Entries by Mary Williams

Recognizing Plant Cell first authors: Fernanda A.L. Silva-Alvim

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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 […]

Review: MYBs drive novel consumer traits in fruits and vegetables (Trends Plant Sci)

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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 […]

Review: Regulation of pattern recognition receptor signalling by phosphorylation and ubiquitination (Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.)

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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 […]

Receptor kinase THESEUS1 is a RALF 34 receptor with roles in lateral root development (Curr. Biol.)

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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 […]

What a difference a base makes: A single nucleotide confers Alternaria resistance in apple ($) (Plant Cell)

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Golden Delicious apples are particularly susceptible to the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternaria f. sp. mali. Zhang et al. have traced this susceptibility to a single nucleotide in the promoter of gene encoding a hairpin RNA (hpRNA), MdhpRNA277. This hpRNA produces small RNAs that selectivey target five resistance genes. In susceptible plants, the hpRNA is produced […]

Phytophthora effector exploits host susceptibility factor NRL1 (PNAS)

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Some pathogen effectors disarm a plant’s immunity directly, for example through targeting resistance genes, whereas others work indirectly, through the plants own susceptibility (S) factors. He et al. provide an example of the latter. Previously, the authors showed that the Phytophthora infestans effector Pi02860 interacts with NRL1, a host S factor that is required for […]

Carbon storage and land-use strategies in agricultural landscapes across three continents (Curr. Biol.)

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As we face increasingly odd weather patterns resulting from elevated CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, the question of how best to balance the need to produce food with the desire to minimize CO2 emissions becomes increasingly urgent. Williams et al. compared the effects of different types of land-use strategies on above-ground carbon stocks. They found […]

What We’re Reading: August 3rd

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Review: MYBs drive novel consumer traits in fruits and vegetables 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, […]

Recognizing Plant Physiology first authors: Jianping Yu

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Jianping Yu, first author of Natural Variation in OsLG3 Increases Drought Tolerance in Rice by Inducing ROS Scavenging Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow in Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Education: Ph. D., China Agricultural University Non-scientific Interests: Playing basketball Brief bio: Jianping got his PhD in 2017 from the […]