The biomolecule diphthamide is essential for the proper formation of proteins in cells. When humans are infected with diphtheria, diphthamide is altered by the diphtheria toxin so that life-threatening complications can arise as a consequence of an impaired formation of proteins. Up to now, diphthamide was only known to occur in animals and fungi. A research team headed by Professor Ute Krämer, holder of the Chair of Molecular Genetics and Physiology of Plants at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, has now demonstrated that the biomolecule also occurs in plants. The researchers also showed that its formation can be affected by certain environmental factors. This was published in the journal Nature Communications on 11 July 2022.
Click here for original story, Diphthamide is an Achilles heel shared by both plants and animals
Source: Phys.org