Arabidopsis FLL2 promotes liquid–liquid phase separation of polyadenylation complexes ($) (Nature)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe nucleus of plants cells, like other eukaryotes, is full of non-membranous compartments separated by liquid-liquid phases. These complexes are often called nuclear bodies and concentrate proteins and nucleic acids. Disordered protein domains play a critical in their formation. Here, Fang et al. aimed…
Review: Exchanges at the plant-oomycete interface that influence disease (Plant Physiol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThis is a great review by Judelson and Ah-Fong on the diverse signals that occur between plants and their oomycete pathogens. The authors start by describing the life- and infectivity-cycles of disease-causing oomycetes, including the familiar plant pathogens, "aggressive" Pythium and "stealthy" Phytophthora.…
A jasmonate signaling network activates root stem cells and promotes regeneration ($) (Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants possess plasticity for regeneration of organs after damage by physical, biotic or abiotic stress. The mitotically less-active organizer cells, quiescent center (QC) and surrounding initials form the stem cell niche, which is known to play a very important role in activation of the regeneration…
EXPANSIN A1-mediated radial swelling of pericycle cells positions anticlinal cell divisions during lateral root initiation ($) (PNAS)
Plant Science Research WeeklyLateral root development helps plants explore the soil for mineral nutrients and water, and there are environmental and internal cues that precede the formation of lateral root primordia. In Arabidopsis thaliana, some of these internal cues include increased auxin concentrations around lateral root founder…
How to pack chromatin in nuclear space? A plant-specific chromatin regulator associates with component of the nuclear periphery
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a Nutshellhttps://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00663
Mikulski et al. find that the PWO chromatin regulator interacts with a structural component of the nuclear periphery.
By Pawel Mikulski, Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
Background: DNA is wrapped around histone proteins forming…
Acetylation in the Assembly of Cell-Wall Architecture
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellZhang et al. discover a deacetylase from rice that highlights the importance regulating acetylation in the cell wall. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00894
By Baocai Zhang and Yihua Zhou, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Background: Plant cells…
Review: Linking autophagy to abiotic and biotic stress responses (Trends Plant Sci)($)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAutophagy means “self-eating” in ancient Greek. It’s a process in which cellular components are delivered to lytic vacuoles to be reused. This recycling process promotes abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. In this review, Signorelli et al. highlight in detail plant autophagy in abiotic and biotic…
Ubiquitin-dependent chloroplast-associated protein degradation in plants (Science) ($)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe fidelity of the chloroplast proteome is a major factor in the functional efficiency of photosynthesis. A RING-type ubiquitin E3 ligase, SP1, is an outer envelope localized protein in the chloroplast which ubiquitinates the protein import translocases (TOC proteins) and thus target them to 26S mediated…
An RNA splicing factor functions in plant seed development
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellBai et al. show that an RNA splicing factor promotes normal cell differentiation and stops excessive cell proliferation in the corn kernel.
Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00754
By Fang Baia, Jacob Corllb, and A. Mark Settlesa
aHorticultural Sciences Department and Plant Molecular…