Arabidopsis pollen tube integrity and sperm release are regulated by RALF-mediated signaling
Blog, Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research BlogSuccessful fertilization in plants requires sperm cells (SCs) to be carried along the growing pollen tube (PT) until reaching the female gametophyte where the PT then bursts to release the SCs. One challenge PTs must overcome in order to achieve fertilization is deciding to rupture or not to rupture.…
Protection Against Reactive Carbonyl Species
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellSchmitz et al. investigate the physiological significance of the glyoxylase system in Arabidopsis https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00258
By Jessica Schmitz and Veronica G. Maurino
BACKGROUND: In every living cell, side reactions of enzymes and spontaneous reactions of metabolites inevitably…
Arabidopsis DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 regulates cell wall composition and axial growth in the inflorescence stem
Blog, Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research BlogPlants can reach impressive heights, thanks to the mechanical stability provided by the cell walls. The required strength is ensured by coordination of cell wall deposition and cell expansion. Plant-specific calpain (DEK1) regulates axial stem growth, as lines overexpressing the calpain domain develop…
Update: Finite element modeling of shape changes in plant cells
Blog, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Updates, Research, Research BlogBy Amir Bidhendi and Anja Geitmann
Abstract
Plant cells come in a striking variety of different shapes. Shape formation in plant cells is controlled through modulation of the cell wall polymers and propelled by the turgor pressure. Understanding the shaping aspects of plant cells requires knowledge…
Do Lipid Droplets Exist in the Chloroplast Stroma?
Blog, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: On The Inside, Research, Research BlogUnderstanding the metabolic pathways underlying oil production and the precise intracellular localization of lipid droplets is crucial for successfully engineering microalgae for biofuel production. The microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii accumulates considerable amounts of starch and triacylglycerol…
Review: Emerging roles of cortical microtubule–membrane interactions ($)
Blog, Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research BlogThe plant cytoskeleton forms a dynamic and complex architecture in all plant cells and comes with a myriad number of functions, from allowing intracellular transport to regulating gene expression. In this review, Yoshihisa Oda focuses on the purposes of cortical microtubule (cMT) arrays, which are anchored…
Review: Acid growth, an ongoing trip
Blog, Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research Blog
Plant growth is determined not only by cell division, but also by loosening of the cell wall. Arsuffi and Braybrook review our understanding of the mechanisms of cell wall loosening. Already in the 1970s scientists started to observe that low pH leads to increased growth, using destructive experiments.…
Update: The actin cytoskeleton: functional arrays for cytoplasmic organization and cell shape control
Blog, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Updates, Research, Research BlogBy Daniel B. Szymanski and Christopher J. Staiger
A dynamic network of filamentous elements, the cytoskeleton, holds the key to patterning of the cell wall during growth. This review focuses on the actin cytoskeleton during cell morphogenesis. The field is progressing rapidly, enabled by forward-…
Update: The plant trans-Golgi network. Not just a matter of distinction.
Blog, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Updates, Research, Research BlogBy Michel Ruiz Rosquete, Destiny Jade Davis, and Georgia Drakakaki
Abstract
Transport networks may be defined as sets of connected nodes or hubs where cargo from different origins are sorted to their final destinations. The trans-Golgi Network (TGN) is the most discussed and arguably busiest hub…