Entries by Martin Balcerowicz

Tomatoes turn pale in the heat: high temperature reduces red and green pigmentation via phytochromes

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The gardeners among us know that direct sunlight is a prerequisite to obtain full-sized, bright red tomato  (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. Indeed, light increases the accumulation of yellow and red carotenoid pigments, particularly lycopene, in ripe tomato fruits while it also boosts chlorophyll levels in the green parts of the plant. At the molecular level, accumulation […]

A new order through disorder: intrinsically disordered proteins reshape the cytoskeleton under drought stress

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Many proteins have a clearly defined structure-function relationship – specific three-dimensional folds can be linked to specific protein functions. We do however know that many proteins – referred to as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) – lack rigid three-dimensional organisation. In recent years, IDPs have been recognised as key components of many signalling networks. In plants, […]