the apoptosis mechanism and allows the cancer cells to stay alive. People who have developed resistance to Tamoxifen have been found to over-express NF-kB.

The study found that Parthenolide, a derivative of the feverfew plant, successfully blocks NF-kB so that cells are re-sensitized to Tamoxifen.  Researchers are optimistic, but stress that the results are preliminary.  Targeting the survival mechanism of any cell can be a tricky task to handle considering that just one wrong target could potentially harm many healthy cells.   However, as more details on the mechanism are discovered, researchers are hopeful that Parthenolide can be used to combat the growing problem of drug-resistance in breast cancers.

Discussion Question: Why would an estrogen positive breast cancer cell be programmed to survive even though it will not receive any more estrogen?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02
Paper Abstract: http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/fj.09-138305v1

Root hairs serve a very important function for plants; they secrete acids and chemicals that break down soil, sediments, and rocks which release potassium and other minerals for the plants to absorb. Crops that are able to grow longer hairs usually have higher yield, especially in arid conditions. Researchers from University of Oxford and John Innes Centre have discovered a transcription factor called RSL4 that controls root hair growth. According to the research, when the gene was continuously activated the growth continued linearly as well. Also, environmental factors such as low potassium levels in the soil work in conjunction with internal factors such as auxin signals to control RSL4 activity.

This research can provide means for crops to be grown efficiently in harsh environmental conditions as well as shed light on the pathways that plants use to grow root hairs.

Discussion Question: From our knowledge about auxin mechanisms, how do you think it controls RSL4?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100217093938.htm
Paper Abstract: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.529.html

The method was developed by Henry Daniell and is expected to be significantly less expensive than current ethanol production methods. The process involves the use of naturally derived enzyme “cocktails” to break down non-food products such as orange peels, sugar cane, switch grass and even straw into sugar, which is then fermented into ethanol. This process will emit a much lower percentage of greenhouse gases during production and use than running vehicles on corn ethanol, gasoline or even electricity.

The benefits of this method are plentiful; it sides-steps many concerns over decreasing food-supplies by only using waste products. According to Daniell, “In Florida alone, discarded orange peels could create about 200 million gallons of ethanol each year.”

Additionally, the enzymes used to break down the waste products are all found in nature and can be harnessed in order to facilitate the breakdown process. Daniell has thoughtfully incorporated the use of Tobacco plants for the production of the enzymes necessary for the process. He stated that this was done because Tobacco is a non-food crop which has a high per acre energy yield and also because he hopes that increased demand for the plant from the auto-industry will decrease the demand for its recreational use in cigarettes and other tobacco products.

While the system needs further evaluation and testing before it can become fully commercialized, it does suggest a revolutionary trend in powering vehicles in the near future.

Discussion question:What other kinds of plentiful waste products might this system be able to use for the creation of ethanol?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100218090814.htm

Science Article : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41012234_Chloroplast-derived_enzyme_cocktails_hydrolyse_lignocellulosic_biomass_and_release_fermentable_sugars