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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.
It is rarely reported that copy number variants (CNVs) might influence plant phenotypes. A genetic analysis now shows that a CNV silences the expression of the downstream FZP gene in rice and improves the yield by increasing the number of spikelets per panicle.
The molecular basis underlying transgene susceptibility to silencing remains elusive. Now, using multiple examples, a study shows that higher GC content of coding sequences can reduce susceptibility of transgenes to heritable silencing.
RIN has long been considered a major regulator for ripening induction in tomato as rin mutants fail to ripen. Now, a study shows that the rin allele is a gain-of-function, rather than null, mutation. RIN is not required for ripening initiation.
Plant cell wall consists of multiple components and complex structure. Here, ssNMR was used to investigate the physical interactions between two principle cell wall components, cellulose and xylan, and demonstrate the mechanism for their interactions
Gibberellin (GA) is a plant hormone that plays an irreplaceable role in regulating growth and development. Now, the first fluorescent GA biosensor has been developed to visualize GA distributions at cellular resolution in Arabidopsis.
MicroRNAs regulate gene expression as part of the RNA-induced silencing complex. An analysis of miRNA in Chlamydomonas reinhardtiishows that algal miRNAs target sites predominantly within coding regions to destabilize mRNA and repress translation.
The first crystal structures of TPT, a membrane transporter that exports the Calvin cycle intermediates from chloroplasts and plays fundamental roles in nearly all photosynthetic eukaryotes, have now been resolved in complex with different substrates.
It remains unknown how the central metabolite acetyl-CoA affects histone acetylation in plants. Chen et al. now show that cytosolic acetyl-CoA promotes histone acetylation predominantly at H3K27 in Arabidopsis.
A study of botanical gardens around the world and the diversity of the species contained therein, with conclusions addressed to how to improve representation of plant species outside of their native sites.
Recent outbreaks of wheat stem rust pose a threat to global wheat production. A powerful computational modelling approach is now used to trace and predict the spread of these new pathogen stains, and can potentially be applied to other wind-dispersed spores.
Whether phenotypic mean values and plasticity share similar genetic architectures remains elusive. A study examining multiple traits in a maize NAM population using GWAS showed that genes underlying mean and plasticity measures form distinct groups.
Mechanical heterogeneity due to differences in methyl-esterification of cell wall pectins is sufficient to produce asymmetric leaf morphology, as predicted by a mathematical model and validated in Arabidopsis and tomato.
The uptake of CO2 by leaves, and its conversion to sugars, is the basis for life on land. This study proposes a model unifying light-use efficiency relationships and a standard model of photosynthesis across species and ecosystems, and globally.
Unlike in animal species, where topologically associated domains (TADs) are prevalent, it has been shown that TADs are not prominent in the Arabidopsis genome. Now, Hi-C shows that prominent TADs differentiate rice from Arabidopsis.
A study reports a high-efficient approach, ssDRIP-seq, for genome-wide identification of chromatin R-loops. Using this approach, researchers present the first genome-wide profile of Arabidopsis R-loops, showing that the R-loop is a common chromatin feature.
During gibberellic acid signalling, DELLAs restrict the size of the shoot apical meristem by targeting the cell cycle regulator KRP2. The roles of DELLAs in the shoot apical meristem and stem growth can be genetically uncoupled in Arabidopsis and barley.
Assembly of polyploid plant genomes has been technically challenging. Now, a study presents a half haplotype-resolved hexaploid genome of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, using a novel haplotyping method.
After trans-zeatin riboside, the active cytokinin trans-zeatin is identified as the second major xylem cytokinin translocated from root to shoot. Interestingly, these two forms of root-derived cytokinins play different roles in regulating shoot development.
PopP2 is an effector from the YopJ family, present in plant and animal bacterial pathogens. Here, its structure is determined in complex with inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) and bound to its target, the WRKY domain of the RRS1-R plant immune receptor.