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Temperatures of 20°C Produce Increased Net Primary Production in Chlorella sp.

Biddinger et al. | Feb 25, 2020

Temperatures of 20°C Produce Increased Net Primary Production in <em>Chlorella sp.</em>

Chlorella sp. are unicellular green algae that use photosynthesis to reduce carbon dioxide into glucose. In this study, authors sought to determine the temperature that Chlorella sp. is maximally efficient at photosynthesis, and therefore removing the most carbon dioxide from the system. This activity could be harnessed to naturally remove carbon dioxide from the environment, fighting the effects of climate change.

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Leaky expression of PRMT1 in Escherichia coli and redox regulation of its histone methyltransferase activity

Kim et al. | Oct 07, 2026

Leaky expression of PRMT1 in <i>Escherichia coli</i> and redox regulation of its histone methyltransferase activity

This study characterizes recombinant human Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) expressed in Escherichia. coli and reveals that the enzyme exhibits leaky expression even without isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. Through in vitro histone methyltransferase assays, we demonstrate that PRMT1 activity toward histone H4R3 is enhanced by dithiothreitol (DTT) in a dose-dependent manner but remains unresponsive to β-mercaptoethanol. These findings highlight the critical role of redox conditions in regulating PRMT1 catalytic function and provide a practical framework for future biochemical and kinetic studies.

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The growth of bacteria on everyday objects and the antimicrobial effects of household spices

Daehan Yi et al. | Apr 29, 2026

The growth of bacteria on everyday objects and the antimicrobial effects of household spices
Image credit: Daehan Yi, Boughaleb Hassani and Ribeiro

The study investigates the antibacterial properties of household spices on bacteria isolated from everyday objects, aiming to address the limited understanding of bacterial resilience on surfaces and the potential of spices as antibacterial agents. Researchers hypothesized that bacteria would grow faster on some surfaces than others and that spices like honey, chili powder, turmeric, and sumac would inhibit bacterial growth at varying rates. The findings suggest that household spices possess significant antibacterial properties and could be used as emergency disinfectants, particularly in under-resourced settings. However, they cannot replace medical treatments but offer insights into alternative health solutions using common ingredients.

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The effect of lead oxide concentrations on the bioluminescence intensity of Panellus stipticus

Park et al. | Mar 02, 2026

The effect of lead oxide concentrations on the bioluminescence intensity of <i>Panellus stipticus</i>

Here the authors investigate the potential of the bioluminescent fungus Panellus stipticus to serve as a sustainable bioindicator for environmental lead contamination. Their findings demonstrate that higher lead concentrations cause a measurable decrease in fungal bioluminescence intensity over time suggesting that the fungus could be an effective tool for detecting lead in an environment.

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