The MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion) family is found in all three domains of life. Proteins in this family are secondary transporters, functioning as sodium or proton/organic cation antiporters. This family has diverse functions in plants, including vacuolar sequestration of alkaloids,…

Telling others that what we do matters. Guest post by Alyssa Preiser Every holiday season, at least one relative may ask you the question "What do you do?". Your response - "I study plants" -  is immediately followed by an awkward pause and either an unsure nod, as if they immediately understand…

What a glorious day when you get to know you have money to fund your lab! I remember clearly every single word on the notification letter I received the first time and the heavyweight lifting off my shoulders that wonderful day! I think I am not the only one. It is very difficult to do science…

Words of Wisdom from Those Who Publish (and Do Not Perish) By Helen Sword A PhD student approached me after a writing workshop to recount his tale of woe. “I write these messy, incoherent first drafts,” he lamented. “They’re absolutely awful! Then I have to work on them for hours and hours…

I am a PhD Student at the University of Adelaide in South Australia with a background in agricultural science and molecular biology. My PhD project focusses on seed coat mucilage biosynthesis in the genus Plantago for applications in food technology. I also have a passion for citizen science, science…

By Alexandre Huchelmann, Marc Boutry, and Charles Hachez Abstract Multicellular glandular trichomes are epidermal outgrowths characterized by the presence of a head made of cells that have the ability to secrete or store large quantities of specialized metabolites. Our understanding of the transcriptional…

The ability to acclimate to high temperatures that are normally lethal is common to virtually all organisms on the planet. A short exposure to milder heat stress informs organisms that they should ready themselves in case they experience even warmer conditions. Acquired thermo-tolerance in plants is…