Entries by Suresh Damodaran

Reprogramming of root cells during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis involves dynamic polysome association of coding and noncoding RNAs ($) (Plant Cell)

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The symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants like Medicago results in the development of secondary root organs called nodules. The bacteria housed in the nodule infection zone assimilate atmospheric nitrogen for plant growth. In this paper, Traubenik et al. used (RNA-seq) and translating ribosome affinity purification RNA-seq (TRAP-seq) to determine the translational regulators […]

Review: Evolution of plant hormone response pathways ($) (Annu. Rev. Plant Biol.)

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Spatio-temporal action of hormones is essential for proper growth and development of plants. In this review, Blázquez et al. discuss the evolution of the shared features of  signaling pathways of different plant hormones. Auxin, jasmonic acid, gibberellic acid, and strigolactone signaling pathways commonly include proteasome degradation of regulators by Skp1/Cullin/F-box (SCF)- type E3 ubiquitin ligase […]

Central clock components modulate plant shade avoidance by directly repressing transcriptional activation activity of PIF proteins ($) (PNAS)

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PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) are transcriptional factors that relay light signals from the phytochrome photoreceptors to regulate the expression of light-sensitive genes, but there is not a direct correlation between PIF binding and expression of the target genes. In this paper, Zhang Y et al. identified additional regulatory proteins that influence PIF-mediated transcription. Starting with […]

DIX domain polymerization drives assembly of plant cell polarity complexes (Cell)

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In multicellular organisms like plants, asymmetric cell division can arise from cell polarity. The signals that establish cell polarity relative to the body axis are unknown in plants. In Arabidopsis, SOSEK1 was previously identified as having a polar distribution. SOSEK1 has a DIX domain similar to the DIX oligomerization domain of the Disheveled protein involved […]

Review. Same, but different: growth responses of primary and lateral roots ($) (J. Exp. Bot.)

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Lateral roots arising from programmed cell division from primary roots in both monocots and dicots share some similarities and dissimilarities in developmental signaling. In this review, Waidmann et al. discuss lateral root organogenesis and elongation with respect to hormone, nutrient, and abiotic conditions. This paper highlights important discoveries about lateral root elongation and the molecular […]

Accurate and versatile 3D segmentation of plant tissues at cellular resolution (bioRxiv)

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Advances in microscopy allow biologists to document and understand phenotypic changes at the tissue level. Despite this advancement, analysis of microscopic images to characterize changes in phenotypes is still under development. In this paper, Wolny et al. have developed an image analysis tool PlantSeg that enables users to analyze microscopic images from confocal and light-sheet […]

GPA5 encodes a Rab5a effector required for post-Golgi trafficking of rice storage proteins ($) (Plant Cell)

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Storage proteins secreted into vacuoles during seed development serve as precursors for germination and plant growth. In this paper, Ren et al. identified a regulator, GLUTELIN PRECURSOR ACCUMULATION 5 (GPA5) that is involved in protein trafficking into the vacuoles during seed development. The loss of function mutant gpa5 was identified through a mutant screen for defects in […]

Review: Harnessing atmospheric nitrogen for cereal crop production ($) (Curr. Opin. Biotechnol.)

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Nitrogen demands for plant growth are accomplished through fertilizers or biological nitrogen fixation. Industrial production of nitrogen fertilizer is expensive and causes pollution due to leaching of unused fertilizer. In this review, Bloch et al. discuss the current status of biological nitrogen fixation and the prospects of biological nitrogen fixation in cereal crops like maize. […]

SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE 5 promotes secondary phloem formation during radial stem growth (Plant J)

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Plant tissues continue to develop postembryonically through proliferation at the shoot and root apical meristem. In the vasculature, radial growth occurs through the proliferation of the undifferentiated cambial cells. Members of the SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE (SMXL) proteins are known to be involved in primary phloem development in the root vasculature. In this paper, Wallner […]