Comparative analysis of proteomic changes in contrasting flax cultivars upon cadmium exposure

Cadmium (Cd) is classified as a serious pollutant due to its high toxicity, high carcinogenicity, and widespread presence in the environment. Phytoremediation represents an effective low‐cost approach for removing pollutants from contaminated soils, and a crop with significant phytoremediation potential is flax. However, significant differences in Cd accumulation and tolerance were previously found among commercial flax cultivars. Notably, cv. Jitka showed substantially higher tolerance to elevated Cd levels in soil and plant tissues than cv. Tábor. Here, significant changes in the expression of 14 proteins (related to disease/defense, metabolism, protein destination and storage, signal transduction, energy and cell structure) were detected by image and mass spectrometric analysis of two‐dimensionally separated proteins extracted from Cd‐treated cell suspension cultures derived from these contrasting cultivars. Further, two proteins, ferritin and glutamine synthetase (a key enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis), were only up‐regulated by Cd in cv. Jitka, indicating that Cd tolerance mechanisms in this cultivar may include maintenance of low Cd levels at sensitive sites by ferritin and low‐molecular weight thiol peptides binding Cd. The identified changes could facilitate marker‐assisted breeding for Cd tolerance and the development of transgenic flax lines with enhanced Cd tolerance and accumulation capacities for phytoremediating Cd‐contaminated soils.     

Poly­[methyl­ammonium tris(μ2‐form­ato‐κ2O:O′)­cobalt(II)]

The structure of the title compound, {(CH₆N)[Co(CHO₂)₃]}_n, consists of a three‐dimensional net of central Co^II ions connected via formate (methane­diolate) bridges. The negative charge is compensated by protonated methyl­amine cations. The CoO₆ chromophores form slightly distorted octahedra, which are bridged by C atoms of formate groups. The central Co atom lies on an inversion center and most of the other atoms lie on an m plane.     

Mössbauer spectrometer with YAlO3:Ce scintillation crystal

Hyperfine Interactions - A Mössbauer spectrometer has been developed using a mini transducer and a scintillation detector with a YAlO3:Ce crystal. Data acquisition is realised via the PIGGY...     

Synchrotron Production of Photons by a Two-Body System

The power spectrum of the synchrotron radiation generated by the motion of atwo-body charged system in an accelerator is derived in the framework of theSchwinger source theory. The final formula can be used to verify the Lorentzlength contraction of the two-body system moving in the synchrotron.     

A phthalocyanine-mestranol conjugate for photodynamic therapy prepared via click chemistry

Introduction of an azide group onto the periphery of a photodynamically effective phthalocyanine (Pc) derivative gives a useful building block for the preparation of Pc conjugates via Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (‘click chemistry’). In this way, Pc-mestranol and Pc-hept-1-yne conjugates (for comparison purposes) are synthesized and their absorption, photochemical, and photophysical properties are studied. The conjugate retains the advantageous photophysical and photochemical properties of Pc. Conjugation with mestranol may lead to improved localization in tumors whereas the Pc unit is responsible for the photodynamic effect.