Punica is a small genus of fruit-bearing deciduousshrub or small trees. Its better-known species is the Pomegranate (Punica granatum). The only other species in the genus, the Socotra Pomegranate (Punica protopunica), is endemic on the island of Socotra. It differs in having pink (not red) flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit.
Astrocytes and synaptic plasticity Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (Rockefeller University Press) By mopping up excess neurotrophic factor from neuronal synapses, astrocytes may finely tune synaptic transmission to affect processes such as learning and memory, say Bergami et al. Their report is published in the Journal of Cell Biology. Body's anti-HIV drug explained Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (University of Southern California) Study in journal Nature reveals atomic structure of enzyme capable of repelling HIV virus, suggesting new approach for drug development. Pectin power Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (Norwich BioScience Institutes) Scientists from the UK's Institute of Food Research have found a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers.They have shown that a fragment released from pectin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.