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BZR/BES transcription factors are widely recognized as mediators of brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive gene expression in seed plants, but details of how they act in species that lack BR perception are unclear. A study now uncovers an ancient mission of a BZR/BES transcription factor in sexual organ development in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.
The carbon fixation machinery α-carboxysome of the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is composed of an icosahedral-like proteinaceous shell that encapsulates the enzymes RuBisCO and carbonic anhydrase. Our cryo-EM structure reveals how thousands of protein components self-assemble into the α-carboxysome and characterizes the multivalent interactions by which the scaffolding protein CsoS2 crosslinks the shell with internal RuBisCO molecules.
In this Perspective, Mascher et al. look back on 30 years of genetic and genomic research in cereal crops. Genome sequences have revealed common evolutionary patterns as well as differences between species and will support applications in breeding.
The ‘non-canonical’ type-B BZR/BES transcription factor, MpBZR3, has been shown to be a regulator of the development of female and male reproductive organs in the model bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha.
NARROW LEAF1 (NAL1) exerts a multifaceted influence on rice leaf morphology and yield. Recent crystal study proposed that histidine 233 (H233) is part of the catalytic triad. Here we report that H234 instead of H233 is a component of the catalytic triad alongside D291 and S385.
Compartmentalization of specialized compounds in glandular trichomes is essential for plant protection against stresses and attraction of pollinators. This compartmentalization is achieved by the establishment of a lignin-based apoplastic barrier named ‘neck strip’, which is present in trichomes of diverse plant species.
The cryo-EM structure shows us how thousands of protein components self-assemble into Prochlorococcus α-carboxysome. The scaffolding protein CsoS2 crosslinks the icosahedral-like shell and internal RuBisCOs, and determines the size of α-carboxysome.
Using a combination of single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, Serrano et al. uncover transcriptional dynamics during the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.
Wang et al. report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of rice K+ transporters HKT2;1 and HKT2;2/1. These structures reveal critical insights into their ion selectivity and transport mechanisms that will aid in the development of strategies to increase yields.
Photosystem I (PSI) and PSII are two large pigment–protein complexes that are responsible for converting solar energy into chemical energy. We identify the PSI assembly factor PBF8 and show that it mediates two key consecutive steps in PSI assembly, revealing major aspects of the PSI assembly pathway in land plants.
Research on apoplastic diffusion barriers may help to better understand sensitivity to drought and salinity, two of the most pressing problems in agriculture.
Rhizosphere microbiomes are shaped by both the environment and the host. A recent study of the maize microbiome reveals how plants recruit a specific microbiome to alleviate abiotic stress, and provides clues for precision microbiome engineering in agriculture.
He et al. found that locally adapted maize varieties exert patterns of genetic control on their root and rhizosphere microbiomes that follow variation in their home environments, consistent with a role in tolerance to prevailing stress.
This study collected and analysed 3,517 de novo assemblies from 1,575 plant species sequenced since 2000, including 793 newly sequenced species in the past three years. A database named N3: plants, genomes, technologies was developed to accommodate the metadata associated with the sequenced genomes.
Photosystem I (PSI) is one of two large pigment–protein complexes responsible for converting solar energy into chemical energy. This study reveals the previously unknown major PSI assembly pathway in land plants.
The plant DNA damage response ensures genomic stability by controlling interconnected networks of DNA repair and cell division proteins. Decoding these networks offers potential solutions to the challenges of climate-related stress and food security.