Assembling a Nanomolecular Power Station
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellZhang et al. investigate the assembly of a molecular motor that produces cellular ATP in chloroplasts https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00075.
By Lin Zhang, Lianwei Peng and Jean-David Rochaix
Background: The F-type ATP synthase produces nearly all of the cellular ATP, the universal energy currency…
How Peroxisomes Modulate Chloroplast Activity in a Microalga
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellBackground: Chloroplasts are the major powerhouse of plant and algal cells, where photosynthesis—the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds using sunlight energy—occurs. Chloroplasts are also where important cell components (such as membrane lipids and pigments) and energy-rich compounds…
Taking the TOC/TIC path to the chloroplast
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellRichardson et al. explore the molecular topology of the chloroplast transit peptide and its nucleotide-dependent movement within the chloroplast protein import channel. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00172.
By Lynn GL Richardson and Danny J Schnell
Background: Chloroplasts, the site…
Heat-inducible lipase HIL1 mitigates heat stress in Arabidopsis
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellHigashi et al. investigate the function of a heat-inducible lipase in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00347
By Yasuhiro Higashi and Kazuki Saito
Background: Land plants suffer from high-temperature stress, exacerbated by climate changes in recent years.…
Biosynthesis of the Antidiabetic Plant Metabolite Montbretin A
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellIrmisch et al. investigate enzymes of the ornamental plant montbretia involved in a complex flavonoid biosynthetic system relevant to human health. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00406
Background: Type-2 diabetes is a major health challenge of the 21st century requiring new treatments. Plants produce…
β-cyclocitral is a conserved root growth regulator (bioRxiv)
Plant Science Research WeeklyEnhancing root growth can aid plant survival in challenging environments such as salty soils. Dickinson et al. built upon a previous study that identified D15, an inhibitor of lateral root development. They treated roots with D15 and also components of a small-molecule library to search for suppressors…
Moonlighting Role of Plastidial NAD-MDH
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellSchreier et al. investigate the role of a plastid malate dehydrogenase in early chloroplast development. Plant Cell 30: 1745-1769
Background: Malate dehydrogenases (MDH) are enzymes that are widespread in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. MDH interconverts oxaloacetate and malate, using either NAD or…
Studies have found that key enzymes of plant oxalate metabolism affect corn nutrition quality
Blog, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: News(From a press release written in Chinese - original here)
On September 10th , The Plant Cell published a research paper entitled Maize Oxalyl-CoA Decarboxylase1 Degrades Oxalate and Affects the Seed Metabolome and Nutritional Quality by the Wu Yongrui Research Group of the Institute of Plant and Plant…
The spermine synthase OsSPMS1 regulates seed germination, grain size, and yield (Plant Physiol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPolyamines including spermine and spermidine are present in all eukaryotes and have diverse roles. In plants they have been implicated in responses ranging from abiotic and biotic stresses to grain filling. Tao et al. examined the function of OsPMS1, encoding a spermine synthase, through genetic methods…