Bahaji et al. identify an important player determining seed yield in Arabidopsis. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00312 Background: Oilseeds are major sources of calories for human consumption and have a significant agricultural and industrial value. Seed number and weight are the two main components of seed yield. In plants, plastidial isoprenoid derived hormones (e.g. cytokinins [CKs] and gibberellins [GAs]) […]
Morel et al. study the nectar-producing organs in flowers and identify major regulators of nectary size https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00425 By Patrice Morel and Michiel Vandenbussche Background: Nectaries are the organs that produce nectar, a sugary substance that motivates pollinators such as insects to visit flowers and subsequently pollinate them, thus ensuring the plant’s reproductive success. During evolution, […]
Kretzschmar et al. study the proteome of lipid droplets and identify a protein that functions in protein degradation during germination https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00276 Background: Lipid droplets (LDs) are structures inside cells that store oil or fat, for example, in oil seeds. They were once considered plain storage organelles. Ongoing research in yeast and animal systems, however, has […]
Deruyffelaere et al. investigate lipid mobilization during seed germination. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00275 By Sabine D’ANDREA and Corine ENARD Background: In cells, storage lipids are compartmentalized in specialized organelles called lipid droplets (LDs). The structure of these compartments is conserved across kingdoms and unique among organelles, consisting of a phospholipid monolayer containing proteins and surrounding the storage […]
Lin et al. show that B-BOX DOMAIN PROTEIN28 plays a role in regulating plant development in response to light signals. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00226. By Dongqing Xu and Xing Wang Deng Background: Sunlight is one of the key environmental cues influencing plant growth and development. In darkness, Arabidopsis seedlings undergo skotomorphogenesis, exhibiting elongated hypocotyls, closed cotyledons, […]
Zhang et al. investigate the regulation of apical hook development in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00018. By Xing Zhang, Yichuan Wang and Hongwei Guo. Background: For sessile plants, survival in dynamic nature is never easy! The very first challenge most seed plants need to overcome is protruding through the covering soil without damaging […]
Zhang et al. show that a single-nucleotide polymorphism in a hairpin RNA promoter contributes to Alternaria alternata leaf spot resistance in apple and could serve as a marker to distinguish susceptible versus resistant apple cultivars. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00042. Background: Apple Alternaria leaf spot is one of the most devastating fungal diseases of apple. Chemical treatments are commonly […]
Zhang et al. investigate the assembly of a molecular motor that produces cellular ATP in chloroplasts https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00075. By Lin Zhang, Lianwei Peng and Jean-David Rochaix Background: The F-type ATP synthase produces nearly all of the cellular ATP, the universal energy currency required for the biochemical reactions in living cells. This enzyme is one of the […]
Background: Chloroplasts are the major powerhouse of plant and algal cells, where photosynthesis—the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds using sunlight energy—occurs. Chloroplasts are also where important cell components (such as membrane lipids and pigments) and energy-rich compounds (such as starch and fatty acids) are made. Because plants and algae often face strong variations […]