Entries by Amey Redkar

The rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina expresses distinct sets of secreted protein genes during infection of its two host plants, larch and poplar

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Rust fungi represent an important group of plant pathogens, many of which have heteroecious lifestyles (meaning that they require two alternate hosts). However, the molecular mechanisms used by these pathogens for suppression and colonization of multiple hosts are poorly understood.  Lorrain et al. set out to dissect this in Melampsora larici-populina which infects two unrelated […]

Plant extracellular vesicles are incorporated by a fungal pathogen and inhibit its growth ($)

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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-released structures that play a role in cell-to-cell communication. These vesicles in plants have been poorly studied although they are predicted to have a role in defense upon pathogen infection. Regente et al. have characterized EVs from sunflower by transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. As expected, the vesicles are enriched […]

Review: Plasmodesmal regulation during plant- pathogen interactions

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Plasmodesmata are plasma membrane-enclosed pores between cells that were initially described by Tangl in 1879 as ‘open communications’ between protoplasts of endosperm cells. These structures are regulated by callose deposition from the apoplast and play an important regulatory role in stress and developmental responses, although little is yet known about their role in modulating pathogen infection […]

Review: Plant systems biology at the single-cell level

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The establishment and enormous developments in -omics and systems biology over the last years have increased our understanding and ability to analyze complex biological processes at entire plant, organ or tissue levels. However, these arrays of datasets have the limitation of cellular complexity in terms of computational analysis and model predictions. Recent methodology and technical […]

The structural basis of flagellin detection by NAIP5: A strategy to limit pathogen immune evasion ($)

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Both plants and animals have a sophisticated immune system comprising receptors to detect pathogen-encoded epitopes or virulence molecules. These receptors are programmed to recognize pathogen ligands which are rapidly evolving over an evolutionary time. However, the structural basis of ligand perception by immune receptors that encode nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins and of their […]

Transgenic Cavendish bananas with resistance to Fusarium wilt

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Banana, the common breakfast component, is also a staple food in some regions of the world. More than 99% of the bananas exported world-wide are the clonally-propagated Cavendish variety, which have very little genetic variation and so are prone to disease outbreaks. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a fungus that has threatened Cavendish […]

Laccaria bicolor MiSSP8 is a small-secreted protein decisive for the establishment of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis

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Mycorrhizal symbiosis involves extensive signaling between plants and their fungal partners. Mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins (MiSSPs) have been hypothesized to be involved in diverse processes to suppress plant defense and promote fungal life-cycles. Clement et al. functionally characterized a highly expressed small secreted protein MiSSP8 from Laccaria bicolor, and showed that it helps establish ectomycorrhizal […]

Ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 are governed by plant-soil interactions and the cost of nitrogen acquisition

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How does the cost of nitrogen acquisition affect how an ecosystem responds to elevated CO2? Terrer et al. have addressed this question in a comprehensive review of findings from elevated CO2 experiments, using a plant economics framework. The authors describe ecosystem responses, particularly those of plants to elevated CO2, by interactions with mycorrhizal fungi and […]

Review: Autophagy as a mediator of life and death in plants ($)

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Autophagy is a major pathway involved in degradation and recycling of the cytoplasmic components in a cell. This pathway is functionally well conserved in maintaining cellular homeostasis and modulation of stress responses among yeast, plants and animals. Recent evidence suggests that autophagy targets a range of components in cell machinery. In plants, the role of […]