MAC3 Proteins Regulate MicroRNA Biogenesis
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLi et al. uncovered the roles of MAC3 in miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell (2018).
By Shengjun Li and Bin Yu
Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Plants use miRNAs to control development and physiology. Consequently, understanding of the…
Underground Functions of GIF Genes
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellErcoli et al. investigate how GIF genes control root development https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00856
By María Florencia Ercoli and Javier Palatnik
Background: Plants, unlike animals, have the ability to generate new organs throughout their life cycle. This capacity relies on meristems, which…
Maize Tassel Architecture
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellZhang et al. show that GIF1 regulates the determinacy of meristems and controls tassel architecture in maize. The Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00791
Background: Plant architecture results from a balance of indeterminate and determinate cell fates. Cells with indeterminate fates…
Gene Expression Study Reveals Distinct Virulence Modules of Corn Smut Fungus
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLanver et al. investigate fungal gene expression during corn infection by Ustilago maydis. The Plant Cell (2018) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00764
By Daniel Lanver and Regine Kahmann
Background: The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a model organism for studying how fungi can colonize living…
Meiotic Crossover Formation
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellKurzbauer et al. discover a role for the Fanconi anemia D2 plant homogue in promoting meiotic crossover formation. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00745
by Marie-Therese Kurzbauer and Peter Schlögelhofer
Background: Meiosis is a specialized cell division and generates the basis for genetic diversity…
A Unified Maize Endosperm Regulatory Network
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellFeng et al. show that the transcription factor O11 is a master regulatory protein in endosperm development. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00616.
By Fan Feng and Rentao Song
Background: Maize is one of the most important crops both for food and industry. The main nutrients of maize…
Saving Algae from Environmental Stresses
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellDu et al. investigate an important protein that regulates photosynthesis under stress. Plant Cell. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00446.
Background:…
Nodule Symbiosis: Cleavage of Bacterial Signals Affects Nodule Shape
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellCai et al. investigate the function of a Medicago truncatula enzyme (MtNFH1) that cleaves nodulation signals of symbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria. Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00420.
By Jie Cai, Zhi-Ping Xie and Christian Staehelin
Background: Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia…
Pentapeptide Protection of Botrytis-Infected Tomato by Phytosulfokine
Blog, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In BriefFungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea can cause devastating losses to agricultural crops – ask any strawberry, grape, or tomato grower. To prevent these losses, plants can summon a variety of immune responses by recognizing specific molecules associated with pathogen attack and/or internal damage.…