Opposing, polarity-driven nuclear migrations underpin asymmetric divisions in stomatal patterning (Curr. Biol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAsymmetric cell divisions (ACDs) are often used by organisms to generate different cell sizes, each adopting a different cell fate. In plants, stomatal development provides an example of an ACD-derived patterning mechanism. Several proteins are known to be implicated in ACDs, like BREAKING OF ASYMMETRY…
SNAP ‘n’ Track: Protein localization using fluorescent dyes (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyProteins’ sub-cellular localizations provide a wealth of information regarding their functional attributes. Protein localization in plant cells is usually done through genetically combining fluorescent proteins to the protein-of-interest. Now, Iwatate and colleagues report the successful localization…
PlaCCI (Plant cell cycle indicator); fluorescent sensor for spatiotemporal cell cycle analysis (Nature Plants)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe cell cycle requires a series of transitions from G1 to S, S to G2, G2 to M and M to G1 phases. Determining the cell cycle phase is critical for understanding the molecular events specific to a given stage of cell cycle. However, markers for identifying these cell cycle transitions in plants are not…
Review: Biomolecular condensates in photosynthesis and metabolism ($) (Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyBiomolecular condensates are membraneless organelles with the capacity to spatially concentrate biomolecules. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is one mechanism of condensate formation in which demixing of macromolecules leads to separation into dense and light phases. Photosynthetic organisms like…
Roles for this ROP GTPase in subcellular and tissue-level patterning (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyRho-of-plants (ROP) proteins are master regulators of cell polarity within plants and influence cell wall deposition, tissue development, and several signaling processes. However, they are quite difficult to study: attempts to form a fluorescent ROP fusion protein have proven elusive, and there are multiple…
A cross-kingdom conserved ER-phagy receptor maintains ER homeostasis during stress (eLIFE)
Plant Science Research WeeklyQuality control of the protein folding mechanism in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which selectively eliminates or recycles unwanted cytoplasmic components, is recognized by specific autophagy receptors. Selective removal of certain ER domains by the autophagy pathway (termed as ER-phagy) is controlled…
POME: Quantitative and dynamic cell polarity tracking pipeline (bioRxiv)
Plant Science Research WeeklyMany proteins polarize in the cell creating a subcellular niche for various functions. Asymmetric distribution of proteins is a general mechanism for localized growth, directional long-range signaling, cell migration, and asymmetric cell divisions. Well-known examples of polarity proteins include PIN-FORMED1…
Development and cell cycle dynamics of the root apical meristem in the fern Ceratopteris richardii (bioRxiv)
Plant Science Research Weekly
Roots are essential organs for nutrient and water uptake and have been extensively investigated in angiosperms. Many studies suggest that roots originated through convergent evolution in vascular plants, a clade that includes seed plants and ferns. Besides Arabidopsis and crops, little is known about…
The transcription factor bZIP60 modulates the heat shock response in maize (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyDuring heat stress, heat shock transcription factors upregulate heat shock protein genes and give rise to the heat shock response (HSR) that occurs in the cytoplasm, while in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the unfolded protein response (UPR) is also activated during heat stress. Both HSR and UPR cause…