EDITORIAL:

Rewarding Collaboration

Rich Jorgensen

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2967. First Published on October 19, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.191080

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Measuring Daylength: Pharbitis Takes a Different Approach

Nancy A. Eckardt

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2968-2969.

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IN BRIEF:

GA Signaling: Direct Targets of DELLA Proteins

Nancy A. Eckardt

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2970.

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MIDGET and the Function of Topoisomerase VI in Arabidopsis

Nancy A. Eckardt

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2970.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Translational Genomics for Bioenergy Production: There's Room for More Than One Model

Daniel R. Bush and Jan E. Leach

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2971-2973. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.191040

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Reply: Specific Reasons to Favor Maize in the U.S.

Carolyn Lawrence and Virginia Walbot

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2973.

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RESEARCH ARTICLES:

Arabidopsis Relatives of the Human Lysine-Specific Demethylase1 Repress the Expression of FWA and FLOWERING LOCUS C and Thus Promote the Floral Transition

Danhua Jiang, Wannian Yang, Yuehui He, and Richard M. Amasino

Plant Cell 2007 19: 2975-2987. First Published on October 5, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.052373

Genetic and biochemical analyses show that the histone H3-Lys 4 demethylases LDL1 and LDL2 reduce the levels of methylation and repress expression of the floral repressors FLC and FWA. Repression of FWA was associated with affects on DNA methylation, whereas FLC repression was not, suggesting that members of the LDL family can participate in a range of silencing mechanisms.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

A Circadian Rhythm Set by Dusk Determines the Expression of FT Homologs and the Short-Day Photoperiodic Flowering Response in Pharbitis Ryosuke Hayama, Bhavna Agashe, Elisabeth Luley, Rod King, and George Coupland Plant Cell 2007 19: 2988-3000. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.052480 Different plant species flower in response to long days or short days (SDs), and this difference evolved several times. The SD response of Pharbitis is shown to be controlled by a different mechanism than those described for Arabidopsis and rice. In Pharbitis, a circadian clock set by dusk regulates transcription of the flowering-time gene FT. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data] OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

MPB2C, a Microtubule-Associated Protein, Regulates Non-Cell-Autonomy of the Homeodomain Protein KNOTTED1 Nikola Winter, Gregor Kollwig, Shoudong Zhang, and Friedrich Kragler Plant Cell 2007 19: 3001-3018. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.044354 The study shows that the microtubule-associated and viral movement protein binding protein MPB2C homologs from Arabidopsis and Nicotiana interact with homeodomain proteins KN1 and STM but not with BEL1. MPB2C proteins alter the subcellular distribution of KN1/STM and negatively regulate KN1 cell-to-cell transport. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data] OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

Two Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases, CPK4 and CPK11, Regulate Abscisic Acid Signal Transduction in Arabidopsis

Sai-Yong Zhu, Xiang-Chun Yu, Xiao-Jing Wang, Rui Zhao, Yan Li, Ren-Chun Fan, Yi Shang, Shu-Yuan Du, Xiao-Fang Wang, Fu-Qing Wu, Yan-Hong Xu, Xiao-Yan Zhang, and Da-Peng Zhang

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3019-3036. First Published on October 5, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.050666

This work shows that CPK4 and CPK11 are positive regulators in the CDPK/calcium-mediated abscisic acid signaling pathways and that the transcription factors ABF1 and ABF4 are substrates of both kinases.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Global Analysis of DELLA Direct Targets in Early Gibberellin Signaling in Arabidopsis

Rodolfo Zentella, Zhong-Lin Zhang, Mehea Park, Stephen G. Thomas, Akira Endo, Kohji Murase, Christine M. Fleet, Yusuke Jikumaru, Eiji Nambara, Yuji Kamiya, and Tai-ping Sun

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3037-3057. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054999

DELLA proteins restrict plant growth by inhibiting responses to the plant hormone gibberellin. From the data presented in this study, these proteins appear to activate the expression of downstream transcription factors, which are likely to function as negative regulators of gibberellin signaling.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

The GID1-Mediated Gibberellin Perception Mechanism Is Conserved in the Lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii but Not in the Bryophyte Physcomitrella patens

Ko Hirano, Masatoshi Nakajima, Kenji Asano, Tomoaki Nishiyama, Hitoshi Sakakibara, Mikiko Kojima, Etsuko Katoh, Hongyu Xiang, Takako Tanahashi, Mitsuyasu Hasebe, Jo Ann Banks, Motoyuki Ashikari, Hidemi Kitano, Miyako Ueguchi-Tanaka, and Makoto Matsuoka

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3058-3079. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.051524

The presence of genes encoding functional GA signaling– and GA synthesis–related proteins, such as GID1, DELLAs, F-box proteins, GA20 oxidase, and GA3 oxidase in Selaginella moellendorffii, suggests conserved GA perception and synthesis mechanisms among vascular plants. By contrast, equivalent functional genes were not found in the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Differential Requirements for RAD51 in Physcomitrella patens and Arabidopsis thaliana Development and DNA Damage Repair

Ulrich Markmann-Mulisch, Edelgard Wendeler, Oliver Zobell, Gabriele Schween, Hans-Henning Steinbiss, and Bernd Reiss

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3080-3089. First Published on October 5, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054049

This work shows that homologous recombination dependent on RAD51 is used for somatic DNA damage repair in P. patens, but not in Arabidopsis, implying fundamental differences in the use of recombination pathways between these species and suggesting that the choice of recombination pathway is related to the speed of evolution in plants.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

The Catalytically Active Tyrosine Residues of Both SPO11-1 and SPO11-2 Are Required for Meiotic Double-Strand Break Induction in Arabidopsis

Frank Hartung, Rebecca Wurz-Wildersinn, Jörg Fuchs, Ingo Schubert, Stefanie Suer, and Holger Puchta

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3090-3099. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054817

In contrast with other eukaryotes, plants need two functional SPO11 homologs for double-strand break induction initiating meiotic recombination. A mutation in the catalytic center of either protein prevents double-strand break formation and leads to male and female sterility and unbalanced chromosome segregation.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

MIDGET Unravels Functions of the Arabidopsis Topoisomerase VI Complex in DNA Endoreduplication, Chromatin Condensation, and Transcriptional Silencing

Viktor Kirik, Andrea Schrader, Joachim F. Uhrig, and Martin Hulskamp

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3100-3110. First Published on October 19, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054361

MIDGET was identified as a new functional component of the plant DNA topoisomerase VI complex. This work shows that MIDGET, in addition to having a known function in endoreduplication, is involved in chromatin organization, transcriptional silencing, and ATR-dependent DNA damage repair checkpoint activation.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Class-Specific Interaction of Profilin and ADF Isovariants with Actin in the Regulation of Plant Development

Muthugapatti K. Kandasamy, Brunilís Burgos-Rivera, Elizabeth C. McKinney, Daniel R. Ruzicka, and Richard B. Meagher

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3111-3126. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.052621

This work examines the functionally distinct interactions among major classes of actins and actin binding proteins (ABPs) in vivo and shows that actin and ABP isovariants have evolved class-specific protein–protein interactions that are essential to the normal regulation of plant growth and development.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Subcellular Localization and Functional Domain Studies of DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 in Maize and Arabidopsis Suggest a Model for Aleurone Cell Fate Specification Involving CRINKLY4 and SUPERNUMERARY ALEURONE LAYER1

Qing Tian, Lene Olsen, Beimeng Sun, Stein Erik Lid, Roy C. Brown, Betty E. Lemmon, Kjetil Fosnes, Darren (Fred) Gruis, Hilde-Gunn Opsahl-Sorteberg, Marisa S. Otegui, and Odd-Arne Olsen

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3127-3145. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.106.048868

Aleurone cells, the epidermal cell layer of the maize endosperm, differentiate in response to surface position via a process that depends on DEK1, CR4, and SAL1. DEK1 and CR4 colocalize at the plasma membrane and in endosomes together with SAL1. The model presented for aleurone cell fate specification is proposed to represent a global model for plant epidermal cell fate specification.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Arabidopsis Cryptochrome 2 Completes Its Posttranslational Life Cycle in the Nucleus

Xuhong Yu, John Klejnot, Xiaoying Zhao, Dror Shalitin, Maskit Maymon, Hongyun Yang, Janet Lee, Xuanming Liu, Javier Lopez, and Chentao Lin

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3146-3156. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.053017

The Arabidopsis blue light receptor CRY2 mediates blue light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and photoperiodic regulation of floral initiation. This study shows that CRY2 exerts those two functions in the nucleus; CRY2 is phosphorylated in the nucleus, and it is ubiquitinated and degraded by the ubiquitination/26S proteasome pathway in the nucleus.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Arabidopsis Cotyledon-Specific Chloroplast Biogenesis Factor CYO1 Is a Protein Disulfide Isomerase

Hiroshi Shimada, Mariko Mochizuki, Kan Ogura, John E. Froehlich, Katherine W. Osteryoung, Yumiko Shirano, Daisuke Shibata, Shinji Masuda, Kazuki Mori, and Ken-ichiro Takamiya

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3157-3169. First Published on October 5, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.051714

Chloroplast biogenesis programs differ in cotyledons and true leaves. Here, Arabidopsis mutant analysis shows that CYO1 acts specifically in the light-dependent conversion of cotyledon etioplasts to chloroplasts. CYO1 is tightly associated with thylakoids and catalyzes disulfide bond rearrangements, suggesting that it has a chaperone-related function required for thylakoid biogenesis in cotyledeons.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Proteome Analysis of Arabidopsis Leaf Peroxisomes Reveals Novel Targeting Peptides, Metabolic Pathways, and Defense Mechanisms

Sigrun Reumann, Lavanya Babujee, Changle Ma, Stephanie Wienkoop, Tanja Siemsen, Gerardo E. Antonicelli, Nicolas Rasche, Franziska Lüder, Wolfram Weckwerth, and Olaf Jahn

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3170-3193. First Published on October 19, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.050989

The development of a new isolation protocol for leaf peroxisomes from Arabidopsis enabled a comprehensive proteome analysis that led not only to the recognition of newfound, plant-specific metabolic pathways and defense mechanisms, but also to the characterization of novel targeting peptides, an extended definition of PTS2 domains, and the proposal of alternative protein import pathways.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Manipulation of Phytoene Levels in Tomato Fruit: Effects on Isoprenoids, Plastids, and Intermediary Metabolism

Paul D. Fraser, Eugenia M.A. Enfissi, John M. Halket, Mark R. Truesdale, Dongmei Yu, Christopher Gerrish, and Peter M. Bramley

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3194-3211. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.106.049817

Altering pigment formation in tomato fruit by genetic manipulation has shown that different aspects of fruit ripening are regulated separately. Carotenoid formation is not correlated to other fruit ripening parameters, such as ethylene production, increased sweetness, and fruit softening.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Evolution of Cinnamate/p-Coumarate Carboxyl Methyltransferases and Their Role in the Biosynthesis of Methylcinnamate

Jeremy Kapteyn, Anthony V. Qualley, Zhengzhi Xie, Eyal Fridman, Natalia Dudareva, and David R. Gang

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3212-3229. First Published on October 19, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054155

Gene expression, enzyme activity, and metabolite analyses show that CCMTs catalyze methylcinnamate formation in sweet basil. Phylogenetic analysis places CCMTs in a clade with many uncharacterized carboxyl methyltransferase–like proteins from monocots and more primitive plants. Structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis identify active site residues contributing to CCMT substrate specificity.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Enhanced Thermostability of Arabidopsis Rubisco Activase Improves Photosynthesis and Growth Rates under Moderate Heat Stress Itzhak Kurek, Thom Kai Chang, Sean M. Bertain, Alfredo Madrigal, Lu Liu, Michael W. Lassner, and Genhai Zhu Plant Cell 2007 19: 3230-3241. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054171 Rubisco activase is a thermolabile enzyme that loses the ability to activate Rubisco at elevated temperatures. Therefore, photosynthesis is inhibited under moderately elevated temperatures. Arabidopsis Rubisco activase deletion mutant expressing thermostable variants generated by gene shuffling exhibited positive impact on photosynthesis, growth, and yield under moderate heat stress conditions. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE

SALT TOLERANCE HOMOLOG2, a B-Box Protein in Arabidopsis That Activates Transcription and Positively Regulates Light-Mediated Development

Sourav Datta, Chamari Hettiarachchi, Henrik Johansson, and Magnus Holm

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3242-3255. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054791

SALT TOLERANCE HOMOLOG2 (STH2) is identified as a gene that interacts genetically with two key regulators of light signaling, HY5 and COP1. Results indicate that the B-box–containing protein STH2 acts as a positive regulator of photomorphogenesis and that the B-box domain plays a direct role in activating transcription in plants.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

The Pentatricopeptide Repeat Gene OTP43 Is Required for trans-Splicing of the Mitochondrial nad1 Intron 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana

Andéol Falcon de Longevialle, Etienne H. Meyer, Charles Andrés, Nicolas L. Taylor, Claire Lurin, A. Harvey Millar, and Ian D. Small

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3256-3265. First Published on October 26, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.054841

Mutant Arabidopsis plants with a disrupted OTP43 gene have undetectable mitochondrial Complex I activity and show severe defects in seed development, germination, and to a lesser extent in plant growth.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

The Arabidopsis Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase MKK3 Is Upstream of Group C Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases and Participates in Pathogen Signaling

Róbert Dóczi, Günter Brader, Aladár Pettkó-Szandtner, Iva Rajh, Armin Djamei, Andrea Pitzschke, Markus Teige, and Heribert Hirt

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3266-3279. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.106.050039

This work shows that the MKK3 pathway plays a role in pathogen defense. MKK3 is induced by pathogen infection but not by abiotic stress, and growth of virulent Pseudomonas syringae was enhanced in mkk3 knockout plants and inhibited in MKK3-overexpressing plants. Further experiments showed that MKK3 is an activator of group C MAP kinases and acts to induce the expression of several PR genes.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Polar Growth in the Infectious Hyphae of the Phytopathogen Ustilago maydis Depends on a Virulence-Specific Cyclin

Ignacio Flor-Parra, Sonia Castillo-Lluva, and José Pérez-Martín

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3280-3296. First Published on October 5, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.107.052738

Formation of polarized hyphae in plant pathogenic fungi may limit fungal invasion of the plant tissue. This work shows that pcl12, encoding a Cdk5-interacting cyclin, represents a polarity and virulence regulator in the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis. The results support the conclusion that fungal morphogenesis is a component of fungal host invasion capacity.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

Identification and Mutational Analysis of Arabidopsis FLS2 Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain Residues That Contribute to Flagellin Perception

F. Mark Dunning, Wenxian Sun, Kristin L. Jansen, Laura Helft, and Andrew F. Bent

Plant Cell 2007 19: 3297-3313. First Published on October 12, 2007; 10.1105/tpc.106.048801

A method to study structure–function relationships within the diverse and biologically important family of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains was developed and used to study Arabidopsis FLAGELLIN SENSING2 (FLS2). A small region was identified within the LRR of FLS2 that is involved in flagellin perception, within which mutations abolish flagellin binding and prevent downstream defense elicitation.

[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supplemental Data]

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