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Nanoscale movements of cellulose microfibrils in primary cell walls ($)

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Cell walls are complex mixtures of cellulose microfibrils, proteins and other materials. Their mechanical properties can be measured and modeled, but it is not always simple to translate these measurements to changes at the molecular level. Zhang et al. used atomic force microscopy to provide an unprecedented…

Conserved gene regulatory network integrated with stress response factors in radish and Arabidopsis root cambium (Curr. Biol.)

The cambium is a layer of actively dividing cells between xylem and phloem tissues that is responsible for the thickening of primary or lateral roots and stems. Root crops are tightly associated with the cambium regulatory mechanism which is less characterized in root as compared to shoot development.…

Unregulated Sphingolipid Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis ORM Mutants

Gonzalez Solis et al. describe the metabolic, cellular, and physiological consequences of the complete loss of regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.20.00015  By Ariadna Gonzalez Solis and Edgar B. Cahoon  Background: Glycosphingolipids are molecules…

Mutation bias shapes gene evolution in Arabidopsis thaliana (bioRxiv)

Classical evolutionary theory states that the probability of a mutation occurring is independent of fitness consequences. However, reassessment of traditional assumptions is warranted with recent discoveries showing that cytogenetic (DNA sequences and epigenetic) features can affect local mutation probabilities.…

Induced tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses of broccoli and Arabidopsis after treatment with elicitor molecules (Sci. Rep.)

Plant hormones such as jasmonates (JAs) and salicylic acid (SA) are known for their role in regulating plant growth under both abiotic and biotic stresses. These hormones, which are synthesized within the plant, can modulate cellular processes in targeted cells locally and can be moved to other parts…

AT the Onset of DNA Replication in Arabidopsis

Author Anne-Sophie Fiorucci Affiliation Centre for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, Génopode Building, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. ORCID number 0000-0002-3254-5967 DNA replication allows doubling of the genomic content of a cell before…

It takes two to tango: two GNOMs have to activate ARF1 together

Brumm et al. investigate how the protein GNOM activates dimers of the small GTPase ARF1 and inserts them very close to each other during vesicle formation. The Plant Cell (2020) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.20.00240 By Sabine Brumm 1,2 and Gerd Jürgens 1, ZMBP, University of Tübingen (1), Sainsbury…

Secret Talents: STARCH SYNTHASE 5—Not an Enzyme, but Very Active!

Abt et al. found that Arabidopsis SS5, a protein homologous to typical starch-synthesizing enzymes, is itself enzymatically inactive, but rather has an important role in the starch granule initiation process. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00946 By Melanie R. Abt and Samuel C. Zeeman, Institute…

Lipid kinases in signaling and metabolism

Angkawijaya et al. investigate diacylglycerol kinase function in Arabidopsis phospholipid signaling and metabolism. The Plant Cell (2020) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.20.00251 By Artik Elisa Angkawijaya, Van C. Nguyen, Farrel Gunawan, and Yuki Nakamura, Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia…

It’s a TRAPP! Arabidopsis Transport Protein Particle (TRAPP) Complexes Contain a Novel Plant-Specific Subunit

Membrane vesicle trafficking is the process of moving and distributing signaling molecules from their place of synthesis or capture to target locations inside or outside the cell. Vesicles, mobile membrane compartments produced from the endoplasmic reticulum, carry proteins and other molecules to an…