Plant sciences articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is currently thought that the thylakoid proteins PGRL1 and PGR5 form a complex to mediate cyclic electron flow (CEF) around photosystem I. Here the authors show that CEF can in fact be mediated by PGR5 alone and that PGRL1 and the homologous PGRL2 modify the process by modulating PGR5 activity and stability.

    • Thilo Rühle
    • , Marcel Dann
    •  & Dario Leister

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Beneficial plant-microbe interactions are common in nature, but direct evidence for the evolution of mutualism is scarce. Here, Li et al. experimentally evolve a rhizospheric bacterium and find that it can evolve into a mutualist on a relatively short timescale.

    • Erqin Li
    • , Ronnie de Jonge
    •  & Alexandre Jousset

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Plants undergo morphological changes collectively termed thermomorphogenesis when exposed to elevated temperature. Here the authors show that the SPA1 kinase regulates distinct thermomorphogenic responses according to tissue type by interactions with PIF4 and HY5 in shoots and roots, respectively.

    • Sanghwa Lee
    • , Wenli Wang
    •  & Enamul Huq

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Blue light penetrates deeper than red light in ocean, thus blue light sensing is critical for adaptation to marine environments. Here, the authors report the genome of Pyconococcus provasolii and identify a chimeric dual orange/far-red and blue light receptor composed of a phytochrome and a cryptochrome by analyzing the marine metagenomes.

    • Yuko Makita
    • , Shigekatsu Suzuki
    •  & Minami Matsui

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Longhua Shui Mi (LHSM) is a representative of the Chinese Cling peaches that have been central in global peach genetic improvement. Here, the authors assemble the genome of LHSM and show convergent selection for sweetness yet divergent selection for acidity in eastern vs. western cultivars through population genomics analyses.

    • Yang Yu
    • , Jiantao Guan
    •  & Hua Xie

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is unclear whether climate driven phenological shifts of tundra plants are consistent across the plant growing season. Here the authors analyse data from a network of field warming experiments in Arctic and alpine tundra, finding that warming differentially affects the timing and duration of reproductive and vegetative phenology.

    • Courtney G. Collins
    • , Sarah C. Elmendorf
    •  & Katharine N. Suding

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Camptothecin is a monoterpene indole alkaloid with anti-tumor activity. Here, the authors assemble the genome of the camptothecin producing plant Camptotheca acuminata and provide insights into the evolutionary origin of camptothecin biosynthesis by comparing to the vinblastine and vincristine biosynthetic pathway in Catharanthus roseus.

    • Minghui Kang
    • , Rao Fu
    •  & Jianquan Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes host the molecular machinery for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis and respiratory electron flow. Here, the authors show that newly synthesized thylakoids emerge between the plasma membrane and pre-existing thylakoids and describe the time-dependent assembly process of photosynthetic complexes.

    • Tuomas Huokko
    • , Tao Ni
    •  & Lu-Ning Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Molecular phylogenies are traditionally based on sequence variation, but genome rearrangements also contain phylogenetic information. Here, Zhao et al. develop an approach to reconstruct phylogenies based on microsynteny and illustrate it with a reconstruction of the angiosperm phylogeny.

    • Tao Zhao
    • , Arthur Zwaenepoel
    •  & Yves Van de Peer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Moderate heat stress primes plants to acquire tolerance to subsequent, more severe heat stress. Here the authors show that the HSFA3 transcription factor forms a heteromeric complex with HSFA2 to sustain activated transcription of genes required for acquired thermotolerance by promoting H3K4 hyper-methylation.

    • Thomas Friedrich
    • , Vicky Oberkofler
    •  & Isabel Bäurle

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Light promotes stomatal development in plants. Here Wang et al. show that light stimulates stomatal development via the HY5 transcription factor which induces expression of STOMAGEN, a mesophyll-derived secreted peptide, that in turn leads to stabilization of a master regulator of stomatal development in the epidermis.

    • Shenqi Wang
    • , Zimin Zhou
    •  & On Sun Lau

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The tall wheat grass-derived stem rust resistance genes Sr26 and Sr61 are among a few ones that are effective to all current dominant races of stem rust, including Ug99. Here, the authors show that the two genes are present in a small non-recombinogenic segment but encode two unrelated NLR proteins.

    • Jianping Zhang
    • , Timothy C. Hewitt
    •  & Evans S. Lagudah

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Existing studies of the chromatin accessibility, the primary mark of regulatory DNA, in Arabidopsis are based mainly on bulk samples. Here, the authors report the regulatory landscape of Arabidopsis thaliana roots at single-cell resolution.

    • Michael W. Dorrity
    • , Cristina M. Alexandre
    •  & Josh T. Cuperus

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The ability to target DNA methylation to specific loci is important for both basic and applied research. Here, the authors fuse CG-specific methyltransferase SssI with an artificial zinc finger protein for DNA methylation targeting and show the chromatin features favorable for efficient gain of methylation.

    • Wanlu Liu
    • , Javier Gallego-Bartolomé
    •  & Steven E. Jacobsen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    AtEH/Pan1 proteins contain two N-terminal Eps15 homology (EH) domains and are subunits of the endocytic TPLATE complex present in plants. Here, the authors combine X-ray crystallography, NMR and MD simulations with biochemical and in planta analysis to characterize the two AtEH1/Pan1 EH domains and reveal their structural differences and complementary functional roles.

    • Klaas Yperman
    • , Anna C. Papageorgiou
    •  & Daniel Van Damme

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Structural insights into the small heat shock proteins (sHsps) complexes with their substrates are sparse. Here, cryo-EM structure of a plastid sHsp, Hsp21, in complex with a bona fide substrate 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS), suggests the anti-aggregation mechanism employed by sHsps.

    • Chuanyang Yu
    • , Stephen King Pong Leung
    •  & Wilson Chun Yu Lau

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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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