At least five RNA polymerases (Pol I to Pol V) are known to exist in plant cells. Pol IV produces short transcripts that are converted into double-stranded RNAs by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) and processed into 24-nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by DICER-LIKE 3 (DCL3). These siRNAs direct ARGONAUTE 4 (AGO4) or AGO6 […]
Kimura et al. reveal how phosphorylation of a key enzyme activates reactive oxygen species production. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00525 Sachie Kimuraa,b, Michael Wrzaczeka aOrganismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Viikki Plant Science Centre, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland. bPresent address: Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, 525-8577, Shiga, […]
To survive nutrient scarcity, unicellular organisms establish a reversible quiescent state in which cells cease growth and division and switch metabolism to an energy-conserving mode. When nutrients become available again, cells exit from quiescence and resume growth and division. The mechanistic details for the establishment of an effective quiescent state in response to nutrient shortage […]
Shen et al. explore the role of H2S signaling and the reversible modification persulfidation in guard cell signaling. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00826 Yanjie Xie; Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China. Background: In guard cells, several bio-active molecules involved in abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent signaling cascades have been identified, such […]
C4 photosynthesis originated as an adaptation to low atmospheric CO2 concentrations 30-35 million years ago (Sage, 2016). Although accounting for only 3% of the vascular plants on earth, C4 plants contribute 25% of terrestrial photosynthesis (Westhoff and Gowik, 2010), thus providing a highly desirable system to increase carbon fixation efficiency and enhance crop yield. The […]
Zhang et al. identify a target gene for enhancing pathogen resistance without yield penalty in sweet potato. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00641 Background: Sweet potato is an economically important root and tuber crop that is widely used as an industrial and bioenergy resource worldwide and as an important source of food for both humans and domesticated animals. […]
Land plants (embryophytes) evolved from a freshwater charophycean algal predecessor over 450 million years ago and have since separated into the diversity of plant lineages observed today. A key factor in the expansion of plant life on land was the evolution of rooting structures and a vasculature that enhanced the acquisition of mineral nutrients and […]
Wang et al. reveal that viable pollen formation in Capsella requires the function of a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00938 Background: Transposons, or “jumping genes”, are kept silent by a plant-specific pathway that starts with DNA-dependent RNA polymerase IV (in short Pol IV), which recognizes and transcribes transposons. These transcripts are converted into […]
Root hairs are tubular outgrowths of a subset of root epidermal cells serving multiple roles, including plant anchorage in the soil, water and nutrient absorption, and symbiotic interactions with nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes (Salazar-Henao et al., 2016). Root hairs form an interface between the plant and the environment, therefore their development is tightly regulated […]