Recent Posts

An Intrinsically Disordered Protein Interacts with the Plant Cytoskeleton

Intrinsically disordered proteins lack a defined three-dimensional structure but often contain a simple amino acid composition with repeated  sequences that provide the basis for multivalent intermolecular interactions. Because of their unique structural flexibility, conformational adaptability, and…

A Peptide Hormone Receptor Controls Seed Size and Yield

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLK) are one of the largest gene families in  plants. Research over the past decade has implicated LRR-RLKs and their selective interactions with secreted peptide hormones in a myriad of developmental processes. A conserved LRR-RLK with a burgeoning list…

Remorin and Plant Death

Programmed cell death (PCD) in plants is closely associated with a wide variety of biological processes, including cell differentiation, aleurone layer formation, tapetum degradation, leaf and fruit resistance, pathogen invasion and abiotic stresses. Plant PCD is a complex genetically programmed mechanism,…

Roots, Bacteria, Ethylene, and Rhizosheath Formation

The rhizosheath, the sticky part of the rhizosphere, is the layer of soil that adheres to roots upon excavation of the root system. The stickiness of the layer arises from mucilage and other substances secreted by roots, soil microbes or both. Rhizosheaths preferentially form in drier soil and  are…

Durotropic Growth of Pollen Tubes

Upon germination, the vegetative pollen cell forms a long tubular protrusion, the pollen tube, which rapidly elongates through the pistil and transports the enclosed immobile sperm cells toward the egg and the central cell for double fertilization. To reach the female gametophyte, growing pollen tubes…

Chlamydomonas and Vitamin B12

Nutrient amendment experiments suggest that B12 limits phytoplankton growth in many aquatic ecosystems.  Eukaryotic algae cannot synthesize B12 and must instead obtain it from certain B12-producing prokaryotes. In many algae, B12 is required as a cofactor for the B12-dependent Met synthase enzyme (METH),…

Small Secreted Peptides of a Model Legume: a Database

Plant small secreted peptides (SSPs) have emerged as an important class of regulatory molecules involved in plant growth, development, plant-microbe interactions, and stress tolerance. SSPs are typically encoded within preproteins of 100–250 amino acids, that are subsequently processed into shorter…

Cineole Synthesis in Kiwifruit

Over 80 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been described in ripe kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), with the most important odor-active compounds  typically being straight-chain esters and C6 aldehydes and alcohols. Another odorant proposed to be important in the flavor of ‘Hort16A’, one of three…

New Insights into Tomato Ripening

Fruit ripening results in changes in pigmentation, enhanced aromas and flavors, and flesh softening. The ripening process involves massive changes in gene expression patterns. RIPENING INHIBITOR (RIN) is a transcription factor that plays a major role in regulating fruit ripening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).…