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Nature Reviews. Microbiology May 2018Lipid research represents a frontier for microbiology, as showcased by hopanoid lipids. Hopanoids, which resemble sterols and are found in the membranes of diverse... (Review)
Review
Lipid research represents a frontier for microbiology, as showcased by hopanoid lipids. Hopanoids, which resemble sterols and are found in the membranes of diverse bacteria, have left an extensive molecular fossil record. They were first discovered by petroleum geologists. Today, hopanoid-producing bacteria remain abundant in various ecosystems, such as the rhizosphere. Recently, great progress has been made in our understanding of hopanoid biosynthesis, facilitated in part by technical advances in lipid identification and quantification. A variety of genetically tractable, hopanoid-producing bacteria have been cultured, and tools to manipulate hopanoid biosynthesis and detect hopanoids are improving. However, we still have much to learn regarding how hopanoid production is regulated, how hopanoids act biophysically and biochemically, and how their production affects bacterial interactions with other organisms, such as plants. The study of hopanoids thus offers rich opportunities for discovery.
Topics: Bacteria; Cell Membrane; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Plants
PubMed: 29456243
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2017.173 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2018Calcium is one of the most pleiotropic second messengers in all living organisms. However, signalling specificity is encoded via spatio-temporally regulated signatures... (Review)
Review
Calcium is one of the most pleiotropic second messengers in all living organisms. However, signalling specificity is encoded via spatio-temporally regulated signatures that act with surgical precision to elicit highly specific cellular responses. How this is brought about remains a big challenge in the plant field, in part due to a lack of specific tools to manipulate/interrogate the plant Ca toolkit. In many cases, researchers resort to tools that were optimized in animal cells. However, the obviously large evolutionary distance between plants and animals implies that there is a good chance observed effects may not be specific to the intended plant target. Here, we provide an overview of pharmacological strategies that are commonly used to activate or inhibit plant Ca signalling. We focus on highlighting modes of action where possible, and warn for potential pitfalls. Together, this review aims at guiding plant researchers through the Ca pharmacology swamp.
Topics: Calcium Channel Blockers; Calcium Signaling; Plants
PubMed: 29783646
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051506 -
Current Biology : CB Apr 2021Circadian regulation has a pervasive influence upon plant development, physiology and metabolism, impacting upon components of fitness and traits of agricultural... (Review)
Review
Circadian regulation has a pervasive influence upon plant development, physiology and metabolism, impacting upon components of fitness and traits of agricultural importance. Circadian regulation is inextricably connected to the responses of plants to their abiotic environments, from the cellular to whole plant scales. Here, we review the crosstalk that occurs between circadian regulation and responses to the abiotic environment from the intracellular scale through to naturally fluctuating environments. We examine the spatial crosstalk that forms part of plant circadian regulation, at the subcellular, tissue, organ and whole-plant scales. This includes a focus on chloroplast and mitochondrial signalling, alternative splicing, long-distance circadian signalling and circadian regulation within natural environments. We also consider mathematical models for plant circadian regulation, to suggest future areas for advancing understanding of roles for circadian regulation in plant responses to environmental cues.
Topics: Alternative Splicing; Circadian Clocks; Circadian Rhythm; Environment; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 33905701
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.046 -
RNA Biology Apr 2017The parasitic plant Cuscuta exchanges mRNAs with its hosts. Systemic mobility of mRNAs within plants is well documented, and has gained increasing attention as studies... (Review)
Review
The parasitic plant Cuscuta exchanges mRNAs with its hosts. Systemic mobility of mRNAs within plants is well documented, and has gained increasing attention as studies using grafted plant systems have revealed new aspects of mobile mRNA regulation and function. But parasitic plants take this phenomenon to a new level by forming seamless connections to a wide range of host species, and raising questions about how mRNAs might function after transfer to a different species. Cuscuta and other parasitic plant species also take siRNAs from their hosts, indicating that multiple types of RNA are capable of trans-specific movement. Parasitic plants are intriguing systems for studying RNA mobility, in part because such exchange opens new possibilities for control of parasitic weeds, but also because they provide a fresh perspective into understanding roles of RNAs in inter-organismal communication.
Topics: Cuscuta; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Host-Parasite Interactions; Plants; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Plant; RNA, Small Interfering
PubMed: 28277936
DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1291482 -
Plant Physiology Apr 2021Shoot branching is an important aspect of plant architecture because it substantially affects plant biology and agricultural performance. Sugars play an important role... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Shoot branching is an important aspect of plant architecture because it substantially affects plant biology and agricultural performance. Sugars play an important role in the induction of shoot branching in several species, including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, the mechanism by which sugars affect shoot branching remains mostly unknown. In the present study, we addressed this question using sugar-mediated induction of bud outgrowth in potato stems under etiolated conditions. Our results indicate that sucrose feeding to detached stems promotes the accumulation of cytokinin (CK), as well as the expression of vacuolar invertase (VInv), an enzyme that contributes to sugar sink strength. These effects of sucrose were suppressed by CK synthesis and perception inhibitors, while CK supplied to detached stems induced bud outgrowth and VInv activity in the absence of sucrose. CK-induced bud outgrowth was suppressed in vinv mutants, which we generated by genome editing. Altogether, our results identify a branching-promoting module, and suggest that sugar-induced lateral bud outgrowth is in part promoted by the induction of CK-mediated VInv activity.
Topics: Crops, Agricultural; Cytokinins; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Israel; Mutation; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Shoots; Plants, Genetically Modified; Solanum tuberosum; Sucrose
PubMed: 33793932
DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab003 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2021The generation of oxygen radicals and their derivatives, known as reactive oxygen species, (ROS) is a part of the signaling process in higher plants at lower... (Review)
Review
The generation of oxygen radicals and their derivatives, known as reactive oxygen species, (ROS) is a part of the signaling process in higher plants at lower concentrations, but at higher concentrations, those ROS cause oxidative stress. Salinity-induced osmotic stress and ionic stress trigger the overproduction of ROS and, ultimately, result in oxidative damage to cell organelles and membrane components, and at severe levels, they cause cell and plant death. The antioxidant defense system protects the plant from salt-induced oxidative damage by detoxifying the ROS and also by maintaining the balance of ROS generation under salt stress. Different plant hormones and genes are also associated with the signaling and antioxidant defense system to protect plants when they are exposed to salt stress. Salt-induced ROS overgeneration is one of the major reasons for hampering the morpho-physiological and biochemical activities of plants which can be largely restored through enhancing the antioxidant defense system that detoxifies ROS. In this review, we discuss the salt-induced generation of ROS, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense of plants under salinity.
Topics: Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Plants; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salinity; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 34502233
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179326 -
Cells Mar 2021Interactions between land plants and other organisms such as pathogens, pollinators, or symbionts usually involve a variety of specialized effectors participating in... (Review)
Review
Interactions between land plants and other organisms such as pathogens, pollinators, or symbionts usually involve a variety of specialized effectors participating in complex cross-talks between organisms. Fatty acids and their lipid derivatives play important roles in these biological interactions. While the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) desaturases appears to be largely responsive to biotic stress, the different monounsaturated fatty acids produced by these enzymes were shown to take active part in plant biotic interactions and were assigned with specific functions intrinsically linked to the position of the carbon-carbon double bond within their acyl chain. For example, oleic acid, an omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid produced by Δ-stearoyl-ACP desaturases, participates in signal transduction pathways affecting plant immunity against pathogen infection. Myristoleic acid, an omega-5 monounsaturated fatty acid produced by Δ-myristoyl-ACP desaturases, serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of omega-5 anacardic acids that are active biocides against pests. Finally, different types of monounsaturated fatty acids synthesized in the labellum of orchids are used for the production of a variety of alkenes participating in the chemistry of sexual deception, hence favoring plant pollination by hymenopterans.
Topics: Acyl Carrier Protein; Fatty Acid Desaturases; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Plants
PubMed: 33803674
DOI: 10.3390/cells10030674 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Dec 2021The timing of seed production and release is highly relevant for successful plant reproduction. Ecological disturbances, if synchronized with reproductive effort, can... (Review)
Review
The timing of seed production and release is highly relevant for successful plant reproduction. Ecological disturbances, if synchronized with reproductive effort, can increase the chances of seeds and seedlings to germinate and establish. This can be especially true under variable and synchronous seed production (masting). Several observational studies have reported worldwide evidence for co-occurrence of disturbances and seed bumper crops in forests. Here, we review the evidence for interaction between disturbances and masting in global plant communities; we highlight feedbacks between these two ecological processes and posit an evolutionary pathway leading to the selection of traits that allow trees to synchronize seed crops with disturbances. Finally, we highlight relevant questions to be tested on the functional and evolutionary relationship between disturbances and masting. This article is part of the theme issue 'The ecology and evolution of synchronized seed production in plants'.
Topics: Forests; Reproduction; Seeds; Trees
PubMed: 34657468
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0384 -
The Plant Cell Apr 2022The apoplast is a continuous plant compartment that connects cells between tissues and organs and is one of the first sites of interaction between plants and microbes....
The apoplast is a continuous plant compartment that connects cells between tissues and organs and is one of the first sites of interaction between plants and microbes. The plant cell wall occupies most of the apoplast and is composed of polysaccharides and associated proteins and ions. This dynamic part of the cell constitutes an essential physical barrier and a source of nutrients for the microbe. At the same time, the plant cell wall serves important functions in the interkingdom detection, recognition, and response to other organisms. Thus, both plant and microbe modify the plant cell wall and its environment in versatile ways to benefit from the interaction. We discuss here crucial processes occurring at the plant cell wall during the contact and communication between microbe and plant. Finally, we argue that these local and dynamic changes need to be considered to fully understand plant-microbe interactions.
Topics: Cell Wall; Communication; Plant Cells; Plants
PubMed: 35157079
DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac040 -
Phytochemistry Apr 2015Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been studied for their role in plant development as well as in plant immunity. ROS were consistently observed to accumulate in the... (Review)
Review
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been studied for their role in plant development as well as in plant immunity. ROS were consistently observed to accumulate in the plant after the perception of pathogens and microbes and over the years, ROS were postulated to be an integral part of the defence response of the plant. In this article we will focus on recent findings about ROS involved in the interaction of plants with pathogenic fungi. We will describe the ways to detect ROS, their modes of action and their importance in relation to resistance to fungal pathogens. In addition we include some results from works focussing on the fungal interactor and from studies investigating roots during pathogen attack.
Topics: Fungi; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Plants; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 25264341
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.08.027