The protein that feels thirst: SAM8 as a molecular water sensor
Plant Science Research WeeklyHow a cell detects a drop in water potential, the physical signal of drought or salinity, has been a long-standing puzzle. Wang et al. identified SAM8, an Arabidopsis protein that reversibly condenses into nuclear droplets when cellular water becomes scarce. When water is freely available, a negatively…
Crowd control by DCP5 - a new cytoplasmic osmosensor
Plant Science Research WeeklyOsmosis, driving water uptake and transport, is crucial for plants. It supports nutrient uptake, turgidity, and overall plant health. In hyperosmotic conditions, caused by drought, salinity, and cold stress, water loss triggers osmotic responses. A key question is: what sensors detect osmotic changes?…
Regulation of a calcium-dependent protein kinase in response to osmotic stress
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellFan et al. explore how ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis regulates the levels of active kinase in plant responses to osmotic stress.
https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad173
Wei Fan and Zixing Li
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Background:…