Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Romulo Pedro Macedo Lima, Alessandra Vasconcellos Nunes-Laitz, Mariana de Lara Campos Arcuri, Felipe Girotto Campos, Thais Arruda Costa Joca, Gean Charles Monteiro, Helio Kushima, Giuseppina Pace Pereira Lima, Luiz Fernando Rolim de Almeida, Pedro Barreto, Ivan de Godoy Maia
Summary: In Arabidopsis, UCP2 and UCP3 have complementary functions with UCP1 in plant reproductive and vegetative organs/tissues, as well as in stress adaptation. There is partial redundancy between the UCP isoforms.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yansheng Wu, Hongmin Yin, Xinyue Liu, Jiawei Xu, Baozhi Qin, Kaili Feng, Erfang Kang, Zhonglin Shang
Summary: Extracellular ATP (eATP) functions as a signal in plant growth and development, promoting pollen germination (PG) and pollen tube growth (PTG) by stimulating Ca2+ or K+ absorption. The mechanisms underlying the eATP-stimulated ion uptake and their role in PG and PTG were investigated using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. The results suggest that signaling components involved in eATP-promoted PG and PTG may regulate Ca2+ or K+ influx in Arabidopsis pollen grains.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tzu-Hsiang Huang, Der-Fen Suen
Summary: Iron deficiency in floral buds can lead to impaired pollen development. Supplying floral buds with iron can restore the deficiency and improve pollen development. Gene expression changes in iron-deficient anthers affect tapetum function and pollen development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiahao Jiang, Nils Stuhrwohldt, Tianxu Liu, Qingpei Huang, Ling Li, Li Zhang, Hongya Gu, Liumin Fan, Sheng Zhong, Andreas Schaller, Li-Jia Qu
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanism of preferential fertilization in Arabidopsis thaliana, showing that two egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases, ECS1 and ECS2, play an important role in facilitating the attachment of sperm cells to egg cells for preferential fertilization.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Milagros Giaccagli, Matias Daniel Gomez-Elias, Jael Dafne Herzfeld, Clara Isabel Marin-Briggiler, Patricia Sara Cuasnicu, Debora Juana Cohen, Vanina Gabriela Da Ros
Summary: The study investigated the role of mitochondrial activity in sperm fertilizing ability during capacitation in mice, finding that MMP increase depends on capacitation and H89-sensitive events, high MMP is associated with sperm motility, and mitochondrial function is needed mainly for zona pellucida penetration. Additionally, mitochondrial activity is fundamental for sperm function in fertilization.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Malgorzata Gutkowska, Magdalena Kaus-Drobek, Marta Hoffman-Sommer, Magdalena Malgorzata Pamula, Anna Daria Leja, Malgorzata Perycz, Malgorzata Lichocka, Agnieszka Witek, Magdalena Wojtas, Michal Dadlez, Ewa Swiezewska, Liliana Surmacz
Summary: Lipid anchors are common post-translational modifications for proteins involved in signaling and vesicular transport in eukaryotic cells. The mechanism of REP-Rab binding in plants is different from that in animals or yeast, and the role of REP in Rab prenylation is also distinct in plants, which is significant for plant research.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yanbing Wang, Joshua Coomey, Kari Miller, Gregory S. Jensen, Elizabeth S. Haswell
Summary: Cells have multiple systems, including ion channels and the cell wall integrity pathway, to maintain cellular integrity. Through studying pollen, it has been discovered that mechanosensitive ion channels modulate callose deposition and interact with the cell wall integrity pathway to maintain cell integrity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mariana de Lara Campos Arcuri, Alessandra Vasconcellos Nunes-Laitz, Romulo Pedro Macedo Lima, Pedro Barreto, Andressa Nagatani Marinho, Paulo Arruda, Ivan G. Maia
Summary: This study investigated the potential roles of two UCP genes in Arabidopsis thaliana in energy metabolism, root growth, fertility, and ROS homeostasis. Mutants exhibited alterations in ATP/ADP ratios, reduced respiratory rate, and compromised fertility. Increased hydrogen peroxide accumulation in reproductive organs and disturbed ROS homeostasis were observed, indicating the importance of AtUCP1 and AtUCP2 in flower oxidative homeostasis and overall plant fertility.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Kumar Abhinandan, Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, Stuart Macgregor, Daphne R. Goring, Marcus A. Samuel
Summary: This paper reviews the mechanism of self-incompatibility in plants, with a focus on the early stages of pollen-pistil interactions in Brassicaceae, revealing several key signaling events and molecular components.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Luis Cervela-Cardona, Benjamin Alary, Paloma Mas
Summary: A fundamental principle shared by all organisms is the conversion of nutrients into energy, requiring precise spatiotemporal programming. Cellular metabolism can adapt to external time, relying on the circadian clock. The circadian clock plays a prevalent role in controlling the timing of mitochondrial activity and cellular energy in Arabidopsis thaliana, with evidence showing metabolic signals can feedback to the clock.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoyun Tan, Haoyue Xu, Jie Ye, Jin Wang, Wenlong Liu, Feng Liu, Qingchen Rui, Yiqun Bao
Summary: The exocyst subunit SEC6 plays an important role in cell plate formation during pollen mitosis I and might help to tether the vesicles before fusion.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xinlong Chen, Yingying Zhang, Wuzhong Yin, Gang Wei, Hailing Xu, Lu Ma, Weijiang Tian, Guang Yang, Yunfeng Li, Renhong Wu, Ting Zhang, Nan Wang, Guanghua He
Summary: EFOP3 and EFOP4 are key genes involved in regulating pollen development in Arabidopsis. They play important roles in vasculature formation, cell wall metabolism, and pollen grain development. This study provides insights into the expression, localization, and essentiality of EFOP3 and EFOP4 in pollen development, as well as their impact on Arabidopsis pollen fertility.
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Ramming, Christian Kappel, Masahiro M. Kanaoka, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Michael Lenhard
Summary: Polyadenylation of mRNAs is critical for mRNA export, stability, and translation efficiency. In Arabidopsis thaliana, PAPS1 plays a key role in the acquisition of competence during pollen-tube growth and guidance. Our study shows that PAPS1 activity is required for full acquisition of competence and efficient fertilization. This research highlights the importance of functional specialization between PAPS isoforms in different developmental stages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shiori Nagahara, Hidenori Takeuchi, Tetsuya Higashiyama
Summary: During double fertilization in angiosperms, the central cell has the ability to block polyspermy, while the egg cell is more sensitive to polyspermy. Experimental results confirm that the central cell can be fertilized individually without the need for the egg cell.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hiroki Ayabe, Narumi Kawai, Mitsuhiro Shibamura, Yoichiro Fukao, Masaru Fujimoto, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Shin-ichi Arimura
Summary: Two translation-related proteins are identified as interacting with FMT, affecting mitochondrial distribution. Unlike other CLU genes, mutations in FMT do not result in a clear decrease in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein levels, suggesting functional divergence within the CLU superfamily gene family.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuki Okegawa, Natsuki Tsuda, Wataru Sakamoto, Ken Motohashi
Summary: Light-dependent activation of chloroplast enzymes is crucial for the rapid induction of photosynthesis. Two pathways, the Fd/Trx pathway and the NTRC pathway, in the Trx system play central roles in this process. This study reveals the involvement of the PGR5-dependent pathway in the NTRC pathway and the partial restoration of Trx-dependent reduction of thiol enzymes by PGR5, providing insights into the regulation of electron partitioning during the induction of photosynthesis.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hanifah Aini, Yoshikatsu Sato, Kakishi Uno, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Takashi Okamoto
Summary: During zygotic development of rice, mitochondria change their distribution from being primarily around the nucleus to uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm, and then re-distribute around the nucleus for even segregation into daughter cells. This study demonstrates the dynamics of mitochondrial distribution and localization in rice egg cells and zygotes, showing changes in morphology and distribution patterns during different stages of development. The role of actin filaments in regulating the accumulation and dispersion of mitochondria in egg cells and early zygotes is highlighted through the use of latrunculin B treatment.
PLANT REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fiona Wacera Wahinya, Kiyoshi Yamazaki, Zihuan Jing, Tsuneaki Takami, Takehiro Kamiya, Hiromi Kajiya-Kanegae, Hideki Takanashi, Hiroyoshi Iwata, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Toru Fujiwara, Wataru Sakamoto
Summary: Understanding the genetic factors that control grain ionome profiles in sorghum is important for optimized crop production. This study identified a gene, SbHMA3a, responsible for low accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in grain and showed that it functions as a Cd transporter in root tissues. These findings will facilitate the development of cultivars with low Cd accumulation or the use of high-Cd cultivars for phytoremediation.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Issei Nakazato, Miki Okuno, Chang Zhou, Takehiko Itoh, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Mizuki Takenaka, Shin-Ichi Arimura
Summary: In addition to their role in respiration, mitochondria in land plants contain important genes whose functions and regulations are not fully understood. Until recently, it has been challenging to analyze and improve these genes due to the lack of methods for stably modifying plant mitochondrial genomes. However, the use of mitochondria-targeting transcription activator-like effector nucleases (mitoTALENs) has provided a breakthrough in gene disruption without causing major changes in genome structure. This study demonstrates the successful use of mitochondria-targeting TALEN-based cytidine deaminase to substitute targeted base pairs in plant mitochondrial genomes, highlighting the potential for precise genetic modifications in plants.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daichi Susaki, Rie Izumi, Takao Oi, Hidenori Takeuchi, Ji Min Shin, Naoya Sugi, Tetsu Kinoshita, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Tomokazu Kawashima, Daisuke Maruyama
Summary: In the synergid cells, F-actin controls secretion of pollen tube attractants toward the outside of the ovule, and its temporal destruction may terminate further attractant supply after fertilization.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hiroki Ayabe, Atsushi Toyoda, Akitoshi Iwamoto, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Shin-ichi Arimura
Summary: Disruption of a single mitochondria-encoded gene leads to widespread changes in mitochondria and nuclear gene expression, potentially due to increased mitochondrial genome copy number. A method using mitochondria-localized TALEN (mitoTALEN) has been developed for disrupting mitochondrial genes in several plant species. In this study, disruption of NADH dehydrogenase subunit7 (NAD7) gene in Arabidopsis using mitoTALEN resulted in severe growth inhibition and lethality, indicating the essential function of NAD7 in Arabidopsis. Knockout of nad7 also increased mitochondrial genome copy number and overall expression of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Similar increases were observed in mutants with decreased NAD7 transcripts and dysfunctional mitochondrial respiratory complexes. These findings suggest a global gene-expression control mechanism through mitochondrial genome copy number in Arabidopsis and the broad consequences of disrupting single mitochondrial genes in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Wataru Sakamoto
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Issei Nakazato, Miki Okuno, Takehiko Itoh, Nobuhiro Tsutsumi, Shin-ichi Arimura
Summary: The modification of photosynthesis-related genes in plastid genomes can increase crop yields. A plastid-targeting base editor named ptpTALECD was found to substitute C to T in the plastid genomes of Arabidopsis. An improved version of ptpTALECD, called ptpTALECD_v2, showed more efficient C substitution and greater variety of codon changes in the Arabidopsis plastid genome.
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Wataru Sakamoto, Tsuneaki Takami
Summary: The inheritance mode of organelle DNAs in mitochondria and plastids is controlled by cold temperature and DNA amount in pollen.
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Satoru Nakagami, Michitaka Notaguchi, Tatsuhiko Kondo, Satoru Okamoto, Takanori Ida, Yoshikatsu Sato, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Allen Yi-Lun Tsai, Takashi Ishida, Shinichiro Sawa
Summary: Parasitic nematodes manipulate host plant signaling to promote infection.
Article
Biology
Yusuke Kimata, Moe Yamada, Takashi Murata, Keiko Kuwata, Takamasa Suzuki, Ayato Sato, Daisuke Kurihara, Mitsuyasu Hasebe, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Minako Ueda
Summary: This study identified two compounds, PD-180970 and PP2, that can transiently control plant cell division in different plant species. These compounds disrupt microtubule organization and phragmoplast formation, impairing nuclear separation and cytokinesis.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Wataru Sakamoto, Tsuneaki Takami
Summary: Plastids play a crucial role in angiosperms and exhibit non-Mendelian inheritance due to their evolution as endosymbionts. Inheritance of plastids in angiosperms can be either maternal or biparental. Maternal inheritance is mainly attributed to the stochastic segregation of maternal plastids after fertilization, while biparental inheritance involves plastid changes during pollen development. Recent research suggests that low temperature and plastid DNA degradation mediated by the organelle exonuclease DPD1 significantly influence paternal leakage in biparental inheritance.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuki Okegawa, Nozomi Sato, Rino Nakakura, Ryota Murai, Wataru Sakamoto, Ken Motohashi
Summary: Plants use various photoprotective mechanisms to cope with sudden increases in light intensity. Redox regulation by thioredoxin (Trx) systems is also involved in this process. However, the functions of x- and y-type Trxs in response to fluctuating light conditions are not well understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nandarapu Kumarswamyreddy, Damodara N. Reddy, D. Miklos Robkis, Nao Kamiya, Ryoko Tsukamoto, Masahiro M. Kanaoka, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Shunsuke Oishi, Jeffrey W. Bode
Summary: The chemical synthesis of pollen tube attractant proteins CRPs TfLURE and TcLURE and their chimeric analogues was successfully achieved using the alpha-ketoacid-hydroxylamine (KAHA) ligation. The bioactivity of chemically synthesized TfLURE protein was comparable to the recombinant protein expressed in E. coli, as shown by in vitro assay. This convergent protein synthesis approach is efficient for preparing small protein variants.
RSC CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)