How chloroplasts remain viable inside of herbivorous sea slugs is a long-standing curiosity. Unlike corals, which host intact photosynthetic algae, sea slugs retain naked chloroplasts (which are then called kleptoplasts – stolen plastids), some of which remain viable for seveal weeks. Christa et al. explored how kleptoplasts from diverse algal species survive without the support […]
Martinez et al. used a modelling approach to see if it is possible to predict the location of a cell’s future division plane. In most cases the cell divides according to strict geometric rules, such that the newly formed wall will have a minimum area (described as a soap-film minimization model). However, in some cases […]
Ploidy refers to the number of genomes contained within a nucleus. Ploidy levels can increase through whole-genome duplication, which affects every cell equally, and through endoreduplication, a cell-by-cell process in which DNA synthesis is not accompanied by cytokinesis. Robinson et al. investigated how increasing ploidy (both types) affects nuclear, cell and organ size. They found […]
By now we’re probably all familiar with the central dogma of auxin signalling; that the interaction between auxin and auxin receptors (e.g., TIR1) leads to degradation of Aux/IAA proteins, freeing up ARF transcription factors to do their things. The complexity of this simple system arises in part due to the large numbers of all of […]
Much has been discussed about the impacts of abiotic effects (e.g., heat and drought stress) on crop yields arising from climate change. Here, Deutsch and Tewksbury et al. evaluate how a changing climate will affect crop (wheat, rice and maize) yields through increases in insect herbivory. Temperature affects herbivorous insects in two ways. First, with […]
Review: Harnessing synthetic chemistry to probe and hijack auxin signaling Auxin has been studied since Charles Darwin observed the phototropic response. More recently, chemical genetic approaches using auxin agonists and antagonists have been applied to studies of auxin. Torii et al. review how synthetic chemistry and chemical genetics have provided insights into and new tools […]
Li Yu, first author of The patterned structure of galactoglucomannan suggests it may bind to cellulose in seed mucilage Current Position: Research Associate at Department of Biochemistry and The Leverhulme Trust Centre for Natural Material Innovation, University of Cambridge, UK Education: Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry, Northeast Normal University, China; Visiting student during Ph.D. in Centre […]
Ascensión Andres-Garrido, first author of Chloroplast damage induced by the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis triggers autophagy in Chlamydomonas CURRENT POSITION: Ph.D. student in Genetics Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in Plant Breeding NON SCIENTIFIC INTEREST: Writing, cinema, football, dancing, trekking BRIEF BIO: Fascinated by the fields of both genetics and […]
Luis Heredia-Martínez, first author of Chloroplast damage induced by the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis triggers autophagy in Chlamydomonas Current Position: Ph.D. student at the Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla) Seville, Spain. Education: Master degree in Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology and Clinical Research (University of Seville, Spain). Non-scientific Interests: Watching movies, reading […]