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| Open AccessEpidermal chloroplasts are defense-related motile organelles equipped with plant immune components
Leaf epidermal cells contain small chloroplasts which likely contribute little to photosynthesis and whose function is unclear. Here the authors show that these chloroplasts move toward the leaf surface in response to invasion trials by non-adapted fungal pathogens and contribute to non-host resistance.
- Hiroki Irieda
- & Yoshitaka Takano
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Article
| Open AccessThe membrane-localized protein kinase MAP4K4/TOT3 regulates thermomorphogenesis
Plants respond to warmth via growth processes termed thermomorphogenesis. Here, via a phosphoproteomics approach, the authors show that the mitogen activated protein kinase TOT3 regulates thermomorphogenesis in both wheat and Arabidopsis and modifies brassinosteroid signaling in Arabidopsis.
- Lam Dai Vu
- , Xiangyu Xu
- & Ive De Smet
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Article
| Open AccessStructure-based engineering of substrate specificity for pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases
Pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductases (PLRs) are enzymes involved in the lignan biosynthesis. Here, crystal structures of three PLRs in the apo, substrate-bound and product-bound states, and accompanying mutagenesis provide insight into PLRs catalytic mechanism and suggest a strategy for PLR engineering.
- Ying Xiao
- , Kai Shao
- & Wansheng Chen
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Article
| Open AccessContrasting epigenetic control of transgenes and endogenous genes promotes post-transcriptional transgene silencing in Arabidopsis
Accumulating evidences point to a discrepancy in the epigenetic behaviour of transgenes and endogenous genes. Here, via characterization of mutants impaired in histone demethylases JMJ14 and IBM1, the authors show that transgenes and endogenous genes are regulated by different epigenetic mechanisms in Arabidopsis.
- Nicolas Butel
- , Agnès Yu
- & Hervé Vaucheret
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Article
| Open AccessPlant DNA polymerases α and δ mediate replication of geminiviruses
Geminiviruses cause substantial damage to crops worldwide. Here Wu et al. show that geminivirus replication relies upon the host DNA polymerases α and δ, which produce double-stranded DNA intermediates and new copies of the viral genome, respectively, and is modulated by the viral C3 protein.
- Mengshi Wu
- , Hua Wei
- & Rosa Lozano-Durán
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Article
| Open AccessS-acylation of P2K1 mediates extracellular ATP-induced immune signaling in Arabidopsis
S-acylation is a reversible protein post-translational modification that often regulates protein function at the plasma membrane. Here the authors show that an Arabidopsis extracellular ATP receptor P2K1 mediates phosphorylation of two S-acyltransferases which in turn mediate S-acylation of P2K1 and dampen ATP responses.
- Dongqin Chen
- , Fengsheng Hao
- & Gary Stacey
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Article
| Open AccessThe tepary bean genome provides insight into evolution and domestication under heat stress
In contrast to common bean, tepary bean is highly adapted to heat and drought. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of tepary bean landrace and wild accession, discuss the possible mechanism for resilience to heat stress, and reveal a reduced disease resistance gene repertoire.
- Samira Mafi Moghaddam
- , Atena Oladzad
- & Phillip E. McClean
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Article
| Open AccessThe histone variant H2A.W and linker histone H1 co-regulate heterochromatin accessibility and DNA methylation
T-DNA mutants have been widely used for Arabidopsis gene function characterization. Here, by characterizing a null mutant created by CRISPR, the authors show that previous reported function of H2A.W is confounded by a T-DNA insertion induced chromosomal rearrangement and reveal its role in regulating heterochromatin accessibility.
- Pierre Bourguet
- , Colette L. Picard
- & Olivier Mathieu
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Article
| Open AccessSubtelomeric assembly of a multi-gene pathway for antimicrobial defense compounds in cereals
The genomic organization and origin of the avenacin biosynthetic gene cluster remain unknown. Here, the authors assemble the genome of diploid oat Avena strigosa, reveal the structure and organization of the consecutive genes, characterize the last two missing pathway steps, and investigate the origin of the pathway in cereals.
- Yan Li
- , Aymeric Leveau
- & Anne Osbourn
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Article
| Open AccessInterplay of two transcription factors for recruitment of the chromatin remodeling complex modulates fungal nitrosative stress response
Plant and animal tissues produce nitric oxide and reactive nitrogen species that induce nitrosative stress in pathogens. Here, Jian et al. identify two transcriptional regulators in the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum that control the nitrosative stress response by modulating the recruitment of a chromatin-remodelling complex at the promoters of the response genes.
- Yunqing Jian
- , Zunyong Liu
- & Zhonghua Ma
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Article
| Open AccessAn Arabidopsis AT-hook motif nuclear protein mediates somatic embryogenesis and coinciding genome duplication
Plant somatic embryogenesis (SE) can be triggered by hormone application or overexpression of certain transcription factors such as BBM. Here Karami et al. show that AHL15 is required for induction of downstream BBM targets and promotes heterochromatin decondensation and endomitosis during the induction of SE.
- Omid Karami
- , Arezoo Rahimi
- & Remko Offringa
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Article
| Open AccessInitiation and amplification of SnRK2 activation in abscisic acid signaling
SnRK2 kinase activity is rapidly activated in response to ABA. Here the authors show that initial activation of SnRK2s is achieved by B2 and B3 RAF kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the activation loop and that transphosphorylation between SnRK2s then amplifies the response.
- Zhen Lin
- , Yuan Li
- & Pengcheng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessChromosome-scale assembly and analysis of biomass crop Miscanthus lutarioriparius genome
The genus Miscanthus has great potential for bio-energy production due to its high biomass yield and strong stress resistance. Here, the authors report the genome assembly of the diploid M. lutarioriparius, showing it has an allotetraploid origin and an expanded number of genes in families related to stress resistance.
- Jiashun Miao
- , Qi Feng
- & Bin Han
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Article
| Open AccessThe N-terminus of an Ustilaginoidea virens Ser-Thr-rich glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein elicits plant immunity as a MAMP
Ustilaginoidea virens is a fungal pathogen that infects rice via the panicles. Here, the authors show that U. virens SGP1, a conserved Ser-Thr-rich glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol-anchored protein, elicits immune responses in rice leaves while contributing to virulence in panicles.
- Tianqiao Song
- , You Zhang
- & Yongfeng Liu
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Article
| Open AccessStructural variation at the maize WUSCHEL1 locus alters stem cell organization in inflorescences
The WUSCHEL transcription factor promotes plant stem cell proliferation. Here the authors show that the maize Bif3 mutant contains a duplication of the ZmWUS1 locus leading to cytokinin hypersensitivity and overproliferation at the shoot meristem demonstrating the role of WUSCHEL in maize and how structural variation can impact plant morphology.
- Zongliang Chen
- , Wei Li
- & Andrea Gallavotti
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Article
| Open AccessPersistent directional growth capability in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen tubes after nuclear elimination from the apex
Arabidopsis pollen contains a vegetative nucleus and two sperm cells that move to the apical region during pollen tube growth. Here, Motomura et al. make use of transgenic pollen with immobilized nuclei and show that, contrary to previous assumptions, movement of the vegetative nucleus is not needed for pollen tube guidance.
- Kazuki Motomura
- , Hidenori Takeuchi
- & Daisuke Maruyama
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Article
| Open AccessStructure of the far-red light utilizing photosystem I of Acaryochloris marina
Acaryochloris marina photosystem I (PSI) contains chlorophyll d and absorbs light in the far-red region of the spectrum. The structure of A. marina PSI reaction center reveals several unusual features, including pheophytin as the primary electron acceptor.
- Tasuku Hamaguchi
- , Keisuke Kawakami
- & Yasuhiro Kashino
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Article
| Open AccessTwo chemically distinct root lignin barriers control solute and water balance
Defects in the Casparian strip, a fine band of lignin that seals root endodermal cells and plays roles in nutrient homeostasis, activate a signaling pathway leading to over-lignification. Here, the authors show that this process leads to the deposition of compensatory lignin that is chemically distinct from Casparian strip lignin.
- Guilhem Reyt
- , Priya Ramakrishna
- & David E. Salt
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Article
| Open AccessA central circadian oscillator confers defense heterosis in hybrids without growth vigor costs
There is frequently a trade-off between plant immunity and growth. Here the authors show that the epigenetic control of CCA1, encoding a core component of the circadian oscillator, simultaneously promotes heterosis for both defense and growth in hybrids under pathogen invasion.
- Li Yang
- , Pengtao Liu
- & Guangming He
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Article
| Open AccessNon-structural carbohydrates mediate seasonal water stress across Amazon forests
The role of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in mediating the impacts of drought in tropical trees is unclear. Here, the authors analyse leaf and branch NSC in 82 Amazon tree species across a Basin-wide precipitation gradient, finding that allocation of leaf NSC to soluble sugars is higher in drier sites and is coupled to tree hydraulic status.
- Caroline Signori-Müller
- , Rafael S. Oliveira
- & David Galbraith
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Article
| Open AccessO-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase is involved in fine regulation of flowering time in winter wheat
Little is known about genes that regulate flowering time difference among winter wheat cultivars. Here, via map-based cloning, the authors show the role of an O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase TaOGT1 in regulating flowering time difference among winter wheat cultivars.
- Min Fan
- , Fang Miao
- & Liuling Yan
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Article
| Open AccessThe E3 ligase MREL57 modulates microtubule stability and stomatal closure in response to ABA
During stomatal opening and closing, the guard cell microtubule cytoskeleton is reorganised. Here the authors show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase MREL57 targets the microtubule stabilizing protein WDL7 to promote microtubule disassembly during ABA-induced stomatal closure.
- Liru Dou
- , Kaikai He
- & Tonglin Mao
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Article
| Open AccessRegulation of Arabidopsis photoreceptor CRY2 by two distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases
The fate of proteins in cells is determined by not only synthesis but also degradation. Here Chen et al. show that degradation of the plant blue light receptor CRY2 is determined by two distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, Cul4COP1/SPAs and Cul3LRBs, regulating the function of CRY2 under different light conditions.
- Yadi Chen
- , Xiaohua Hu
- & Chentao Lin
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Article
| Open AccessPoaceae-specific cell wall-derived oligosaccharides activate plant immunity via OsCERK1 during Magnaporthe oryzae infection in rice
Pathogen entry to plant cells can release cell wall components. Here the authors show that two endoglucanases secreted by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, produce specific oligosaccharides from rice cell walls that trigger immunity by promoting dimerization of OsCERK1 and OsCEBiP receptors.
- Chao Yang
- , Rui Liu
- & Jun Liu
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Article
| Open AccessThe Botrytis cinerea Crh1 transglycosylase is a cytoplasmic effector triggering plant cell death and defense response
Crh proteins catalyze crosslinking of chitin and glucan polymers in fungal cell walls. Here, Bi et al. show that a Crh protein from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea acts as a cytoplasmic effector and elicitor of plant defense, and plants expressing this gene exhibit reduced sensitivity to the pathogen.
- Kai Bi
- , Loredana Scalschi
- & Amir Sharon
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Article
| Open AccessBark-dwelling methanotrophic bacteria decrease methane emissions from trees
The photosynthesis performed by trees makes them an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide, but trees are also sources of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Here the authors find that tree bark in some common lowland species is colonized by methane oxidizing bacteria that can reduce tree methane emissions by ~ 36%.
- Luke C. Jeffrey
- , Damien T. Maher
- & Scott G. Johnston
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Article
| Open AccessRCB initiates Arabidopsis thermomorphogenesis by stabilizing the thermoregulator PIF4 in the daytime
The Arabidopsis PIF4 transcription factor is stabilized during the daytime in response to warm temperature and regulates thermomorphogenesis. Here the authors show that the response to warm temperature depends on the concerted action of the HMR and RCB proteins that act collaboratively to stabilize PIF4.
- Yongjian Qiu
- , Elise K. Pasoreck
- & Meng Chen
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-cell transcriptome atlas and chromatin accessibility landscape reveal differentiation trajectories in the rice root
Root meristems give rise to distinct cell types that differentiate across defined temporal and spatial gradients. Here, via single-cell RNA sequencing and surveying chromatin accessibility the authors profile gene expression of different cell types during rice root development.
- Tian-Qi Zhang
- , Yu Chen
- & Jia-Wei Wang
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Article
| Open AccessGABA signalling modulates stomatal opening to enhance plant water use efficiency and drought resilience
GABA accumulates during stress in plants but how, where and when GABA acts is not clear. Here the authors show that GABA production in Arabidopsis guard cells reduces stomatal opening and transpirational water loss, thereby improving water use efficiency.
- Bo Xu
- , Yu Long
- & Matthew Gilliham
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Article
| Open AccessCargo sorting zones in the trans-Golgi network visualized by super-resolution confocal live imaging microscopy in plants
The trans-Golgi network (TGN) serves as a platform to sort and transport proteins to their final destinations. Here the authors show that the TGN of Arabidopsis consists of spatially and temporally distinct subregions and propose that these zones may sort cargo to different destinations.
- Yutaro Shimizu
- , Junpei Takagi
- & Akihiko Nakano
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Article
| Open AccessA molecular timescale for eukaryote evolution with implications for the origin of red algal-derived plastids
There are several competing hypotheses for the acquisition of red algal-derived plastids by eukaryotic phytoplankton. Here, the authors use Bayesian molecular clock analyses to evaluate the chronological possibility of the proposed plastid origins and transmissions.
- Jürgen F. H. Strassert
- , Iker Irisarri
- & Fabien Burki
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Article
| Open AccessScaffolding proteins guide the evolution of algal light harvesting antennas
Cryptophytes acquired plastids from red algae but replaced the light-harvesting phycobilisome with a unique cryptophyte antenna. Here via analysis of phycobilisome cryo-EM structures, Rathbone et al. propose that the α subunit of the cryptophyte antenna originated from phycobilisome linker proteins
- Harry W. Rathbone
- , Katharine A. Michie
- & Paul M. G. Curmi
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Article
| Open AccessR-loop resolution promotes co-transcriptional chromatin silencing
Nascent non-coding RNA can mediate chromatin silencing, however mechanistically this process is poorly understood. Here the authors show that resolution of an R-loop during 3'-end processing of a plant antisense transcript recruits chromatin modifiers to promote chromatin silencing.
- Congyao Xu
- , Zhe Wu
- & Caroline Dean
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Article
| Open AccessImpact of artificial light at night on diurnal plant-pollinator interactions
There is growing recognition that artificial light at night has wide-ranging effects on plants and animals, including disruption of nocturnal pollination. Here, Giavi et al. show that artificial light at night can also alter the daytime interactions between plants and pollinators.
- Simone Giavi
- , Colin Fontaine
- & Eva Knop
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Article
| Open AccessCell kinetics of auxin transport and activity in Arabidopsis root growth and skewing
Auxin gradients regulate plant root growth and development. Here the authors manipulate auxin synthesis in specific root cell types and use single-cell nucleus tracking and morphokinetics to map directional auxin flow in the root and quantify the kinetics of meristem skewing.
- Yangjie Hu
- , Moutasem Omary
- & Eilon Shani
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Article
| Open AccessVersatility in acyltransferase activity completes chicoric acid biosynthesis in purple coneflower
Biosynthetic pathway of chicoric acid in purple coneflower has not been fully elucidated, though the compound has been shown to have potential health benefits. Here, the authors report the involvement of both BAHD and SCPL acyltransferases in its biosynthesis and show the pathway is unique to Echinacea species.
- Rao Fu
- , Pingyu Zhang
- & Yang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessDevelopment of a mugineic acid family phytosiderophore analog as an iron fertilizer
Iron is an essential plant nutrient that is poorly bioavailable in alkaline soils, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity. Here, the authors report the synthesis of stable and cheap iron-chelator, proline-2’-deoxymugineic acid (PDMA), and demonstrate its utility as potential fertilizer.
- Motofumi Suzuki
- , Atsumi Urabe
- & Kosuke Namba
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Article
| Open AccessA molecular switch in sulfur metabolism to reduce arsenic and enrich selenium in rice grain
Contamination of paddy soils can lead to toxic arsenic accumulation in rice grains and low levels of the micronutrient selenium. Here the authors show that a gain of function mutant affecting an O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase enhances sulfur and selenium assimilation while reducing arsenic accumulation in grains.
- Sheng-Kai Sun
- , Xuejie Xu
- & Fang-Jie Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessThe TUTase URT1 connects decapping activators and prevents the accumulation of excessively deadenylated mRNAs to avoid siRNA biogenesis
TUTase mediated uridylation of mRNA promotes degradation. Here, Scheer, de Almeida et al. show that Arabidopsis TUTase URT1 interacts directly with the translation inhibitor and decay factor DECAPPING5 and suppresses siRNA biogenesis by preventing accumulation of deadenylated mRNAs
- Hélène Scheer
- , Caroline de Almeida
- & Dominique Gagliardi
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Article
| Open AccessThe biosynthetic pathway of potato solanidanes diverged from that of spirosolanes due to evolution of a dioxygenase
One goal of potato breeding is to reduce the accumulation of toxic solanidane glycoalkaloids. Here the authors show that potato DPS, a 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase, catalyzes ring rearrangement of a biosynthetic precursor to differentiate solanidanes from spirosolanes that are found in other solanaceous plants.
- Ryota Akiyama
- , Bunta Watanabe
- & Masaharu Mizutani
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Article
| Open AccessAsymmetric water transport in dense leaf cuticles and cuticle-inspired compositionally graded membranes
Most aerial organs of vascular plants are covered by a waxy cuticle that limits water loss. Here the authors show that the asymmetric architecture of the cuticle creates a polarity gradient to ensure directional movement of water through olive and ivy leaf cuticles and construct bioinspired artificial membranes that mimic cuticle behaviour.
- Aristotelis Kamtsikakis
- , Johanna Baales
- & Christoph Weder
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Article
| Open AccessGenome assembly and population genomic analysis provide insights into the evolution of modern sweet corn
Sweet corn is one of the most important vegetables in North America and has undergone different selection pressures than non-sweet cultivars. Here, the authors report its genome assembly and reveal the evolutionary history of modern sweet corn through population genomic analyses.
- Ying Hu
- , Vincent Colantonio
- & Marcio F. R. Resende Jr.
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Article
| Open AccessAnnual aboveground carbon uptake enhancements from assisted gene flow in boreal black spruce forests are not long-lasting
The long-term effectiveness of assisted gene flow of trees could be jeopardised by rapid climate change. Here the authors analyse a large dataset of relocated black spruce populations in Canada, finding that local adaptation to climate of origin improved NPP responses, but only for up to ~15 years after planting.
- Martin P. Girardin
- , Nathalie Isabel
- & Patrick Lenz
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Article
| Open AccessThe evolution of critical thermal limits of life on Earth
Historical climate adaptation can give insight into the potential for adaptation to contemporary changing climates. Here Bennett et al. investigate thermal tolerance evolution across much of the tree of life and find different effects of ancestral climate on the subsequent evolution of ectotherms vs. endotherms.
- Joanne M. Bennett
- , Jennifer Sunday
- & Miguel Ángel Olalla-Tárraga
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Article
| Open AccessEARLY BUD-BREAK 1 and EARLY BUD-BREAK 3 control resumption of poplar growth after winter dormancy
An AP2/ERF family gene EBB1 and a MADS-box gene SVL encode two regulators of poplar bud break. Here, the authors report another AP2/ERF transcription factor EBB3, which functions together with EBB1, SVL, and cell cycle progression promoter CYCD3.1 to regulate poplar bud break.
- Abdul Azeez
- , Yiru Chen Zhao
- & Victor B. Busov
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide association studies provide insights into the genetic determination of fruit traits of pear
Studies of fruit quality traits in pears are lagging behind the other major fruit trees. Here, the authors conduct GWAS of fruit quality and phenological traits in a panel of 312 sand pear accessions using SNPs called from resequencing data, and reveal the involvement of a lignin formation-related protein in regulating stone cell development.
- Ming-Yue Zhang
- , Cheng Xue
- & Jun Wu
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Article
| Open AccessStructure of photosystem I-LHCI-LHCII from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in State 2
Photosystems (PS) I and II undergo state transitions to optimize photosynthesis and photoprotection. Here the authors report a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the state 2 PSI-LHCI-LHCII supercomplex from C. reinhardtii revealing subunit organization and possible pathways of energy transfer.
- Zihui Huang
- , Liangliang Shen
- & Guangye Han
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Article
| Open AccessMorphological bases of phytoplankton energy management and physiological responses unveiled by 3D subcellular imaging
Phytoplankton account for a large proportion of global primary production and comprise a number of phylogenetically distinct lineages. Here, Uwizeye et al. use FIB-SEM to study ultrastructural plasticity of 7 distinct taxa and describe how subcellular organisation is linked to energy metabolism.
- Clarisse Uwizeye
- , Johan Decelle
- & Giovanni Finazzi
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Article
| Open AccessThe genetic basis of cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration in wheat
The development of hybrid wheat cultivars is hampered by the lack of an effective way to control male fertility in breeding lines. Here, the authors report the identification of two restorer-of-fertility genes Rf1 and Rf3 that can restore fertility of wheat plants carrying Triticum timopheevii-type cytoplasmic male sterility.
- Joanna Melonek
- , Jorge Duarte
- & Ian Small
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