As gatekeepers between the outside world and the interior of the leaf, guard cells are extraordinarily sensitive to their environment. Closing keeps out pathogens and keeps in water vapor, but opening is needed to admit CO2. The web of interactions that control stomatal aperture are also correspondingly complex. Although ABA is well known as a […]
Plants and their algal predecessors both utilize chloroplasts for photosynthesis and other essential metabolic processes. The endosymbiotic origin and subsequent co-evolution of this autotrophic organelle introduced striking regulatory mechanisms combining both prokaryotic and eukaryotic strategies for optimal functionality and control. In a recent article, Trosch et al. (Nature Plants) performed a comprehensive comparison of chloroplast […]
Genome assemblies of maize lines Mo17 and W22: Extensive intraspecific variation, and resource for functional biology The maize genome is largely composed of transposable elements, which is one reason maize has been such a powerful genetic model. However, these transposons also mean that there is a great deal of genetic variability between inbred lines, which […]
Molly Perchlik, first author of Leaf Amino Acid Supply Affects Photosynthetic and Plant Nitrogen Use Efficiency under Nitrogen Stress Current Position: In search Education: Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Washington State University. B.S. in Biology, Indiana University (Bloomington) Non-scientific Interests: Travel, hiking, camping, choir, board games Brief bio: During my undergraduate studies at Indiana University, I worked in the […]
Linhui Yu, first author of Starch Deficiency Enhances Lipid Biosynthesis and Turnover in Leaves Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Bioscience Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, USA Education: PhD in Plant Biology at the School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. Non-scientific Interests: Travelling, hiking, movies, reading. Brief bio: I earned my doctoral […]
Fernanda A.L. Silva-Alvim, first author of Predominant Golgi-residency of the plant K/HDEL receptor is essential for its function in mediating ER retention Current Position: Visitor student, Centre for Plant Sciences, University of Leeds/UK Education: BSc in Food Engineer, Master in Agroenergy, Federal University of Tocantins/Brazil Non-scientific Interests: Travelling, books, movies, music, theatre, fitness, exercising and beauty care. Brief […]
The MYB transcription factors, specifically the R2R3 family of MYBs, are closely associated with the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. This easy-to-score trait made MYBs some of the earliest characterized plant transcription factors. Allan and Espley summarize the contributions of MYBs to pigmentation in flowers, fruits, leaves and even other organs (e.g., purple cauliflower). Because anthocyanins […]
A key step in pathogen recognition occurs at the cell surface with the interaction between receptor-like kinases (pattern-recognition receptors) and their ligands. This event triggers a signal-transduction cascade that leads to the induction of defense responses. Mithoe and Menke review our current understanding of these signals, focusing on the contributions of protein activation and inactivation […]
RALF peptides were identified nearly 20 years ago, as small peptides that induce rapid alkalinisation of the culture medium when added to cell suspension cultures. Previously, members of the receptor-like kinase (RLK) family including FERONIA (FER) have been identified as RALF receptors. A related RLK, THESEUS1 (THE1), was known to have a role in cell […]