For such an important structure, the centromere certainly is hard to pin down, particularly in regard to the relationship between its sequence composition and epigenetic state and its functions in chromosome pairing and kinetochore formation. In addition to undergoing rapid sequence evolution, centromeres…

Starch is the major storage carbohydrate in plants. It occurs as semi-crystalline, insoluble granules consisting of two Glc polymers: amylopectin and amylose. Amylopectin, the major polymer, gives rise to the semi-crystalline matrix of the granule. Amylose is believed to reside in amorphous regions…

Kyungwon Min, first author of A metabolomics study of ascorbic acid-induced in situ freezing tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Current Position: I have recently defended my PhD dissertation under the guidance of Dr. Rajeev Arora’s laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University,…

Takeuchi et al. examine the role of an algal protein during nitrogen starvation and quiescence. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00628 By Tomomi Takeuchi and Christoph Benning, Michigan State University   Background: Living cells need energy to grow and divide. When their source…

Freddy Bunbury, first author of Physiological and Molecular Responses of a Newly Evolved Auxotroph of Chlamydomonas to B12 Deprivation Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in the labs of Arthur Grossman and Devaki Bhaya at the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford Education: BA in Plant Biology…

Acidity is a major contributor to apple (Malus domestica) fruit quality, including fruit overall taste and flavor. Organic acids collectively are responsible for acidity, but malic acid accounts for more than 90% of the total acid and largely controls apple fruit acidity. Most of the malic acid in apple…

Ho Won Jung, first author of Pathogen-associated Molecular Pattern-triggered Immunity Involves Proteolytic Degradation of Core Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay Factors During the Early Defense Response Current Position: Associate Professor at Dong-A University, Korea Education: Ph.D. and Master of Science…

The LAZY gene family, discovered through the characterization of a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant with unusually wide tiller angles, encodes proteins that function in gravitropism.  Gravitropism begins with a perception process that ultimately causes a difference in the cell elongation rate across the…