Recent Posts

The transporter OPT3 mediates crosstalk between iron and copper in shoot-to-root signaling

Chia et al. explore the mechanisms mediating systemic shoot-to-root signaling of copper status. Ju-Chen Chia and Olena K. Vatamaniuk, Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University Background: The micronutrients copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) are essential for plant growth…

A parasitic plant pushes the boundaries of microRNA biogenesis

Hudzik et al. reveal that not all microRNAs are transcribed the same way. By Collin Hudzik1,2 and Michael J. Axtell1,2 1Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA 2Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University…

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases Safeguard Meiosis

Li and Wang et al. found that apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases play essential roles in somatic and meiotic DNA repair. By Jinchao Li1 and Cong Wang2 1State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China 2College…

Transmembrane signaling in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Leng et al. reveal a pathway regulating arbuscule development in plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The Plant Cell (2023). By Marcel Bucher (University of Cologne) and Li Xue (Zhejiang Normal University) Background: More than 80% of terrestrial plants form mutualistic symbiosis…

Small RNAs and nutrient deprivation in Chlamydomonas

Li et al. find a class of small RNAs that might affect algal tolerance to nutritional stress.  Yingshan Li and Heriberto Cerutti - School of Biological Sciences and Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68588-0666, USA  Background: Noncoding RNAs are not translated…

Magnaporthe oryzae cytoplasmic effector translocation via endocytosis

Oliveira-Garcia et al. investigated Magnaporthe oryzae effector internalization inside rice cells. The Plant Cell (2023) By Ely Oliveira-Garcia, Nicholas J. Talbot and Barbara Valent Background: To cause disease in plants, fungal pathogens deliver effector proteins directly into plant cells. Inside…

Two isoforms of ELF3 antagonistically regulate flowering

Wang, Li, Liu, Li et al. explore how alternative promoter usage at the ELF3 locus regulates flowering. By Peng Wang1,2, Yu Li1,2, Zhe Liu1,3, Xuhan Li1, Shaoling Zhang1,2, Juyou Wu1,2,4 1Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm…

TaGSK3 regulates the Green Revolution Protein Rht-B1b to reduce wheat plant height

Dong, Li, et al. explore the mechanisms regulating a Green Revolution protein that acts to reduce plant height Huixue Dong1,2,3, Danping Li1,3, Ruizhen Yang1, Lichao Zhang1, Yunwei Zhang1, Xu Liu1, Xiuying Kong1,*, and Jiaqiang Sun1,* State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding,…

Phosphate uptake in maize

Wang, Yuan, et al. explore the regulatory connection between phosphorus nutrient homeostasis and vegetative-reproductive development in maize. Background: Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. To cope with phosphorus limitation, plants have evolved sophisticated…