An Unexpected Role of a Phosphatase-like Protein in Starch Degradation
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellSchreier et al. uncover the surprising role played by the glucan phosphatase family member, LIKE SEX4 1, as a protein scaffold on the starch granule surface that binds β-amylases. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00089.
By Tina B. Schreier1,2 and Samuel C. Zeeman1
1 Institute of Molecular…
A chloroplast-localized mitochondrial calcium uniporter transduces osmotic stress in Arabidopsis (Nature Plants)
Plant Science Research WeeklyCalcium and chloroplasts are both at the heart of the signal transduction during environmental stress. Teardo et al. studied whether the chloroplast-localized mitochondrial calcium uniporter has a role in stress signaling. The group identified 6 homologs of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in Arabidopsis,…
HvCMF7 – a Key Switch of Chloroplast Differentiation in Barley
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLi et al. identify the gene underlying the long-studied variegated albostrians mutant of barley. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00132
By Mingjiu Li, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany
Background: Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis, which…
An RNA-chaperone-like Protein in Chloroplasts
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellJiang et al. isolated a plastid-localized RNA-chaperone-like protein and investigated its function. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00946.
By Jingjing Jiang, Xin Chai, Nikolay Manavski, and Wei Chi
Background: RNA folding, which underlies the formation of RNA structure, is important…
Physiological performance of transplastomic tobacco plants overexpressing aquaporin AQP1 in chloroplast membranes (JXB)
Blog, Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research BlogA major factor in determining photosynthetic rate is the availability of CO2 at the site of fixation in the chloroplast stroma. Classically, this has been thought to be mainly limited by stomatal conductance (diffusion from the air, through stomata, to sub-stomatal cavities). However, more recently…