On the Importance of Variation: A High-Resolution Map of Copy Number Variants in Arabidopsis
Linking genotype to phenotype is a major challenge in plant biology. Phenotypic variation observed between individuals of a same plant species is the consequence of a vast array of genetic variation, including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and small or large structural variants including Copy…
Seed-Specific Saponin Biosynthesis in Medicago
Ribeiro, Lacchini et al. discover a seed-specific transcription factor that helps determine the composition of the defense compounds saponins in developing Medicago truncatula seeds. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00609
By Elia Lacchini, Alain Goossens, and Jacob Pollier
VIB-UGent…
TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE1 – an essential enzyme in Arabidopsis
Fichtner et al. transformed the embryo-lethal mutant tps1 with variants of the TPS1 gene to identify critical domains for function and localization of the gene product. The Plant Cell (2020) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00837
By Franziska Fichtner1,2 and John Lunn1, 1Max Planck Institute of Molecular…
Activate, Breakdown, Branch Out: CUC2/3-DA1-UBP15 Controls Axillary Meristem Initiation
Shoot architecture is a key ecological and agricultural trait that impacts biomass, the potential to harvest light, planting density, and the reproductive success of a plant. Branching is a prominent feature of plant shoot architecture. A shoot branch develops from an axillary bud, which is located in…
Drawing in the Net: Forty-Five Maize Gene Regulatory Networks from Over 6,000 RNA-Seq Samples
Eukaryotic gene expression is largely governed by transcription factors (TFs), the nuclear proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences and determine when and where genes are turned on. Transcriptional gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that modulate developmental processes and environmental responses consist…
Ouch! Plant perception of wounding
Sözen et al. describe two independent MAPK signaling cascades that are each activated with different kinetics, providing an immediate and delayed response to herbivore feeding. The Plant Cell (2020) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00917
By Cécile Sözen, Marie Boudsocq and Jean Colcombet, Université…
Repression of FUSCA3 by BASIC PENTACYSTEINE PROTEINS promotes ovule development and coordinates embryo and endosperm growth
Wu et al. found that FUSCA3, which regulates seed development, is localized to specific cells of the ovule and seed coat and is itself regulated by BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) proteins. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00764
By Sonia Gazzarrini (University of Toronto, Dept. Biological Sciences…
Cytokinin signaling patterns maize leaves, otherwise things get hairy and frayed
Variation in leaf morphology across the angiosperms is impressive and abounds. Leaves are the primary photosynthetic organ for most angiosperms, acting as the primary sites of light capture and gas exchange. Typical of grass leaves, maize leaves are strap-like and simple, with unelaborated margins. Leaves…
Recognizing Plant Cell authors: Franziska Fichtner
Franziska Fichtner, first author of Functional features of TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE1 - an essential enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Education: PhD in Molecular…