Table of Contents

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

The Rfo locus restores fertility to radish plants with Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility. Using transgenic rapeseed plants expressing genes of this locus, this study shows that the product of one gene associates in vivo with the sterility gene RNA and restores fertility by suppressing the synthesis of the sterility protein in the tapetum of anthers.

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

The authors characterize an Arabidopsis syt1 mutant that exhibits reduced plasma membrane integrity. They show that SYT1 is a Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid binding protein localized at the plasma membrane, and provide evidence that plasma membrane repair mediated by SYT1 is essential for cell viability in plants under nonoptimal growing conditions.

CASTOR and POLLUX constitute a novel class of ion channels present throughout the angiosperm lineage. Mutant phenotypes, channel properties, and subcellular localization suggest a direct involvement in the calcium spiking mechanism during nodulation in legumes.

CASTOR and POLLUX constitute a novel class of ion channels present throughout the angiosperm lineage. Mutant phenotypes, channel properties, and subcellular localization suggest a direct involvement in the calcium spiking mechanism during nodulation in legumes.

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

Expression of ASL19 and ASL20 in immature xylem vessels depends on VND6 and VND7, two key positive regulators of xylem differentiation. ASL19/20 overexpression generates xylem-like cells and induces ectopic VND7 expression in nonvascular tissues. Thus, ASL19 and ASL20 seem to be involved in a positive feedback loop for VND6/7 expression that regulates xylem differentiation.

Lateral root formation is stimulated in plants deprived of phosphate. Here, phosphate-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings are shown to have an increased sensitivity to auxin, which alters the expression of auxin-responsive genes and promotes lateral root formation.

The major component of starch granules, amylopectin, is a branched glucan, the structure of which is determined by starch synthases, branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. This study reveals that when debranching enzymes are missing, amylases not normally involved in biosynthesis act on the nascent glucans, modifying their structure and thereby preventing starch granule formation.

The major component of starch granules, amylopectin, is a branched glucan, the structure of which is determined by starch synthases, branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. This study reveals that when debranching enzymes are missing, amylases not normally involved in biosynthesis act on the nascent glucans, modifying their structure and thereby preventing starch granule formation.

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

This work identifies a novel protein, Glycine max PEROXISOMAL ADENINE NUCLEOTIDE CARRIER (PNC1), by proteomic analyses of peroxisomal membrane proteins. PNC1 and its homologs in Arabidopsis contribute to the transport of adenine nucleotides that are consumed by reactions to generate acyl-CoA for peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation during postgerminative growth.

Lateral root formation is stimulated in plants deprived of phosphate. Here, phosphate-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings are shown to have an increased sensitivity to auxin, which alters the expression of auxin-responsive genes and promotes lateral root formation.

PtdIns(4,5)P₂ is enriched in the tip plasma membrane of pollen tubes. Its functions in pollen tubes are unclear, as PtdIns(4,5)P₂ biosynthetic enzymes are poorly characterized. Two pollen-expressed PI4P 5-kinases were found to be required for normal germination and growth of pollen tubes, and overexpression phenotypes indicated that PtdIns(4,5)P₂ has effects on pectin secretion at the growing apex.

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

BRI1 is a cell surface receptor for plant steroid hormones, brassinosteriods. This work shows that bri1-5, a mutant form of BRI1 still capable of responding to the hormone, is trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum by an overvigilant quality control system using three separate retention mechanisms, and is depleted by a proteasome-independent degradation process.

This study of the nitrate transporter NRT1.6, which is expressed in the funiculus, showed that nitrate is important for early embryo development. In the nrt1.6 mutants, abnormalities were found mainly in the suspensor cells at the one- or two-cell stages of embryo development.

This study shows that plant peroxisomes depend on ATP import from the cytosol to drive ATP-dependent reactions in the peroxisomal matrix. Two redundant ATP carriers that mediate an exchange of ATP with AMP or ADP across the peroxisomal membrane catalyze the import of ATP.

The authors characterize an Arabidopsis syt1 mutant that exhibits reduced plasma membrane integrity. They show that SYT1 is a Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid binding protein localized at the plasma membrane, and provide evidence that plasma membrane repair mediated by SYT1 is essential for cell viability in plants under nonoptimal growing conditions.

Expression of ASL19 and ASL20 in immature xylem vessels depends on VND6 and VND7, two key positive regulators of xylem differentiation. ASL19/20 overexpression generates xylem-like cells and induces ectopic VND7 expression in nonvascular tissues. Thus, ASL19 and ASL20 seem to be involved in a positive feedback loop for VND6/7 expression that regulates xylem differentiation.

The authors characterize an Arabidopsis syt1 mutant that exhibits reduced plasma membrane integrity. They show that SYT1 is a Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid binding protein localized at the plasma membrane, and provide evidence that plasma membrane repair mediated by SYT1 is essential for cell viability in plants under nonoptimal growing conditions.

The Rfo locus restores fertility to radish plants with Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility. Using transgenic rapeseed plants expressing genes of this locus, this study shows that the product of one gene associates in vivo with the sterility gene RNA and restores fertility by suppressing the synthesis of the sterility protein in the tapetum of anthers.

The authors show that Arabidopsis PDIL2-1 is a functional protein disulfide isomerase localized in the ER and highly expressed in the micropylar region of the ovule. They also show that gain-of-function mutations, caused by truncated versions of enzymatically active PDIL2-1, act in sporophytic tissues. These mutations delay embryo sac maturation and disrupt pollen tube guidance in Arabidopsis.

This study shows that plant peroxisomes depend on ATP import from the cytosol to drive ATP-dependent reactions in the peroxisomal matrix. Two redundant ATP carriers that mediate an exchange of ATP with AMP or ADP across the peroxisomal membrane catalyze the import of ATP.

Lateral root formation is stimulated in plants deprived of phosphate. Here, phosphate-deprived Arabidopsis seedlings are shown to have an increased sensitivity to auxin, which alters the expression of auxin-responsive genes and promotes lateral root formation.

The Arabidopsis translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) regulates vegetative growth, lateral root formation, and root hair development,and is also critical to pollen tube growth. These effects suggest that TCTP acts in the plant TOR signalling network, as in humans and Drosophila, but with plant-specific features such as crosstalk with auxin signaling.

The major component of starch granules, amylopectin, is a branched glucan, the structure of which is determined by starch synthases, branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. This study reveals that when debranching enzymes are missing, amylases not normally involved in biosynthesis act on the nascent glucans, modifying their structure and thereby preventing starch granule formation.

This work combines a phylogenetic framework of closely related Oryza species with a large-scale comparative sequence sampling from every phylogenetic branch from a single orthologous Adh1-Adh2 genomic region. It details a chronological series of evolutionary events, their pace, mechanistic causes, and impact on genome evolution in this genus that occurred within a 15-million-year time period.

CASTOR and POLLUX constitute a novel class of ion channels present throughout the angiosperm lineage. Mutant phenotypes, channel properties, and subcellular localization suggest a direct involvement in the calcium spiking mechanism during nodulation in legumes.

The major component of starch granules, amylopectin, is a branched glucan, the structure of which is determined by starch synthases, branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. This study reveals that when debranching enzymes are missing, amylases not normally involved in biosynthesis act on the nascent glucans, modifying their structure and thereby preventing starch granule formation.

The organization of microtubule arrays in plant cell morphogenesis depends on proteins that bundle microtubules. The major bundling protein is MAP65, which is encoded by a gene family comprising different isotypes that have unique abilities important for cell cycle progression. This work shows that a specific region in the C terminus of each isotype is essential for its unique function.

Expression of ASL19 and ASL20 in immature xylem vessels depends on VND6 and VND7, two key positive regulators of xylem differentiation. ASL19/20 overexpression generates xylem-like cells and induces ectopic VND7 expression in nonvascular tissues. Thus, ASL19 and ASL20 seem to be involved in a positive feedback loop for VND6/7 expression that regulates xylem differentiation.

PtdIns(4,5)P₂ is enriched in the tip plasma membrane of pollen tubes. Its functions in pollen tubes are unclear, as PtdIns(4,5)P₂ biosynthetic enzymes are poorly characterized. Two pollen-expressed PI4P 5-kinases were found to be required for normal germination and growth of pollen tubes, and overexpression phenotypes indicated that PtdIns(4,5)P₂ has effects on pectin secretion at the growing apex.

CASTOR and POLLUX constitute a novel class of ion channels present throughout the angiosperm lineage. Mutant phenotypes, channel properties, and subcellular localization suggest a direct involvement in the calcium spiking mechanism during nodulation in legumes.

This study shows that plant peroxisomes depend on ATP import from the cytosol to drive ATP-dependent reactions in the peroxisomal matrix. Two redundant ATP carriers that mediate an exchange of ATP with AMP or ADP across the peroxisomal membrane catalyze the import of ATP.

This study of the nitrate transporter NRT1.6, which is expressed in the funiculus, showed that nitrate is important for early embryo development. In the nrt1.6 mutants, abnormalities were found mainly in the suspensor cells at the one- or two-cell stages of embryo development.

The major component of starch granules, amylopectin, is a branched glucan, the structure of which is determined by starch synthases, branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. This study reveals that when debranching enzymes are missing, amylases not normally involved in biosynthesis act on the nascent glucans, modifying their structure and thereby preventing starch granule formation.