Entries by Vijaya Batthula

Hydration-dependent phase separation of a prion-like protein regulates seed germination during water stress (bioRxiv)

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Plant seeds can remain dormant for several years under stress conditions and subsequently germinate once favorable conditions return. Even though this phenomenon has been known for many years, what keeps the seed from germinating during the unfavorable conditions, especially during water deficit conditions, is not known. In this paper, Dorone et al. identified an intrinsically […]

The CDK inhibitor SIAMESE targets both CDKA;1 and CDKB1 complexes to establish endoreplication in trichomes (Plant Physiol.)

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Endoreplication is a process in which DNA doubles without cell division. Trichomes (epidermal hairs) serve as a good system in which to study endoreplication. Cyclin (CYC) and cyclin dependent kinases (CDK) promote cell division and inhibit endoreplication. In plant trichomes, two CDK/CYC complexes, CDKA;1/CYCD3 and CDKB1/CYCA2, promote cell division. CDK inhibitors inactivate CDK/CYC complexes to […]

An inducible genome editing system for plants (Nature Plants)

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To understand gene function, it is necessary to study loss-of-function phenotypes. However, knockouts of some genes are lethal, which makes it impossible to study their loss-of-function phenotype. Although here are inducible overexpression systems and inducible knockdown systems, as yet there has been no inducible knockout system. In this paper Wang et al. developed an inducible […]

Review: Feedback mechanisms between membrane lipid homeostasis and plant development (Dev. Cell)

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Plant development is a regulated process of cell division, expansion, and differentiation. Membrane lipids are crucial to these processes, as illustrated in this review by Boutté and Jaillais. The authors discuss the major lipid components in the different membrane systems and how these vary in space and time during plant development. Taking examples from Arabidopsis […]

Reprogramming of stem cell activity to convert thorns into branches (Curr. Biol.)

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Thorns are modified axillary shoots with a sharp tip that helps in deterring herbivores and are found among several families of angiosperms. Thorns develop from their meristem-like tip to their base, but unlike branches they are determinate organs. The mechanism of their terminal differentiation into a sharp structure is not known. In this paper, Zhang […]

Dual-sensing genetically encoded fluorescent indicators, ABA and second messenger dynamics (Plant Cell)

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Responses to a changing environment require an interplay between primary and secondary messengers. Hormones like abscisic acid (ABA), auxin etc. act as a primary messengers, whereas molecules like Ca2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), other cations and anions act as a secondary messenger. In this paper, Waadt et al. generated a set of dual-reporting genetically encoded […]

The biogenesis of CLEL peptides involves several processing events in consecutive compartments of the secretory pathway (eLIFE)

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Small signaling peptides are cleaved from precursor proteins by the action of proteases and are also subject to other post-translational modifications. Subtilases (SBT) are mostly extracellular proteases, but SBT6.1 is membrane-localized at the Golgi and plasma membranes. Furthermore, it has been shown to cleave precursors of the CLE-Like (CLEL) peptides, specifically CLEL6 and 9, which […]

Post germination seedling establishment by ABA in response to light (Plant J.)

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Abscisic acid (ABA), is implicated in reversible inhibition of seed germination (emergence of radicle) and post-germination seedling establishment (formation of green open cotyledons) during unfavorable conditions. Yadukrishnan et al. analyzed the role of light in ABA- mediated inhibition of post germination seedling growth and laid out a molecular framework using a combination of genetics and […]