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Sequencing of nested branches from a 234-year-old oak tree reveals a low number of somatic mutations accumulating during its lifetime, implying that mechanisms are in place to reduce these potentially deleterious mutations during ageing.
PEN3 is polarly localized at the outside of the epidermal layer in roots, and is involved in defence against penetrating pathogens. A forward genetic screen identifies a BTB/POZ protein needed for the correct localization and function of PEN3.
A double mutant in bHLH transcription factors produces pollen without sperm cells. This pollen is able to germinate, grow, orient itself, penetrate the ovule and rupture, indicating that sperm cells are passive and do not participate in pollen tube development.
It remains unclear how post-transcriptional gene silencing in plants discriminates aberrant RNAs from canonical mRNAs. Now, a study shows that the poly(A) tail of canonical mRNAs blocks RDR6 from converting them into the substrates for gene silencing.
Plants evolved NLR sensors to detect bacterial effectors or their activity. A genetic analysis in Arabidopsis expands the role of the ZAR1 NLR protein. ZAR1 recognizes effector HopF2a through its association with pseudokinase ZRK3, inducing resistance without hypersensitive response.
CRISPR–Cpf1 has emerged as an effective genome editing tool in animals. Now, a study shows that this system can edit plant genomes at nearly 100% efficiency at independent sites. Moreover, it can be repurposed for modulating plant transcriptome.