Investigating Fructans to Understand How Plants Can Survive Harsh Environments | Dr José Ordaz-Ortiz

Mar 16, 2022 | biology, physical sciences

Original Article Reference

This SciPod is a summary of the paper ‘Localization and composition of Fructans in Stem and Rhizome of Agave Tequilana Weber var. azul’, in Frontiers in Plant Science. doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.608850

About this episode

The molecules within plant tissues can tell us about how they can withstand harsh environmental conditions. The Agave tequilana plant, native to Mexico, has a high concentration of fructan molecules throughout its tissues. Alongside his colleagues, Dr José Ordaz-Ortiz at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico, combines several powerful analytical techniques to better understand the role that these fructans play in plant biology.

 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseCreative Commons License

What does this mean?

Share: You can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format

Adapt: You can change, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Credit: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.

More episodes

Dr Rishabh Shetty | A Novel Method for Standardizing Single Molecule Studies

Dr Rishabh Shetty | A Novel Method for Standardizing Single Molecule Studies

Studying single molecules provides researchers with unique insights into biological mechanisms and processes and allows them to visualise microscopic structural and functional differences. However, results can be unpredictable, and investigations are labour-intensive and expensive, often requiring extensive training and highly specialised laboratory equipment. Dr Rishabh Shetty and colleagues at Arizona State University, the California Institute of Technology, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, have recently developed a simplified single-molecule assessment technique to overcome these limitations with a view to increasing accessibility and precision in molecular-level research.

Henry DeGroot – Dr Timothy Hanusa | Grinding Towards Greener Chemistry: Synthesis Without Solvents

Henry DeGroot – Dr Timothy Hanusa | Grinding Towards Greener Chemistry: Synthesis Without Solvents

In the world of chemistry, solvate-assisted grinding is a new method that could revolutionize how we make important chemical compounds. Researchers Henry DeGroot and Dr. Timothy Hanusa at Vanderbilt University have developed this technique, which uses mechanical energy instead of traditional liquids. This not only makes the process more efficient, but also reduces pollution. It could lead to better medicines, advanced materials, and cleaner chemical production methods.

Dr. Archana Thakur | A Novel Immunotherapy Approach to Treat Solid Tumors

Dr. Archana Thakur | A Novel Immunotherapy Approach to Treat Solid Tumors

Developing therapies to effectively treat cancerous tumors is challenging, due to the hostility of the tumor microenvironment and the potential to unintentionally damage surrounding tissues. Infusions of immune cells can improve immune function and assist the body in fighting disease, although this approach increases the risk of inducing dangerous inflammatory responses. Dr. Archana Thakur and her colleagues at the Universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania have engineered a pioneering immunotherapy system that precisely targets cancerous cells. This new immunotherapy poses minimal risk of adverse reactions, and can be used against a wide range of tumor types.

Dr. Christopher Buck | Expanding Our Knowledge of Viral Evolution

Dr. Christopher Buck | Expanding Our Knowledge of Viral Evolution

Vitamin D has been studied as a treatment for a large number of diseases and conditions, from cancer to autism to COVID-19. However, its mode of action is not completely understood. Professor Ralf Herwig carries out his research at HG Pharma GmbH (Austria) and Ulster University (UK). His vital work explores the role of vitamin D in the body with a view to unlocking its potential as a treatment for a variety of health conditions involving the immune system.

Increase the impact of your research

• Good science communication helps people make informed decisions and motivates them to take appropriate and affirmative action.
• Good science communication encourages everyday people to be scientifically literate so that they can analyse the integrity and legitimacy of information.
• Good science communication encourages people into STEM-related fields of study and employment.
• Good public science communication fosters a community around research that includes both members of the public, policymakers and scientists.
• In a recent survey, 75% of people suggested they would prefer to listen to an interesting story than read it.

Step 1 Upload your science paper

Step 2 SciPod script written

Step 3 Voice audio recorded

Step 4 SciPod published