Molecular Biology

Teacher: Lina María Martinez

Michelle Larios Gómez

Medicine student

III Semester 2015

UPB

 

New trick found for how cells stay organized

ANDPlant genetic advance could

lead to more efficient conversion of plant biomass

to biofuels

INTRODUCTION Knowing better the cells inner

estructure might serve to develop new treatments.

The use of substances extracted from plants as energy could make and impact on our enviroment

Modifing polymers in plants would make easier the extraction and use of natural energy

New trick found for how cells stay

organizedRibonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule. It is implicated in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. Like DNA, RNA is assembled as a chain of nucleotides, but unlike DNA its estructure is composed of a single-strand folded into itslef

New trick found for how cells stay

organizedRNA granules float throughout the watery space inside the cell and are responsible for transporting, storing and controlling RNA

Until now, it was thought that the granules were not separated from the space outside.

New trick found for how cells stay

organizedSeparation of RNA granules from their watery surroundings is facilitated by a dynamic envelope that stabilizes them.

MADE BY PROTEIN

S

New trick found for how cells stay

organized

PROTEINS IN GRANULES

SEPARATE RNA WITH

THE EXTERIOR

FORM LIKE

CAGES

NO INTERACTION WITH RNA

New trick found for how cells stay

organized

OPINION

OPINION STUDENT COMMENT

Understanding the cell composition, organization and how it works is esencial because all living organisms are compose by them and knowing exactly this factors with help us to develop new drugs and treatments based on their mechanisms

Plant genetic advance could lead to more

efficient conversion of plant biomass to

biofuels

The term "biomass" refers to organic matter that has stored energy through the process of photosynthesis.

Plant genetic advance could lead to more efficient conversion of

plant biomass to biofuels

A biofuel is derived from organic matter (obtained directly from plants, or indirectly from agricultural, domestic, or industrial wastes).

Major impediment in the extraction sugars from plants

LIGNIN (rigid polymer).

Plant genetic advance could lead to more efficient conversion of plant

biomass to biofuels

XYLEM provide plants with mechanical strength and waterproof cells that transport water.

It was explored on this plant how a large number of interconnected transcription factors regulate xylem and cell wall thickening.

Arabidopsis thaliana

highly interconnected network of more than 240 genes and more than 600 protein-DNA interactions

Plant genetic advance could lead to more efficient conversion of

plant biomass to biofuels

Better response and adaptation to environmental stress such as salt or drought.

Each cell-wall gene in the xylem regulatory network is bound by an average of five different transcription factors from 35 distinct families of regulatory proteins.

Plant genetic advance could lead to more efficient conversion of

plant biomass to biofuels

OPINIONOPINION

STUDENT COMMENT

The manipulation and modification of the network that regulates xylem would be a great advance, because it would allow us to extract easily biofuels out of plants, and that would make a huge impact in environment, by reducing the emission of pollutant agents.

MEDICAL UTILITY

Understand how this granules work and their function

To regulate their assembly or disassembly as needed

Develop drugs based on the granules composition

Discover of there can be any mutation on this proteins and affect RNA

Research about their interaction with other proteins and if they have other functions that intervene in cell metabolism

MEDICAL UTILITY

MEDICAL UTILITY

Knowing the components, structures and function of the cells

Modificate them with the objective of curing some diseases

MEDICAL UTILITY

The plant cell wall is an important factor for determining cell shape, function and response to the environment.

Improve the efficiency of biofuel production.

Engineer energy crops for biofuel production.

REFERENCES University of Massachusetts at Amherst. (2015,

January 2). Plant genetic advance could lead to more efficient conversion of plant biomass to biofuels. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 22, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases 2015/01/150102172718.htm

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2015, January 16). New trick found for how cells stay organized. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 22, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150116085600.htm