Evolution of Gene Regulation During Domestication
Liu, 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…
Dynamic Alternative Splicing Response to Cold
Calixto et al. demonstrate a rapid wave of alternative splicing as temperatures drop. The Plant Cell (2018) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00177.
By Cristiane Calixto and John Brown
Background: Alternative splicing (AS) allows a single gene to produce more than one transcript, which can affect…
Old Gene, New Function
Xie et al. discover an EPSP synthase gene involved in the transcriptional regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway in Populus trichocarpa The Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00168.
By Meng Xie, Wellington Mechuro, Jin-Gui Chen, and Gerald A. Tuskan
Background: 5-enolpyruvylshikimate…
Tectonic Movements Across the Tomato Genome
Corem et al. demonstrate a switch in DNA methylation patterns across the tomato genome. The Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00167.
By Shira Corem, Tzahi Arazi and Nicolas Bouché
Background: Crop genomes are covered by transposons, which are DNA sequences that can jump from one…
Autophagy During Viral Infection: Viruses Fight Back!
Yang 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…
Genome-Wide Assessment of Alternative Splicing in Maize
Chen et al. higlight the importance of AS in diversifying gene function and regulating phenotypic variation. The Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00109
Background: Alternative splicing (AS) of precursor mRNAs is an essential regulatory mechanism that greatly enhances transcriptome and proteome…
Mitigating Yield Loss Under Global Warming
Ma et al. investigate epigenetic aspects of heat-induced male sterility in cotton.
By Yizan Ma, Ling Min and Xianlong Zhang
Background: Global warming causes extremely high temperatures in summer in some areas. Certain crops cultivated in summer cannot tolerate extreme heat stress and begin…
Heterochromatin keeps RNA-directed DNA methylation in place?
Fu et al. demonstrate a requirement for the heterochromatin factors CMT and DDM1 in RNA-directed DNA methylation in maize. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00053
By Fang-fang Fu and Jonathan I. Gent
Background: DNA methylation is a chemical modification of DNA consisting of addition…
A New Nuclear Transporter
Yamada and Goshisma identify a nuclear transporter that controls the position of the nucleus during cell growth in plants https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.18.00038.
Background: Transportation of cellular components to appropriate locations for their activity is a critical aspect of cell function. Microtubule…