SNARE proteins in replication vesicle trafficking of turnip mosaic virus ($) (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyWhen plant cells are infected by RNA viruses, viral replication complexes are generated in organelle-like structures. These vesicles are important for the replication of viral RNA (vRNA) as well as moving vRNA-protein complexes through plasmodesmata to infect other plant cells. When turnip mosaic virus…
LTPs participate in preinvasive defense against powdery mildew pathogens (Mol. Plant Pathol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) display a strikingly clear capacity to bind lipidic molecules yet their mechanistic role in plant developmental or stress physiology is not yet clear. In a recent study published in Molecular Plant Pathology, Fahlberg et al. (2018) investigated the role of glycophosphatidylinositiol-(GPI)-anchored…
Plant iron acquisition strategy exploited by an insect herbivore ($) (Science)
Plant Science Research WeeklyWhen it comes to evading pests and pathogens, stealth comes in handy. Anything that advertises “food here” is an invitation. Therefore, the work of Hu et al. shouldn’t be surprising, but it is a great story. Phytosiderophores such as benzoxazinoid are secreted by roots to chelate iron and facilitate…
Bridging the Gap Between Pathogen Detection and Defense Activation
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellBi et al. provide a link between immune receptors and MAPK cascades. Plant Cell (2018) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00981.
By G. Bi and J.-M. Zhou
Background: Plants use numerous immune receptors localized at the cell surface to detect invading pathogens. These receptors send a warning signal…
Sorbitol Modulates Apple Resistance to Alternaria
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellMeng et al. show that sorbitol acts as a signal regulating resistance to the fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata in apple.Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00231
By Dong Meng, B. Gillian Turgeon and Lailiang Cheng
Background: Sugars produced by photosynthesis fuel plant growth and development,…
Evolution of Gene Regulation During Domestication
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLiu, et al. examine how wound response and its control mechanism differs between domesticated and wild tomato. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00194.
By Ming-Jung Liu and Shin-Han Shiu
Background: Two related species accumulate differences between each other over time. If one of the…
Nitrogen-fixing corn slime? A Mexican maize landrace supports nitrogen-fixing microbiota in aerial root mucilage
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants engage in intimate interactions with symbiotic microbes for the mutually beneficial exchange of nutrients. In a keystone study published in PLoS Biology, Van Deyze et al. (2018) describe the presence of nitrogen-fixing microbiota contained within an extensively carbohydrate rich mucilage found…
Autophagy During Viral Infection: Viruses Fight Back!
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellYang et al. investigate the role of autophagy in the ongoing arms race of plant defense and viral counterdefense. The Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00122
By Meng Yang and Dawei Li
Background: Most plants have defense mechanisms that enable resistance to pathogens. One of theses is…
Defense or Disease: It’s a Matter of Timing
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellMine et al. use RNA-seq to study RPS2-mediated bacterial resistance https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00970
By Akira Mine, Carolin Seyfferth and Kenichi Tsuda
Background: To fight against pathogens, plants can detect enemies and transduce the signal to reprogram gene expression in the cell as a defense…