Discoveries In Plant Biology

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Discoveries in Plant Biology

Author : Shain-Dow Kung
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 9814504491
Total Pages : 384 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (145 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in Plant Biology by : Shain-Dow Kung

Download or read book Discoveries in Plant Biology written by Shain-Dow Kung and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1998-02-17 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As scientific progress hinges on the continual discovery and extension of previous discoveries, this series, Discoveries in Plant Biology, is specially compiled to provide an atlas of the landmark discoveries in the broad span of plant biology. The collection of chapters, written by renowned plant biologists, describe how classic discoveries were made and how they have served as the foundation for subsequent discoveries. We hope that this will facilitate our readers' quest to advance their knowledge based on the advancements made previously by others. The 21 discoveries described in this First Volume all form the foundations of modern plant biology. The contributors, many of whom are themselves the researchers who made the discoveries, bring readers back in time to retrace the steps of the discoveries. Following the creative thoughts of the scientists in deciphering the natural laws, readers may appreciate how each field was developed from a simple subject to an advanced multidisciplinary field. Contents:Abscisic Acid: Discoveries and Exploration of Properties (F T Addicott)History of the Discovery of Ethylene as a Plant Growth Substance (M E Saltveit et al.)The Discovery of Transposable Elements (N Fedoroff)Discovery of T-DNA Agrobacterium Tumefaciens (M P Gordon)The Discovery of Fraction 1 Protein (Rubisco) (S G Wildman)C4 Photosynthesis: Discovery, Resolution Recognition, and Significance (M D Hatch & C R Slack)The Path of Carbon in Photosynthesis: 1942 – 1955 (A A Benson)Discoveries in Biological Nitrogen Fixation (R H Burris)The Discovery of Biological Clocks (F B Salisbury)and other papers Readership: Students and researchers in botany, biochemistry, genetics and plant physiology. keywords:Botany;Plant Biology “This excellent book should be present in all central libraries and in those of plant biology institutions. The book is recommended to advanced students and researchers.” Journal of Plant Physiology

Discoveries in Plant Biology

Author : Shain-Dow Kung
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 981449478X
Total Pages : 492 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (144 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in Plant Biology by : Shain-Dow Kung

Download or read book Discoveries in Plant Biology written by Shain-Dow Kung and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2000-06-12 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific progress hinges on continual discovery and the extension of previous discoveries. The important series of volumes Discoveries in Plant Biology is specially compiled to provide a microcosmic atlas of the landmark discoveries that span the breadth of plant biology. Written by renowned plant biologists, the papers describe how classic discoveries were made and how they have served as the basis for subsequent breakthroughs. The 24 chapters in this third volume describe discoveries which contribute to the foundations of modern plant biology. The contributors, many of whom personally lit the way, bring readers back in time as if on a journey to retrace the paths and rethink the ideas they followed. These guided tours on how to decipher the natural laws will lead to an appreciation of the development of each field from simple concepts to an advanced multidisciplinary field of today. This volume will be of special interest to botanists, biochemists, plant physiologists and geneticists, and of general interest to those who are still fascinated by how discoveries are made. Contents:The Discovery of the Essential Elements (E Epstein)The Discovery of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid as the Immediate Precursor of Ethylene (D O Adams)Discovery of Auxin (Y Masuda & S Kamisaka)Non-Reducing Saccharides: Floridosides and Sucrose (J-C Su)Chlorophyll Biosynthesis I: From Analysis of Mutants to Genetic Engineering of the Pathway (D von Wettstein)Chlorophyll Biosynthesis II: Adventures with Native and Recombinant Enzymes (D von Wettstein)Discovery of the Two Parallel Pathways for Isoprenoid Biosynthesis in Plants (H K Lichtenthaler)Structure and Biosynthesis of Cellulose. Part I: Structure (A D French)Structure and Biosynthesis of Cellulose. Part II: Biosynthesis (D P Delmer)The Discovery of Starch Biosynthesis (J Preiss & M N Sivak)Seed Storage Proteins from the 1700s to the Present (M Ogawa & T W Okita)The Discovery of 2S Albumins as Abundant Storage Proteins in Seeds (A H C Huang & R J Youle)The Discovery of Maternal Inheritance of Large Subunit of Rubisco (S-D Kung)Chloroplast Cytochromes: Discovery and Characterization (J C Gray)Discovery of Plasma Membrane Proton Pumping ATPase: Our Point of View (R T Leonard & T K Hodges)Plant Ubiquitin (R D Vierstra)Thirty Years of Fun with Antenna Pigment-Proteins and Photochemical Reaction Centers: A Tribute to the People Who Have Influenced My Career (J P Thornber)The Discovery of the Heat Shock Response in Plants (P-F L Chang & C-Y Lin)Discovery of Photoregulated Gene Expression (J C Watson)Organization and Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation Genes: 1974–1995 (S C Shen)The Ti-Plasmid and Plant Molecular Biology (J Schell & C Koncz)Active Ion Transport in Plants (A J Bloom & A R Taylor)Discovery of Chilling Injury (M E Saltveit)In Vitro Induced Haploids in Plant Genetics and Breeding (H Hu & X-R Guo) Readership: Botanists, biologists, biochemists, geneticists, plant physiologists and students. Keywords:Plant Biology;DiscoveriesReviews: “The different chapters not only provide excellent overviews into the development of essential discoveries in plant biology, they also help the reader to better understand the background, current status and future direction of the research in each of the areas covered.” Journal of Plant Physiology

Plant Biology Research and Training for the 21st Century

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309046793
Total Pages : 80 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Plant Biology Research and Training for the 21st Century by : National Research Council

Download or read book Plant Biology Research and Training for the 21st Century written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-02-01 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Faster progress in plant biology research could benefit agriculture, the environment, medicine, and our understanding of basic biological processes. This book clearly and directly describes the impediments to greater achievements in plant science and suggests solutions. It presents an innovative plan that would create a comprehensive federal system of management and financial support for plant biology research and training.

Discoveries in Plant Biology

Author : Shain-dow Kung
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 9789810213138
Total Pages : 394 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (131 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in Plant Biology by : Shain-dow Kung

Download or read book Discoveries in Plant Biology written by Shain-dow Kung and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1998 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This excellent book should be present in all central libraries and in those of plant biology institutions. The book is recommended to advanced students and researchers".Journal of Plant Physiology, 1999

Discoveries in Plant Biology

Author : Shain-dow Kung
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9789810213138
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (131 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in Plant Biology by : Shain-dow Kung

Download or read book Discoveries in Plant Biology written by Shain-dow Kung and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Flora Unveiled

Author : Lincoln Taiz
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0190490268
Total Pages : 545 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Flora Unveiled by : Lincoln Taiz

Download or read book Flora Unveiled written by Lincoln Taiz and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 545 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sex in animals has been known for at least ten thousand years, and this knowledge was put to good use during animal domestication in the Neolithic period. In stark contrast, sex in plants wasn't discovered until the late 17th century, long after the domestication of crop plants. Even after its discovery, the "sexual theory" continued to be hotly debated and lampooned for another 150 years, pitting the "sexualists" against the "asexualists". Why was the notion of sex in plants so contentious for so long? "Flora Unveiled" is a deep history of perceptions about plant gender and sexuality, beginning in the Ice Age and ending in the middle of the nineteenth century, with the elucidation of the complete plant life cycle. Linc and Lee Taiz show that a gender bias that plants are unisexual and female (a "one-sex model") prevented the discovery of plant sex and delayed its acceptance long after the theory was definitively proven. The book explores the various sources of this gender bias, beginning with women's role as gatherers, crop domesticators, and the first farmers. In the myths and religions of the Bronze and Iron Ages, female deities were strongly identified with flowers, trees, and agricultural abundance, and during Middle Ages and Renaissance, this tradition was assimilated into Christianity in the person of Mary. The one-sex model of plants continued into the Early Modern Period, and experienced a resurgence during the eighteenth century Enlightenment and again in the nineteenth century Romantic movement. Not until Wilhelm Hofmeister demonstrated the universality of sex in the plant kingdom was the controversy over plant sex finally laid to rest. Although "Flora Unveiled" focuses on the discovery of sex in plants, the history serves as a cautionary tale of how strongly and persistently cultural biases can impede the discovery and delay the acceptance of scientific advances.

Discoveries in the Garden

Author : James Nardi
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 022653183X
Total Pages : 291 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (265 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in the Garden by : James Nardi

Download or read book Discoveries in the Garden written by James Nardi and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A learned romp through plant biology; solar energy and soil nutrients; the movement of vines; and ‘fellow gardeners’ . . . a wealth of stunning images.” —Nature At the tips of our trowels, a sun-driven world of microbes, insects, roots, and stems awaits—and it is a world no one knows better than James Nardi. A charming guide to all things green and growing, Nardi is as at home in prairies, forests, and wetlands as he is in the vegetable patch. And with Discoveries in the Garden, he shows us that these spaces aren’t as different as we might think, that nature flourishes in our backyards, schoolyards, and even indoors. To find it, we’ve only got to get down into the dirt. Leading us through the garden gate, Nardi reveals the extraordinary daily lives and life cycles of a quick-growing, widely available, and very accommodating group of study subjects: garden plants. Through close observations and simple experiments we all can replicate at home, we learn the hidden stories behind how these plants grow, flower, set seeds, and produce fruits, as well as the vital role dead and decomposing plants play in nourishing the soil. From pollinators to parasites, plant calisthenics to the wisdom of weeds, Nardi’s tale also introduces us to our fellow animal and microbial gardeners, the community of creatures both macro- and microscopic with whom we share our raised beds. Featuring a copse of original, informative illustrations that are as lush as the garden plants themselves, Discoveries in the Garden is an enlightening romp through the natural history, science, beauty, and wonder of these essential green places.

From Growing to Biology

Author : Gokhan Hacisalihoglu
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (124 download)

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Book Synopsis From Growing to Biology by : Gokhan Hacisalihoglu

Download or read book From Growing to Biology written by Gokhan Hacisalihoglu and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Discoveries in Photosynthesis

Author : Govindjee
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1402033249
Total Pages : 1304 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Discoveries in Photosynthesis by : Govindjee

Download or read book Discoveries in Photosynthesis written by Govindjee and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-07-15 with total page 1304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Life Is Bottled Sunshine" [Wynwood Reade, Martyrdom of Man, 1924]. This inspired phrase is a four-word summary of the significance of photosynthesis for life on earth. The study of photosynthesis has attracted the attention of a legion of biologists, biochemists, chemists and physicists for over 200 years. Discoveries in Photosynthesis presents a sweeping overview of the history of photosynthesis investigations, and detailed accounts of research progress in all aspects of the most complex bioenergetic process in living organisms. Conceived of as a way of summarizing the history of research advances in photosynthesis as of millennium 2000, the book evolved into a majestic and encyclopedic saga involving all of the basic sciences. The book contains 111 papers, authored by 132 scientists from 19 countries. It includes overviews; timelines; tributes; minireviews on excitation energy transfer, reaction centers, oxygen evolution, light-harvesting and pigment-protein complexes, electron transport and ATP synthesis, techniques and applications, biogenesis and membrane architecture, reductive and assimilatory processes, transport, regulation and adaptation, Genetics, and Evolution; laboratories and national perspectives; and retrospectives that end in a list of photosynthesis symposia, books and conferences. Informal and formal photographs of scientists make it a wonderful book to have. This book is meant not only for the researchers and graduate students, but also for advanced undergraduates in Plant Biology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and History of Science.

Molecular Biology of The Cell

Author : Bruce Alberts
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780815332183
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (321 download)

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Book Synopsis Molecular Biology of The Cell by : Bruce Alberts

Download or read book Molecular Biology of The Cell written by Bruce Alberts and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants

Author : Bob B. Buchanan
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0470714220
Total Pages : 1280 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (77 download)

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Book Synopsis Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants by : Bob B. Buchanan

Download or read book Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants written by Bob B. Buchanan and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-08-31 with total page 1280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With over 1000 original drawings and 500 photographs, this work offers complete coverage of cell biology, plant physiology and molecular biology.

Plant Physics

Author : Karl J. Niklas
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226586340
Total Pages : 447 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (265 download)

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Book Synopsis Plant Physics by : Karl J. Niklas

Download or read book Plant Physics written by Karl J. Niklas and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2012-02-06 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Galileo, who used the hollow stalks of grass to demonstrate the idea that peripherally located construction materials provide most of the resistance to bending forces, to Leonardo da Vinci, whose illustrations of the parachute are alleged to be based on his study of the dandelion’s pappus and the maple tree’s samara, many of our greatest physicists, mathematicians, and engineers have learned much from studying plants. A symbiotic relationship between botany and the fields of physics, mathematics, engineering, and chemistry continues today, as is revealed in Plant Physics. The result of a long-term collaboration between plant evolutionary biologist Karl J. Niklas and physicist Hanns-Christof Spatz, Plant Physics presents a detailed account of the principles of classical physics, evolutionary theory, and plant biology in order to explain the complex interrelationships among plant form, function, environment, and evolutionary history. Covering a wide range of topics—from the development and evolution of the basic plant body and the ecology of aquatic unicellular plants to mathematical treatments of light attenuation through tree canopies and the movement of water through plants’ roots, stems, and leaves—Plant Physics is destined to inspire students and professionals alike to traverse disciplinary membranes.

Forestry Research

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 9780309042482
Total Pages : 100 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (424 download)

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Book Synopsis Forestry Research by : National Research Council

Download or read book Forestry Research written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1990-02-01 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forests are valuable in our daily lives, crucial to our nation's ecomony, and integral to the long-term health of the environment. Yet, forestry research has been critically underfunded, and the data generated under current research programs is not enough to meet the diverse needs of our society. Forestry Research provides a research agenda that should yield the information we need to develop responsible policies for forest use and management. In this consensus of forestry experts, the volume explores: The diverse and competing concerns of the timber industry, recreational interests, and wildlife and environmental organizations. The gap between our need for information and the current output of the forestry research program. Areas of research requiring attention: biology of forest organisms, ecosystem function and management, human-forest interactions, wood as raw material, and international trade and competition. Forestry Research is an important book of special interest to federal and state policymakers involved in forestry issues, research managers, researchers, faculty, and students in the field.

The Biology of Plants

Author : Terri Grodzicker
Publisher : John Donald
ISBN 13 : 9781621820253
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (22 download)

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Book Synopsis The Biology of Plants by : Terri Grodzicker

Download or read book The Biology of Plants written by Terri Grodzicker and published by John Donald. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Plants are integral to human wellbeing, and many species have been domesticated for over ten thousand years. Evidence of plant scientific investigation and classification can be found in ancient texts from cultures around the world (Chinese, Indian, Greco-Roman, Muslim etc.), while early modern botany can be traced to the late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe. During the past several decades plant biology has been revolutionized first by molecular biology and then by the genomic era. The model organism Arabidopsis thaliana has proved an invaluable tool for investigation into fundamental processes in plant biology, many of which share commonalities with animal biology. Plant-specific processes from reproduction to immunity and second messengers have also yielded to extensive investigation. With the genomes of more than thirty plant species now available and many more planned in the near future, the impact on our understanding of plant evolution and biology continues to grow. Our increased ability to engineer plant species to a variety of ends may provide novel solutions to ensure adequate and reliable food production and renewable energy even as climate change impacts our environment. The decision to focus the 2012 Symposium on plant science reflects the enormous research progress achieved in recent years, and is intended to provide a broad synthesis of the current state of the field, setting the stage for future discoveries and application. This is the first Symposium in this historic series focused exclusively on the botanical sciences. Plants are integral to human wellbeing, and many species have been domesticated for over ten thousand years. Evidence of plant scientific investigation and classification can be found in ancient texts from cultures around the world (Chinese, Indian, Greco-Roman, Muslim etc.), while early modern botany can be traced to the late 15th and early 16th centuries in Europe. During the past several decades plant biology has been revolutionized first by molecular biology and then by the genomic era. The model organism Arabidopsis thaliana has proved an invaluable tool for investigation into fundamental processes in plant biology, many of which share commonalities with animal biology. Plant-specific processes from reproduction to immunity and second messengers have also yielded to extensive investigation. With the genomes of more than thirty plant species now available and many more planned in the near future, the impact on our understanding of plant evolution and biology continues to grow. Our increased ability to engineer plant species to a variety of ends may provide novel solutions to ensure adequate and reliable food production and renewable energy even as climate change impacts our environment. The decision to focus the 2012 Symposium on plant science reflects the enormous research progress achieved in recent years, and is intended to provide a broad synthesis of the current state of the field, setting the stage for future discoveries and application. This is the first Symposium in this historic series focused exclusively on the botanical sciences.

Lessons from Plants

Author : Beronda L. Montgomery
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 0674259394
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (742 download)

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Book Synopsis Lessons from Plants by : Beronda L. Montgomery

Download or read book Lessons from Plants written by Beronda L. Montgomery and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation offer valuable insights for human thriving. We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don’t just passively provide. They also take action. Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They “know” what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment. Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery’s meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we live: What would a plant do?

Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309134218
Total Pages : 182 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology by : National Research Council

Download or read book Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-03-20 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life on Earth would be impossible without plants. Humans rely on plants for most clothing, furniture, food, as well as for many pharmaceuticals and other products. Plant genome sciences are essential to understanding how plants function and how to develop desirable plant characteristics. For example, plant genomic science can contribute to the development of plants that are drought-resistant, those that require less fertilizer, and those that are optimized for conversion to fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. The National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI) is a unique, cross-agency funding enterprise that has been funding and coordinating plant genome research successfully for nine years. Research breakthroughs from NPGI and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Arabidopsis 2010 Project, such as how the plant immune system controls pathogen defense, demonstrate that the plant genome science community is vibrant and capable of driving technological advancement. This book from the National Research Council concludes that these programs should continue so that applied programs on agriculture, bioenergy, and others will always be built on a strong foundation of fundamental plant biology research.

When Chemistry Meets Biology – Generating Innovative Concepts, Methods and Tools for Scientific Discovery in the Plant Sciences

Author : Erich Kombrink
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2889199282
Total Pages : 148 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (891 download)

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Book Synopsis When Chemistry Meets Biology – Generating Innovative Concepts, Methods and Tools for Scientific Discovery in the Plant Sciences by : Erich Kombrink

Download or read book When Chemistry Meets Biology – Generating Innovative Concepts, Methods and Tools for Scientific Discovery in the Plant Sciences written by Erich Kombrink and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-08-12 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biologically active small molecules have increasingly been applied in plant biology to dissect and understand biological systems. This is evident from the frequent use of potent and selective inhibitors of enzymes or other biological processes such as transcription, translation, or protein degradation. In contrast to animal systems, which are nurtured from drug research, the systematic development of novel bioactive small molecules as research tools for plant systems is a largely underexplored research area. This is surprising since bioactive small molecules bear great potential for generating new, powerful tools for dissecting diverse biological processes. In particular, when small molecules are integrated into genetic strategies (thereby defining “chemical genetics”), they may help to circumvent inherent problems of classical (forward) genetics. There are now clear examples of important, fundamental discoveries originating from plant chemical genetics that demonstrate the power, but not yet fully exploited potential, of this experimental approach. These include the unraveling of molecular mechanisms and critical steps in hormone signaling, activation of defense reactions and dynamic intracellular processes. The intention of this Research Topic of Frontiers in Plant Physiology is to summarize the current status of research at the interface between chemistry and biology and to identify future research challenges. The research topic covers diverse aspects of plant chemical biology, including the identification of bioactive small molecules through screening processes from chemical libraries and natural sources, which rely on robust and quantitative high-throughput bioassays, the critical evaluation and characterization of the compound’s activity (selectivity) and, ultimately, the identification of its protein target(s) and mode-of-action, which is yet the biggest challenge of all. Such well-characterized, selective chemicals are attractive tools for basic research, allowing the functional dissection of plant signaling processes, or for applied purposes, if designed for protection of crop plants from disease. New methods and data mining tools for assessing the bioactivity profile of compounds, exploring the chemical space for structure–function relationships, and comprehensive chemical fingerprinting (metabolomics) are also important strategies in plant chemical biology. In addition, there is a continuing need for diverse target-specific bioprobes that help profiling enzymatic activities or selectively label protein complexes or cellular compartments. To achieve these goals and to add suitable probes and methods to the experimental toolbox, plant biologists need to closely cooperate with synthetic chemists. The development of such tailored chemicals that beyond application in basic research can modify traits of crop plants or target specific classes of weeds or pests by collaboration of applied and academic research groups may provide a bright future for plant chemical biology. The current Research Topic covers the breadth of the field by presenting original research articles, methods papers, reviews, perspectives and opinions.