Articles in 2016

Cellular membranes have specific lipidic compositions that influence their biophysical properties. PtdIns4P accumulates in the plasma membrane and modifies its inner surface charge, which controls the localization and function of signalling proteins.

Chloroplasts come from ancient bacteria and are still able to divide, thanks to a contractile ring composed of FtsZ1/2 proteins. An analysis of this mechanism reveals that, similarly to tubulin, FtsZ proteins heteropolymerize to form filaments.

A study using population genomic data of domesticated and wild maize shows that purifying selection plays a major role in shaping maize diversity, and the efficacy of purifying selection increased following post-domestication population expansion.

The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis maximizes water collection in dry environments by collecting water droplets from fog using the tiny hairs on the end of its leaves and passing them down through the plant, rather than taking water up through the roots.

As photosynthesis requires water, its transport to and within leaves is a potential determinant of photosynthetic productivity. This comparison of 30 species of Viburnum shows how variations in venation architecture constrain photosynthetic rate.

Two high-quality genomes of petunia wild parents reveal two rounds of hexaploidization in the evolution of Petunia lineage and provide insights into the diversity of floral patterns and pollination systems — enhancing the model value of this genus.

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a mobile florigenic signal in plants. But how it moves across long distances through tissues and organs is not very well known. Here the authors show that a protein called NaKR1 regulates the movement of FT in Arabidopsis.

A high-quality rubber tree genome reveals insights into the evolution of rubber biosynthesis and ethylene stimulation in rubber production. Together with transcriptome data, this study provides valuable data for the research and breeding of rubber trees.

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is a key enzyme that connects primary and secondary metabolic pathways. In the grass Brachypodium, one PAL can use tyrosine as a substrate. This bifunctional PTAL enzyme can produce half of the cell wall lignin.

Cell-type-specific DNA methylation in plants has only been studied for reproductive tissues. Now a study reports cell-type-specific methylomes of the Arabidopsis root meristem, providing insights into the epigenetic diversity between somatic cell types.

Non-photochemical quenching protects the photosynthetic apparatus of plants from damage in high light conditions. High-resolution time-resolved fluorescence measurements now show that the level of this photoprotection is regulated by subtle changes in the number of LHCIIs in a quenched state.

In response to biotic or abiotic stress, plants can regulate cell–cell communication by modulating plasmodesmal permeability. Here the authors show that callose synthases CalS1/8 are involved in this process.

In high light conditions, terrestrial plants dissipate excess energy as heat. However, microalgae such as Chlamydomonas use state transitions, not to dissipate excess light energy, but to efficiently redistribute it between the photosystems.

Signalling events of early phosphate (P_i) stress in plants are not well known. A study combining transcriptome analyses and grafting experiments now reveals tissue-specific transcriptomic responses to early P_i stress, and a major role for the vascular system in this process.

The genetic diversity of wild relatives of domesticated crops can be useful for developing more productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties. A comparison of the modelled diversity of crop wild relatives with their representation in gene banks suggests that a systematic effort is needed to improve their conservation and availability for use in plant breeding.

The plant growth hormone auxin is involved in hypocotyl elongation in response to shade and high temperatures. The vas3 mutant now shows that local auxin conjugation is as important for controlling hormone homeostasis as biosynthesis and transport.

Photosystem I (PSI) is thought to be protected from photoinhibition by controlling electron flow from photosystem II. This report shows that PSI is sensitive to light stress but, following photodamage, functions in non-photochemical energy quenching.

It is thought that siRNA derived from the transcription of transposable elements (TEs) in pollen nurse cells moves to sperm cells and represses TE activity. A study has now generated solid molecular data supporting this tantalizing but controversial hypothesis.

The sorting of soluble proteins for degradation in the vacuole is of vital importance in plant cells, and relies on the activity of vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs). Laboratory experiments with tobacco mesophyll protoplasts suggest that VSRs are required for the transport of ligands from the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi to the trans-Golgi network/early endosome.

The mRNA cap-binding complex (CBC) has now been shown to form multi-protein complexes with the H3K4 and H3K36 methyltransferases. These complexes are functionally interdependent, coupling chromatin modifications and RNA processing during mature mRNA production.