Flowers to Leaves: Bacterial Phyllogen Regulates Host Development
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellKitazawa et al. identified a unique proteasome-utilizing mechanism of phyllogen, a bacterial effector protein produced by pathogenic phytoplasmas. Plant Cell. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac062
By Yugo Kitazawa and Kensaku Maejima, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate…
Plant cells secrete diverse RNA species, including small RNAs, long noncoding RNAs and circular RNAs
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellKarimi et al. showed that Arabidopsis plants secrete numerous RNAs, which are associated with proteins and are located outside extracellular vesicles. Plant Cell. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac043
By: Hana Zand Karimi and Roger W. Innes, Indiana University
Background: To prevent infection…
Uncovering new start sites for plant viral protein synthesis
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellChiu et al. characterize hidden viral genes in tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus.
Background: When viruses such as begomoviruses infect plants, they hijack the host translation machinery to drive the expression of their proteins. This process causes viral disease, leading to great yield losses…
Broad spectrum resistance to fungal pathogens in sorghum is conferred by an immune receptor gene
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLee, Fu et al. discover an unusual immune receptor locus that confers broad-spectrum, strong resistance to fungal pathogens in sorghum.
Background: Sorghum, the fifth most widely grown cereal crop globally, provides food security for millions of people. The fungal disease sorghum anthracnose is the…
Nonessential genes are nevertheless good for something: Cold acclimation and photosynthesis
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellBy Yang Gao and Reimo Zoschke, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Gao and colleagues dissect how transcription and translation of tobacco chloroplast genes respond to cold exposure and reveal a critical role for the nonessential gene petL.
Background: Plants…
An N-terminally truncated NLR is functional
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellWu et al. uncover the unexpected role of the truncated NLR NRG1C in negatively regulating plant immunity by antagonizing its full-length NRG1 neighbors.
Background: Plants utilize sophisticated innate immune systems to fight against pathogens. Their genomes encode abundant immune receptors to detect…
Perturbed Glycolysis Triggers Plant Immunity
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellYang et al. find complex interactions between primary metabolism and plant immunity. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koab283
By Jian Hua, Leiyun Yang, Zhixue Wang, Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Background: Plant NLR…
WHITE-CORE RATE 1 regulates grain chalkiness in rice
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellWu et al. uncover a mechanism underlying chalkiness, an important grain quality trait in rice.
Background: With improved living standards, the demand for better grain quality has become a challenge in rice production areas. Rice chalkiness, i.e., endosperm containing opaque regions, seriously reduces…
A role for MdMPK4s in apple peel coloration
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellWang et al. investigate the role of MdMPK4 in fruit peel degreening during light/dark transitions
By Shuai Wang, Zhenhai Han and Ting Wu
Background: One of the most important visual indicators of fruit ripening in apple is the color change caused by anthocyanin accumulation and chlorophyll degradation.…