Steroidal alkaloids play a crucial role in plant defense and exhibit distinct stereochemistry at C25, forming either the tomato-type (25 S ) or eggplant-type (25 R ) isomers. Here, we uncover the molecular mechanisms shaping this stereochemical diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of GLYCOALKALOID METABOLISM 8 ( GAME8 ) cytochrome P450 hydroxylases across the Solanaceae family revealed...
On the younger, black-rock islands of the Galápagos archipelago, wild-growing tomatoes are doing something peculiar. They’re shedding millions of years of evolution, reverting to a more primitive genetic state that resurrects ancient chemical defenses.
Despite being information rich, the vast majority of untargeted mass spectrometry data are underutilized; most analytes are not used for downstream interpretation or reanalysis after publication. The inability to dive into these rich raw mass spectrometry datasets is due to the limited flexibility and scalability of existing software tools. Here we introduce a new language...
Metabolite identification in non-targeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics remains a major challenge due to limited spectral library coverage and difficulties in predicting metabolite fragmentation patterns. Here, we introduce Multiplexed Chemical Metabolomics (MCheM), which employs orthogonal post-column derivatization reactions integrated into a unified mass spectrometry data framework. MCheM generates orthogonal structural information that substantially improves metabolite annotation...
For a decade, scientists have believed that plants sensed temperature mainly through specialized proteins, and mainly at night when the air is cool. New research suggests that during the day, another signal takes over. Sugar, produced in sunlight, helps plants detect heat and decide when to grow.
Jim Burnette, Ph.D., Academic Coordinator at UC Riverside, considers the Dynamic Genome Program (DGP) on campus as three-pronged, encompassing the Biology 020: Dynamic Genome Course, the Dynamic Genome Summer Scholars, and the Dynamic Research Outreach Program. “But it is really so much more than that,” he says. “The program touches on so many aspects of...
Dr. Alexander Raikhel, Dr. Natasha Raikhel, Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres, Dr. Susan Wessler, Dr. Sean Cutler, and Dr. Hailing Jin are members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh is a member of the Germany National Academy of Sciences.
Please join us in congratulating Hailing Jin on her election to the National Academy of Sciences in the USA. This prestigious honor is a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding scientific achievements. Haling’s work not only exemplifies scientific excellence but is also marked by her characteristic humility and modesty. Her election is a testament to her...
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Dawn Nagel and Dr. Carolyn Rasmussen have been awarded a highly competitive NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant—an exceptional achievement, especially in this current era of uncertainty and limited funding opportunities. This award is a testament to their unwavering dedication, strategic effort, and commitment to advancing undergraduate...
If your teeth have ever felt fuzzy after skipping a brushing, you’ve encountered biofilm—a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces. In medical settings, biofilms make infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on devices like catheters and implants.
The Dehesh Lab recently published a study in Nature Communications identifying MEcPP, a conserved metabolite found in Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria, as well as plastid-bearing organisms, as a key inhibitor of Escherichia coli biofilm formation. Biofilms, microbial communities encased in an extracellular matrix, drive antibiotic resistance, persistent infections, and equipment fouling, posing significant medical...
The National Academy of Sciences is governed by a 17-member Council, which includes five officers and 12 councilors elected from among the Academy membership. Its staff is headed by the NAS Executive Officer.
With age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia on the rise, the University of California, Riverside, is joining a major effort to develop treatments that delay aging and improve life for older adults.
Dr. Hailing Jin and Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres have again been recognized as highly cited researchers in the “Clarivate Analytics’ Highly Cited Researchers list,” highlighting their groundbreaking scientific contributions!
In drug discovery, targeted protein degradation is a method that selectively eliminates disease-causing proteins. A University of California, Riverside team of scientists has used a novel approach to identify protein degraders that target Pin1, a protein involved in pancreatic cancer development.
Professor Katayoon “Katie” Dehesh knows all about planting and replanting roots — in biology and in life. When Dehesh escaped from Iran more than 40 years ago, she had one single goal in mind: education. She loved learning and was always curious about the biological life that surrounded her world in Iran. But in 1980...
Simon "Niels" Groen and coauthor Sophie Zaaijer published an article in Human Genomics regarding melanin reducing the effect of certain drugs. The work advocates that researchers include more diversity in genetic backgrounds for pharmaceutical development, especially when creating computer models or conducting clinical trials.
