Shaping in plant cells

Tradescantia response to air and soil pollution, stamen hair cells dataset and ANN color classification

Tradescantia plant is a complex system that is sensible to environmental factors such as water supply, pH, temperature, light, radiation, impurities, and nutrient availability. It can be used as a biomonitor for environmental changes; however, the bioassays are time-consuming and have a strong human interference factor that might change the result depending on who is performing the analysis. We have developed computer vision models to study color variations from Tradescantia clone 4430 plant stamen hair cells, which can be stressed due to air pollution and soil contamination. The study introduces a novel dataset, Trad-204, comprising single-cell images from Tradescantia clone 4430, captured during the Tradescantia stamen-hair mutation bioassay (Trad-SHM). The dataset contain images from two experiments, one focusing on air pollution by particulate matter and another based on soil contaminated by diesel oil. Both experiments were carried out in Curitiba, Brazil, between 2020 and 2023. The images represent single cells with different shapes, sizes, and colors, reflecting the plant's responses to environmental stressors. An automatic classification task was developed to distinguishing between blue and pink cells, and the study explores both a baseline model and three artificial neural network (ANN) architectures, namely, TinyVGG, VGG-16, and ResNet34. Tradescantia revealed sensibility to both air particulate matter concentration and diesel oil in soil. The results indicate that Residual Network architecture outperforms the other models in terms of accuracy on both training and testing sets. The dataset and findings contribute to the understanding of plant cell responses to environmental stress and provide valuable resources for further research in automated image analysis of plant cells. Discussion highlights the impact of turgor pressure on cell shape and the potential implications for plant physiology. The comparison between ANN architectures aligns with previous research, emphasizing the superior performance of ResNet models in image classification tasks. Artificial intelligence identification of pink cells improves the counting accuracy, thus avoiding human errors due to different color perceptions, fatigue, or inattention, in addition to facilitating and speeding up the analysis process. Overall, the study offers insights into plant cell dynamics and provides a foundation for future investigations like cells morphology change. This research corroborates that biomonitoring should be considered as an important tool for political actions, being a relevant issue in risk assessment and the development of new public policies relating to the environment.

Functional analysis of fasciclin-like arabinogalactan in carotenoid synthesis during tomato fruit ripening

Carotenoids are important pigmented nutrients synthesized by tomato fruits during ripening. To reveal the molecular mechanism underlying carotenoid synthesis during tomato fruit ripening, we analyzed carotenoid metabolites and transcriptomes in six development stages of tomato fruits. A total of thirty different carotenoids were detected and quantified in tomato fruits from 10 to 60 DPA. Based on differential gene expression profiles and WGCNA, we explored several genes that were highly significant and negatively correlated with lycopene, all of which encode fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs). The FLAs are involved in plant signal transduction, however the functional role of these proteins has not been studied in tomato. Genome-wide analysis revealed that cultivated and wild tomato species contained 18 to 22 FLA family members, clustered into four groups, and mainly evolved by means of segmental duplication. The functional characterization of FLAs showed that silencing of SlFLA1, 5, and 13 were found to contribute to the early coloration of tomato fruits, and the expression of carotenoid synthesis-related genes was up-regulated in fruits that changed phenotypically, especially in SlFLA13-silenced plants. Furthermore, the content of multiple carotenoids (including (E/Z)-phytoene, lycopene, γ-carotene, and α-carotene) was significantly increased in SlFLA13-silenced fruits, suggesting that SlFLA13 has a potential inhibitory function in regulating carotenoid synthesis in tomato fruits. The results of the present study broaden the idea of analyzing the biological functions of tomato FLAs and preliminary evidence for the inhibitory role of SlFLA13 in carotenoid synthesis in fruit, providing the theoretical basis and a candidate for improving tomato fruit quality.

Visualizing plant intracellular inorganic orthophosphate distribution

Intracellular inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) distribution and homeostasis profoundly affect plant growth and development. However, its distribution patterns remain elusive owing to the lack of efficient cellular Pi imaging methods. Here we develop a rapid colorimetric Pi imaging method, inorganic orthophosphate staining assay (IOSA), that can semi-quantitatively image intracellular Pi with high resolution. We used IOSA to reveal the alteration of cellular Pi distribution caused by Pi starvation or mutations that alter Pi homeostasis in two model plants, rice and Arabidopsis, and found that xylem parenchyma cells and basal node sieve tube element cells play a critical role in Pi homeostasis in rice. We also used IOSA to screen for mutants altered in cellular Pi homeostasis. From this, we have identified a novel cellular Pi distribution regulator, HPA1/PHO1;1, specifically expressed in the companion and xylem parenchyma cells regulating phloem Pi translocation from the leaf tip to the leaf base in rice. Taken together, IOSA provides a powerful method for visualizing cellular Pi distribution and facilitates the analysis of Pi signalling and homeostasis from the level of the cell to the whole plant.

Cas9/gRNA-Mediated Mutations in PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 Reveal Redundant Roles in Modulating Wood Cell Size and SCW Synthesis in Poplar

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) play an important role in plant development and adaptation to the environment. However, the roles of FLAs in wood formation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a total of 50 PtrFLA genes in poplar. They were classified into four groups: A to D, among which group A was the largest group with 28 members clustered into four branches. Most PtrFLAs of group A were dominantly expressed in developing xylem based on microarray and RT-qPCR data. The roles of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 in group A were investigated via the Cas9/gRNA-induced mutation lines. Loss of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 increased stem length and diameter in ptrfla40ptrfla45 double mutants, but not in ptrfla40 or ptrfla45 single mutants. Further, our findings indicated that the ptrfla40ptrfla45 mutants enlarged the cell size of xylem fibers and vessels, suggesting a negative modulation in stem xylem cell size. In addition, wood lignin content in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants was increased by nearly 9%, and the lignin biosynthesis-related genes were significantly up-regulated in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants, in agreement with the increase in wood lignin content. Overall, Cas9/gRNA-mediated mutations in PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 reveal redundant roles in modulating wood cell size and secondary cell wall (SCW) synthesis in poplar.

The bHLH/HLH transcription factors GhFP2 and GhACE1 antagonistically regulate fiber elongation in cotton

Basic helix-loop-helix/helix-loop-helix (bHLH/HLH) transcription factors play important roles in cell elongation in plants. However, little is known about how bHLH/HLH transcription factors antagonistically regulate fiber elongation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). In this study, we report that two bHLH/HLH transcription factors, fiber-related protein 2 (GhFP2) and ACTIVATOR FOR CELL ELONGATION 1 (GhACE1), function in fiber development of cotton. GhFP2 is an atypical bHLH protein without the basic region, and its expression is regulated by brassinosteroid (BR)-related BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (GhBZR1). Overexpression of GhFP2 in cotton hindered fiber elongation, resulting in shortened fiber length. In contrast, suppression of GhFP2 expression in cotton promoted fiber development, leading to longer fibers compared with the wild-type. GhFP2 neither contains a DNA-binding domain nor has transcriptional activation activity. Furthermore, we identified GhACE1, a bHLH protein that interacts with GhFP2 and positively regulates fiber elongation. GhACE1 could bind to promoters of plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2;7 (GhPIP2;7) and expansions 8 (GhEXP8) for directly activating their expression, but the interaction between GhFP2 and GhACE1 suppressed transcriptional activation of these target genes by GhACE1. Taken together, our results indicate that GhACE1 promotes fiber elongation by activating expressions of GhPIP2;7 and GhEXP8, but its transcription activation on downstream genes may be obstructed by BR-modulated GhFP2. Thus, our data reveal a key mechanism for fiber cell elongation through a pair of antagonizing HLH/bHLH transcription factors in cotton.

Characterization of the Cell Wall Component through Thermogravimetric Analysis and Its Relationship with an Expansin-like Protein in Deschampsia antarctica

Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) is one of the two vascular plants that have colonized the Antarctic Peninsula, which is usually exposed to extreme environmental conditions. To support these conditions, the plant carries out modifications in its morphology and metabolism, such as modifications to the cell wall. Thus, we performed a comparative study of the changes in the physiological properties of the cell-wall-associated polysaccharide contents of aerial and root tissues of the D. antarctica via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with a computational approach. The result showed that the thermal stability was lower in aerial tissues with respect to the root samples, while the DTG curve describes four maximum peaks of degradation, which occurred between 282 and 358 °C. The carbohydrate polymers present in the cell wall have been depolymerized showing mainly cellulose and hemicellulose fragments. Additionally, a differentially expressed sequence encoding for an expansin-like (DaEXLA2), which is characterized by possessing cell wall remodeling function, was found in D. antarctica. To gain deep insight into a probable mechanism of action of the expansin protein identified, a comparative model of the structure was carried out. DaEXLA2 protein model displayed two domains with an open groove in the center. Finally, using a cell wall polymer component as a ligand, the protein-ligand interaction was evaluated by molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The MD simulations showed that DaEXLA2 could interact with cellulose and XXXGXXXG polymers. Finally, the cell wall component description provides the basis for a model for understanding the changes in the cell wall polymers in response to extreme environmental conditions.

GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-like gene OsGLR3.4 is required for plant growth and systemic wound signaling in rice (Oryza sativa)

Recent studies have revealed the physiological roles of glutamate receptor-like channels (GLRs) in Arabidopsis; however, the functions of GLRs in rice remain largely unknown. Here, we show that knockout of OsGLR3.4 in rice leads to brassinosteroid (BR)-regulated growth defects and reduced BR sensitivity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and transient transactivation assays indicated that OsGLR3.4 is the downstream target of OsBZR1. Further, agonist profile assays showed that multiple amino acids can trigger transient Ca²⁺ influx in an OsGLR3.4-dependent manner, indicating that OsGLR3.4 is a Ca²⁺ -permeable channel. Meanwhile, the study of internode cells demonstrated that OsGLR3.4-mediated Ca²⁺ flux is required for actin filament organization and vesicle trafficking. Following root injury, the triggering of both slow wave potentials (SWPs) in leaves and the jasmonic acid (JA) response are impaired in osglr3.4 mutants, indicating that OsGLR3.4 is required for root-to-shoot systemic wound signaling in rice. Brassinosteroid treatment enhanced SWPs and OsJAZ8 expression in root-wounded plants, suggesting that BR signaling synergistically regulates the OsGLR3.4-mediated systemic wound response. In summary, this article describes a mechanism of OsGLR3.4-mediated cell elongation and long-distance systemic wound signaling in plants and provides new insights into the contribution of GLRs to plant growth and responses to mechanical wounding.

A mutation in the promoter of the arabinogalactan protein 7-like gene PcAGP7-1 affects cell morphogenesis and brassinolide content in pear (Pyrus communis L.) stems

Dwarfing rootstocks and dwarf cultivars are urgently needed for modern pear cultivation. However, germplasm resources for dwarfing pear are limited, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously showed that dwarfism in pear is controlled by the single dominant gene PcDw (Dwarf). We report here that the expression of PcAGP7-1 (ARABINOGALACTAN PROTEIN 7-1), a key candidate gene for PcDw, is significantly higher in dwarf-type pear plants because of a mutation in an E-box in the promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and transient infiltration showed that the transcription factors PcBZR1 and PcBZR2 could directly bind to the E-box of the PcAGP7-1 promoter and repress transcription. Moreover, transgenic pear lines overexpressing PcAGP7-1 exhibited obvious dwarf phenotypes, whereas RNA interference pear lines for PcAGP7-1 were taller than controls. PcAGP7-1 overexpression also enhanced cell wall thickness, affected cell morphogenesis, and reduced brassinolide (BL) content, which inhibited BR signaling via a negative feedback loop, resulting in further dwarfing. Overall, we identified a dwarfing mechanism in perennial woody plants involving the BL-BZR/BES-AGP-BL regulatory module. Our findings provide insight into the molecular mechanism of plant dwarfism and suggest strategies for the molecular breeding of dwarf pear cultivars.

CINCINNATA-Like TCP Transcription Factors in Cell Growth - An Expanding Portfolio

Post-mitotic cell growth is a key process in plant growth and development. Cell expansion drives major growth during morphogenesis and is influenced by both endogenous factors and environmental stimuli. Though both isotropic and anisotropic cell growth can contribute to organ size and shape at different degrees, anisotropic cell growth is more likely to contribute to shape change. While much is known about the mechanisms that increase cellular turgor and cell-wall biomass during expansion, the genetic factors that regulate these processes are less studied. In the past quarter of a century, the role of the CINCINNATA-like TCP (CIN-TCP) transcription factors has been well documented in regulating diverse aspects of plant growth and development including flower asymmetry, plant architecture, leaf morphogenesis, and plant maturation. The molecular activity of the CIN-TCP proteins common to these biological processes has been identified as their ability to suppress cell proliferation. However, reports on their role regulating post-mitotic cell growth have been scanty, partly because of functional redundancy among them. In addition, it is difficult to tease out the effect of gene activity on cell division and expansion since these two processes are linked by compensation, a phenomenon where perturbation in proliferation is compensated by an opposite effect on cell growth to keep the final organ size relatively unaltered. Despite these technical limitations, recent genetic and growth kinematic studies have shown a distinct role of CIN-TCPs in promoting cellular growth in cotyledons and hypocotyls, the embryonic organs that grow solely by cell expansion. In this review, we highlight these recent advances in our understanding of how CIN-TCPs promote cell growth.

Mechano-transduction via the pectin-FERONIA complex activates ROP6 GTPase signaling in Arabidopsis pavement cell morphogenesis

During growth and morphogenesis, plant cells respond to mechanical stresses resulting from spatiotemporal changes in the cell wall that bear high internal turgor pressure. Microtubule (MT) arrays are reorganized to align in the direction of maximal tensile stress, presumably reinforcing the local cell wall by guiding the synthesis of cellulose. However, how mechanical forces regulate MT reorganization remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mechanical signaling that is based on the Catharanthus roseus RLK1-like kinase (CrRLK1L) subfamily receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) regulates the reorganization of cortical MT in cotyledon epidermal pavement cells (PCs) in Arabidopsis. Recessive mutations in FER compromised MT responses to mechanical perturbations, such as single-cell ablation, compression, and isoxaben treatment, in these PCs. These perturbations promoted the activation of ROP6 guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) that acts directly downstream of FER. Furthermore, defects in the ROP6 signaling pathway negated the reorganization of cortical MTs induced by these stresses. Finally, reduction in highly demethylesterified pectin, which binds the extracellular malectin domains of FER and is required for FER-mediated ROP6 activation, also impacted mechanical induction of cortical MT reorganization. Taken together, our results suggest that the FER-pectin complex senses and/or transduces mechanical forces to regulate MT organization through activating the ROP6 signaling pathway in Arabidopsis.

Pear xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases PcBRU1 promotes stem growth through regulating cell wall elongation

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play numerous important roles in plant growth and development. Previous studies reported that BRs could promote stem growth by regulating the expression of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs). However, the mechanism of XTHs involved in stem growth remains unclear. In this study, PcBRU1, which belonged to the XTH family, was upregulated by exogenous BL treatment in Pyrus communis. The expression of PcBRU1 was highest in stems and lowest in leaves. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that PcBRU1 was located in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, overexpressing PcBRU1 in tobaccos promoted the plant height and internode length. Electron microscopy and anatomical structure analysis showed that the cell wall was significantly thinner and the cells were slenderer in transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing PcBRU1 than in wild-type tobaccos. PcBRU1 promoted stem growth as it loosened the cell wall, leading to the change in cell morphology. In addition, overexpressing PcBRU1 altered the root development and leaf shape of transgenic tobaccos. Taken together, the results could provide a theoretical basis for the XTH family in regulating cell-wall elongation and stem growth.

Molecular and structural characterization of expansins modulated by fungal endophytes in the Antarctic Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. Exposed to drought stress

Expansins are proteins involved in cell wall metabolism that play an important role in plant growth, development, fruit ripening and abiotic stress tolerance. In the present study, we analyzed putative expansins that respond to drought stress. Five expansin genes were identified in cDNA libraries isolated from Colobanthus quitensis gown either with or without endophytic fungi under hydric stress. A differential transcript abundance was observed by qPCR analysis upon drought stress. To compare these expansin genes, and to suggest a possible mechanism of action at the molecular level, the structural model of the deduced proteins was obtained by comparative modeling methodology. The structures showed two domains and an open groove on the surface of the proteins was observed in the five structural models. The proteins were evaluated in terms of their protein-ligand interactions using four different ligands. The results suggested differences in their mode of protein-ligand interaction, in particular concerning the residues involved in the protein-ligand interaction. The presented evidence supports the participation of some members of the expansin multiprotein family in the response to drought stress in C. quitensis and suggest that the response is modulated by endophytic fungi.

Laser Microdissection of Specific Stem-Base Tissue Types from Olive Microcuttings for Isolation of High-Quality RNA

Simple Summary

Only a small portion of the stem cells participate in the process of adventitious root formation and the cells/tissues types involved in this process is species-dependent. In olive, it is still unclear which type of cells acquire competence for rooting. Regardless, the entire stem nodal segment (containing a mixture of distinct cell types) continues to be used in studies related to the molecular mechanisms underlying this process. Laser microdissection (LM) technology has been applied to isolate specific tissue and cell types. However, it is difficult to find a standard LM protocol suitable for all plant species and cell types and, thus, LM procedures must be developed and optimized for each particular tissue. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a LM protocol in olive microcuttings stem-base samples. This work presents a simple, rapid and efficient LM procedure for harvesting specific tissue types used for further high-quality RNA isolation. This will encourage future cell type-specific transcriptomic studies, contributing at deciphering rooting-competent cells in olive stems and to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of adventitious root formation.

Abstract

Higher plants are composed of different tissue and cell types. Distinct cells host different biochemical and physiological processes which is reflected in differences in gene expression profiles, protein and metabolite levels. When omics are to be carried out, the information provided by a specific cell type can be diluted and/or masked when using a mixture of distinct cells. Thus, studies performed at the cell- and tissue-type level are gaining increasing interest. Laser microdissection (LM) technology has been used to isolate specific tissue and cell types. However, this technology faces some challenges depending on the plant species and tissue type under analysis. Here, we show for the first time a LM protocol that proved to be efficient for harvesting specific tissue types (phloem, cortex and epidermis) from olive stem nodal segments and obtaining RNA of high quality. This is important for future transcriptomic studies to identify rooting-competent cells. Here, nodal segments were flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen-cooled isopentane and cryosectioned. Albeit the lack of any fixatives used to preserve samples’ anatomy, cryosectioned sections showed tissues with high morphological integrity which was comparable with that obtained with the paraffin-embedding method. Cells from the phloem, cortex and epidermis could be easily distinguished and efficiently harvested by LM. Total RNA isolated from these tissues exhibited high quality with RNA Quality Numbers (determined by a Fragment Analyzer System) ranging between 8.1 and 9.9. This work presents a simple, rapid and efficient LM procedure for harvesting specific tissue types of olive stems and obtaining high-quality RNA.

Plant Single-Cell Metabolomics-Challenges and Perspectives

Omics approaches for investigating biological systems were introduced in the mid-1990s and quickly consolidated to become a fundamental pillar of modern biology. The idea of measuring the whole complement of genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites has since become widespread and routinely adopted in the pursuit of an infinity of scientific questions. Incremental improvements over technical aspects such as sampling, sensitivity, cost, and throughput pushed even further the boundaries of what these techniques can achieve. In this context, single-cell genomics and transcriptomics quickly became a well-established tool to answer fundamental questions challenging to assess at a whole tissue level. Following a similar trend as the original development of these techniques, proteomics alternatives for single-cell exploration have become more accessible and reliable, whilst metabolomics lag behind the rest. This review summarizes state-of-the-art technologies for spatially resolved metabolomics analysis, as well as the challenges hindering the achievement of sensu stricto metabolome coverage at the single-cell level. Furthermore, we discuss several essential contributions to understanding plant single-cell metabolism, finishing with our opinion on near-future developments and relevant scientific questions that will hopefully be tackled by incorporating these new exciting technologies.

Expression of Two α-Type Expansins from Ammopiptanthus nanus in Arabidopsis thaliana Enhance Tolerance to Cold and Drought Stresses

Expansins, cell-wall loosening proteins, play an important role in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance. Ammopiptanthus nanus (A. nanus) is an important plant to study to understand stress resistance in forestry. In our previous study, two α-type expansins from A. nanus were cloned and named AnEXPA1 and AnEXPA2. In this study, we found that they responded to different abiotic stress and hormone signals. It suggests that they may play different roles in response to abiotic stress. Their promoters show some of the same element responses to abiotic stress and hormones, but some special elements were identified between the expansins that could be essential for their expression. In order to further testify the reliability of the above results, we conducted an analysis of β-glucuronidase (GUS) dyeing. The analysis showed that AnEXPA1 was only induced by cold stress, whereas AnEXPA2 responded to hormone induction. AnEXPA1 and AnEXPA2 transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed better tolerance to cold and drought stresses. Moreover, the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly improved in the transgenic plants, and expansin activity was enhanced. These results suggested that AnEXPA1 and AnEXPA2 play an important role in the response to abiotic stress. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the regulatory network of expansins and may benefit agricultural production.

Brittle Culm 1 Encodes a COBRA-Like Protein Involved in Secondary Cell Wall Cellulose Biosynthesis in Sorghum

Plant mechanical strength contributes to lodging resistance and grain yield, making it an agronomically important trait in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). In this study, we isolated the brittle culm 1 (bc1) mutant and identified SbBC1 through map-based cloning. SbBC1, a homolog of rice OsBC1 and Arabidopsis thaliana AtCOBL4, encodes a COBRA-like protein that exhibits typical structural features of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein. A single-nucleotide mutation in SbBC1 led to reduced mechanical strength, decreased cellulose content, and increased lignin content without obviously altering plant morphology. Transmission electron microscopy revealed reduced cell wall thickness in sclerenchyma cells of the bc1 mutant. SbBC1 is primarily expressed in developing sclerenchyma cells and vascular bundles in sorghum. RNA-seq analysis further suggested a possible mechanism by which SbBC1 mediates cellulose biosynthesis and cell wall remodeling. Our results demonstrate that SbBC1 participates in the biosynthesis of cellulose in the secondary cell wall and affects the mechanical strength of sorghum plants, providing additional genetic evidence for the roles of COBRA-like genes in cellulose biosynthesis in grasses.

Molecular characterization of proton beam-induced mutations in soybean using genotyping-by-sequencing

Proton beam irradiation is a next-generation technique to develop mutant crop varieties. The mutagenic effects and molecular mechanisms of radiation are important multi-disciplinary research subjects. This study was conducted to investigate the types of mutations induced in the soybean genome by proton beam irradiation. In total, 22 plants, including 10 M2 plants treated with proton beam irradiation at 118 and 239 Gy, each, and two wild-type plants (Daepung) were sequenced by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). In total, 7453 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the 20 M2 plants, compared with the two wild-type controls. The SNP frequency was 1/36,976 bp with proton beam irradiation at 118 Gy, and 1/32,945 bp at 239 Gy. Of these, 3569 SNPs were detected in genic regions. We observed that proton beam irradiation induced more substitutions than small insertion-deletions (INDELs). Based on the mutagenic effect of proton beam irradiation, the frequency of transition mutations was shown to be higher than that of transversions. The proton beam-induced SNPs were distributed uniformly in most of the chromosomes. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that there were many genes involved in protein metabolic process under biological process, intracellular membrane-bounded organelle under cellular component, and nucleic acid binding under molecular function. This study could provide valuable information for investigating the potential mechanisms of mutation, and guidance for developing soybeans cultivars using mutation breeding.

Genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression profile of aquaporin gene family in flax (Linum usitatissimum)

Membrane intrinsic proteins (MIPs) form transmembrane channels and facilitate transport of myriad substrates across the cell membrane in many organisms. Majority of plant MIPs have water transporting ability and are commonly referred as aquaporins (AQPs). In the present study, we identified aquaporin coding genes in flax by genome-wide analysis, their structure, function and expression pattern by pan-genome exploration. Cross-genera phylogenetic analysis with known aquaporins from rice, arabidopsis, and poplar showed five subgroups of flax aquaporins representing 16 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), 17 tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), 13 NOD26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), 2 small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs), and 3 uncharacterized intrinsic proteins (XIPs). Amongst aquaporins, PIPs contained hydrophilic aromatic arginine (ar/R) selective filter but TIP, NIP, SIP and XIP subfamilies mostly contained hydrophobic ar/R selective filter. Analysis of RNA-seq and microarray data revealed high expression of PIPs in multiple tissues, low expression of NIPs, and seed specific expression of TIP3 in flax. Exploration of aquaporin homologs in three closely related Linum species bienne, grandiflorum and leonii revealed presence of 49, 39 and 19 AQPs, respectively. The genome-wide identification of aquaporins, first in flax, provides insight to elucidate their physiological and developmental roles in flax.

Tissue-specific metabolite profiling of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in the root of Macleaya cordata by combining laser microdissection with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Tissue-specific metabolite profiling helps to find trace alkaloids masked during organ analysis, which contributes to understanding the alkaloid biosynthetic pathways in vivo and evaluating the quality of medical plants by morphology. As Macleaya cordata contains diverse types of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), the alkaloid metabolite profiling was carried out on various tissues of the root.

METHODS

Laser microdissection with fluorescence detection was used to recognize and dissect different tissues from the root of M. cordata. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to analyze the trace alkaloids in tissues. These detected alkaloids were elucidated using their accurate molecular weights, MS/MS data, MS fragmentation patterns and the known biosynthetic pathways of BIAs. Finally, the distribution of alkaloids in dissected tissues and whole sections was mapped.

RESULTS

Forty-nine alkaloids were identified from five microdissected tissues, and 24 of them were detected for the first time in M. cordata. Some types of alkaloids occurred specifically in dissected tissues. More alkaloids were detected in the cork and xylem vascular bundles which emit strong fluorescence under fluorescence microscopy. Some of the screened alkaloids were intermediates in sanguinarine and chelerythrine biosynthetic pathways, and others were speculated to be involved in the new branches of biosynthetic pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated method is sensitive, specific and reliable for determining trace alkaloids, which is also a powerful tool for metabolite profiling of tissue-specific BIAs in situ. The present findings should contribute to a better understanding of the biosynthesis of BIAs in M. cordata root and provide scientific evidence for its quality evaluation based on morphological characteristics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PhCESA3 silencing inhibits elongation and stimulates radial expansion in petunia

Cellulose synthase catalytic subunits (CESAs) play important roles in plant growth, development and disease resistance. Previous studies have shown an essential role of Arabidopsis thaliana CESA3 in plant growth. However, little is known about the role of CESA3 in species other than A. thaliana. To gain a better understanding of CESA3, the petunia (Petunia hybrida) PhCESA3 gene was isolated, and the role of PhCESA3 in plant growth was analyzed in a wide range of plants. PhCESA3 mRNA was present at varying levels in tissues examined. VIGS-mediated PhCESA3 silencing resulted in dwarfing of plant height, which was consistent with the phenotype of the A. thaliana rsw1 mutant (a temperature-sensitive allele of AtCESA1), the A. thaliana cev1 mutant (the AtCESA3 mild mutant), and the antisense AtCESA3 line. However, PhCESA3 silencing led to swollen stems, pedicels, filaments, styles and epidermal hairs as well as thickened leaves and corollas, which were not observed in the A. thaliana cev1 mutant, the rsw1 mutant and the antisense AtCESA3 line. Further micrographs showed that PhCESA3 silencing reduced the length and increased the width of cells, suggesting that PhCESA3 silencing inhibits elongation and stimulates radial expansion in petunia.

An RNA-Seq Analysis of Grape Plantlets Grown in vitro Reveals Different Responses to Blue, Green, Red LED Light, and White Fluorescent Light

Using an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach, we analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and physiological behaviors of "Manicure Finger" grape plantlets grown in vitro under white, blue, green, and red light. A total of 670, 1601, and 746 DEGs were identified in plants exposed to blue, green, and red light, respectively, compared to the control (white light). By comparing the gene expression patterns with the growth and physiological responses of the grape plantlets, we were able to link the responses of the plants to light of different spectral wavelengths and the expression of particular sets of genes. Exposure to red and green light primarily triggered responses associated with the shade-avoidance syndrome (SAS), such as enhanced elongation of stems, reduced investment in leaf growth, and decreased chlorophyll levels accompanied by the expression of genes encoding histone H3, auxin repressed protein, xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase, the ELIP protein, and microtubule proteins. Furthermore, specific light treatments were associated with the expression of a large number of genes, including those involved in the glucan metabolic pathway and the starch and sucrose metabolic pathways; these genes were up/down-regulated in ways that may explain the increase in the starch, sucrose, and total sugar contents in the plants. Moreover, the enhanced root growth and up-regulation of the expression of defense genes accompanied with SAS after exposure to red and green light may be related to the addition of 30 g/L sucrose to the culture medium of plantlets grown in vitro. In contrast, blue light induced the up-regulation of genes related to microtubules, serine carboxypeptidase, chlorophyll synthesis, and sugar degradation and the down-regulation of auxin-repressed protein as well as a large number of resistance-related genes that may promote leaf growth, improve chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast development, increase the ratio of chlorophyll a (chla)/chlorophyll b (chlb), and decrease the ratio of carbohydrates to proteins in plants. Although exposure to red and green light seems to impose "shade stress" on the plantlets, growth under blue light is comparable to growth observed under white or broad-spectrum light.

Single-cell-type quantitative proteomic and ionomic analysis of epidermal bladder cells from the halophyte model plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum to identify salt-responsive proteins

BACKGROUND

Epidermal bladder cells (EBC) are large single-celled, specialized, and modified trichomes found on the aerial parts of the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. Recent development of a simple but high throughput technique to extract the contents from these cells has provided an opportunity to conduct detailed single-cell-type analyses of their molecular characteristics at high resolution to gain insight into the role of these cells in the salt tolerance of the plant.

RESULTS

In this study, we carry out large-scale complementary quantitative proteomic studies using both a label (DIGE) and label-free (GeLC-MS) approach to identify salt-responsive proteins in the EBC extract. Additionally we perform an ionomics analysis (ICP-MS) to follow changes in the amounts of 27 different elements. Using these methods, we were able to identify 54 proteins and nine elements that showed statistically significant changes in the EBC from salt-treated plants. GO enrichment analysis identified a large number of transport proteins but also proteins involved in photosynthesis, primary metabolism and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Validation of results by western blot, confocal microscopy and enzyme analysis helped to strengthen findings and further our understanding into the role of these specialized cells. As expected EBC accumulated large quantities of sodium, however, the most abundant element was chloride suggesting the sequestration of this ion into the EBC vacuole is just as important for salt tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

This single-cell type omics approach shows that epidermal bladder cells of M. crystallinum are metabolically active modified trichomes, with primary metabolism supporting cell growth, ion accumulation, compatible solute synthesis and CAM. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004045.

Fruiting Branch K(+) Level Affects Cotton Fiber Elongation Through Osmoregulation

Potassium (K) deficiency in cotton plants results in reduced fiber length. As one of the primary osmotica, K(+) contributes to an increase in cell turgor pressure during fiber elongation. Therefore, it is hypothesized that fiber length is affected by K deficiency through an osmotic pathway, so in 2012 and 2013, an experiment was conducted to test this hypothesis by imposing three potassium supply regimes (0, 125, 250 kg K ha(-1)) on a low-K-sensitive cultivar, Siza 3, and a low-K-tolerant cultivar, Simian 3. We found that fibers were longer in the later season bolls than in the earlier ones in cotton plants grown under normal growth conditions, but later season bolls showed a greater sensitivity to low-K stress, especially the low-K sensitive genotype. We also found that the maximum velocity of fibre elongation (V max) is the parameter that best reflects the change in fiber elongation under K deficiency. This parameter mostly depends on cell turgor, so the content of the osmotically active solutes was analyzed accordingly. Statistical analysis showed that K(+) was the major osmotic factor affecting fiber length, and malate was likely facilitating K(+) accumulation into fibers, which enabled the low-K-tolerant genotype to cope with low-K stress. Moreover, the low-K-tolerant genotype tended to have greater K(+) absorptive capacities in the upper fruiting branches. Based on our findings, we suggest a fertilization scheme for Gossypium hirsutum that adds extra potash fertilizer or distributes it during the development of late season bolls to mitigate K deficiency in the second half of the growth season and to enhance fiber length in late season bolls.

Spatially Resolved Plant Metabolomics: Some Potentials and Limitations of Laser-Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Metabolite Imaging

Laser-ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI)-mass spectrometry imaging has been applied to contrasting plant organs to assess its potential as a procedure for performing in vivo metabolomics in plants. In a proof-of-concept experiment, purple/white segmented Phalaenopsis spp. petals were first analyzed using standard liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of separate extracts made specifically from the purple and white regions. Discriminatory compounds were defined and putatively annotated. LAESI analyses were then performed on living tissues, and these metabolites were then relocalized within the LAESI-generated data sets of similar tissues. Maps were made to illustrate their locations across the petals. Results revealed that, as expected, anthocyanins always mapped to the purple regions. Certain other (nonvisible) polyphenols were observed to colocalize with the anthocyanins, whereas others were found specifically within the white tissues. In a contrasting example, control and Cladosporium fulvum-infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves were subjected to the same procedures, and it could be observed that the alkaloid tomatine has clear heterogeneous distribution across the tomato leaf lamina. Furthermore, LAESI analyses revealed perturbations in alkaloid content following pathogen infection. These results show the clear potential of LAESI-based imaging approaches as a convenient and rapid way to perform metabolomics analyses on living tissues. However, a range of limitations and factors have also been identified that must be taken into consideration when interpreting LAESI-derived data. Such aspects deserve further evaluation before this approach can be applied in a routine manner.

Expression profiling and functional analysis reveals that TOR is a key player in regulating photosynthesis and phytohormone signaling pathways in Arabidopsis

Target of rapamycin (TOR) acts as a master regulator to control cell growth by integrating nutrient, energy, and growth factors in all eukaryotic species. TOR plays an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating the transcription of genes associated with anabolic and catabolic processes in Arabidopsis, but little is known about the functions of TOR in photosynthesis and phytohormone signaling, which are unique features of plants. In this study, AZD8055 (AZD) was screened as the strongest active-site TOR inhibitor (asTORi) in Arabidopsis compared with TORIN1 and KU63794 (KU). Gene expression profiles were evaluated using RNA-seq after treating Arabidopsis seedlings with AZD. More than three-fold differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in AZD-treated plants relative to rapamycin-treated plants in previous studies. Most of the DEGs and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways involved in cell wall elongation, ribosome biogenesis, and cell autophagy were common to both AZD- and rapamycin-treated samples, but AZD displayed much broader and more efficient inhibition of TOR compared with rapamycin. Importantly, the suppression of TOR by AZD resulted in remodeling of the expression profile of the genes associated with photosynthesis and various phytohormones, indicating that TOR plays a crucial role in modulating photosynthesis and phytohormone signaling in Arabidopsis. These newly identified DEGs expand the understanding of TOR signaling in plants. This study elucidates the novel functions of TOR in photosynthesis and phytohormone signaling and provides a platform to study the downstream targets of TOR in Arabidopsis.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in a cellulose synthase gene (PtoCesA3) are associated with growth and wood properties in Populus tomentosa

In plants, the composition and organization of the cell wall determine cell shape, enable cell expansion, and affect the properties of woody tissues. Cellulose synthase (CesA) genes encode the enzymes involved in the synthesis of cellulose which is the major component of plant primary and secondary cell walls. Here, we isolated a full-length PtoCesA3 cDNA from the stem cambium tissue of Populus tomentosa. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed that PtoCesA3 is highly expressed during primary cell wall formation. Estimation of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) revealed that PtoCesA3 harbors high SNP diversity (π(T) = 0.00995 and θ(w) = 0.0102) and low LD (r(2) ≥ 0.1, within 1,280 bp). Association analysis in a P. tomentosa association population (460 individuals) showed that seven SNPs (false discovery rate Q < 0.10) and five haplotypes (Q < 0.10) were significantly associated with growth and wood properties, explaining 4.09-7.02% of the phenotypic variance. All significant marker-trait associations were validated in at least one of the three smaller subsets (climatic regions) while five associations were repeated in the linkage population. Variation in RNA transcript abundance among genotypic classes of significant loci was also confirmed in the association or linkage populations. Identification of PtoCesA3 and examining its allelic polymorphisms using association studies open an avenue to understand the mechanism of cellulose synthesis in the primary cell wall and its effects on the properties of woody tissues.

NtProRP1, a novel proline-rich protein, is an osmotic stress-responsive factor and specifically functions in pollen tube growth and early embryogenesis in Nicotiana tabacum

Proline-rich proteins (PRPs) are known to play important roles in sexual plant reproduction. Most of the known proteins in the family were found in styles or pollen and modulate pollen tube growth. Here, we identified a novel member of the gene family, NtProRP1, which is preferentially expressed in tobacco pollen grains, pollen tubes and zygotes. NtProRP1 could be secreted into the extracellular space including the cell wall, and the predicted N-terminal signal peptide is crucial for its secretion. In NtProRP1-RNAi plants, pollen germination and pollen tube growth were significantly slower and showed zigzag or swell morphology in vitro. Early embryogenesis also exhibited aberrant development, indicative of its critical role in both pollen tube growth and early embryogenesis. Further investigation revealed that NtProRP1 plays a crucial role in osmotic stress response during pollen tube growth and is likely regulated by Tsi, a stress-responsive gene, suggesting that the regulatory mechanism is also involved in the stress response during sexual plant reproduction. These data provide evidence that NtProRP1 functions as a downstream factor of Tsi1 in the stress response and converges the stress signal into the modulation of pollen tube growth and early embryogenesis.

My body is a cage: mechanisms and modulation of plant cell growth

388 I. 388 II. 389 III. 389 IV. 390 V. 391 VI. 393 VII. 394 VIII. 398 399 References 399 SUMMARY: The wall surrounding plant cells provides protection from abiotic and biotic stresses, and support through the action of turgor pressure. However, the presence of this strong elastic wall also prevents cell movement and resists cell growth. This growth can be likened to extending a house from the inside, using extremely high pressures to push out the walls. Plants must increase cell volume in order to explore their environment, acquire nutrients and reproduce. Cell wall material must stretch and flow in a controlled manner and, concomitantly, new cell wall material must be deposited at the correct rate and site to prevent wall and cell rupture. In this review, we examine biomechanics, cell wall structure and growth regulatory networks to provide a 'big picture' of plant cell growth.

Cotton plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2s (PIP2s) selectively interact to regulate their water channel activities and are required for fibre development

Aquaporins are thought to be associated with water transport and play important roles in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibre elongation. Among aquaporins, plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) constitute a plasma-membrane-specific subfamily and are further subdivided into PIP1 and PIP2 groups. In this study, four fibre-preferential GhPIP2 genes were functionally characterized. The selective interactions among GhPIP2s and their interaction proteins were studied in detail to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cotton fibre development. GhPIP2;3 interacted with GhPIP2;4 and GhPIP2;6, but GhPIP2;6 did not interact with GhPIP2;4. Coexpression of GhPIP2;3/2;4 or GhPIP2;3/2;6 resulted in a positive cooperative effect which increased the permeability coefficient of oocytes, while GhPIP2;4/2;6 did not. GhBCP2 (a blue copper-binding protein) inhibited GhPIP2;6 water channel activity through their interaction. Overexpression of GhPIP2 genes in yeast induced longitudinal growth of the host cells. By contrast, knockdown of expression of GhPIP2 genes in cotton by RNA interference markedly hindered fibre elongation. In conclusion, GhPIP2 proteins are the primary aquaporin isoforms in fibres. They selectively form hetero-oligomers in order to regulate their activities to meet the requirements for rapid fibre elongation.

Inducible growth mode switches influence Valonia rhizoid differentiation

Cell differentiation and cell type commitment are an integral part of plant growth and development. Investigations on how environmental conditions affect the formation of shoots, roots, and rhizoids can help illustrate how plants determine cell fate and overall morphology. In this study, we evaluated the role of substratum and light on rhizoid differentiation in the coenocytic green alga, Valonia aegagropila. Elongating rhizoids displayed varying growth modes and cell shape upon exposure to different substrata and light conditions. It was found that soft substrata and dark incubation promoted rhizoid elongation via tip growth while subsequent exposure to light prevented tip growth and instead induced swelling in the apical region of rhizoids. Swelling was accompanied by the accumulation of protoplasm in the rhizoid tip through expansion of the cell wall and uninhibited cytoplasmic streaming. Subsequent diffuse growth led to the transformation from slender, rod-shaped rhizoids into spherical thallus-like structures that required photosynthesis. Further manipulation of light regimes caused vacillating cell growth redirections. An elongating V. aegagropila rhizoid cell thus appears capable of growth mode switching that is regulated by immediate environmental conditions thereby influencing ultimate cell shape and function. This is the first description of inducible, multiple growth mode shifts in a single intact plant cell that directly impact its differentiation.

Target of rapamycin signaling regulates metabolism, growth, and life span in Arabidopsis

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is a major nutrition and energy sensor that regulates growth and life span in yeast and animals. In plants, growth and life span are intertwined not only with nutrient acquisition from the soil and nutrition generation via photosynthesis but also with their unique modes of development and differentiation. How TOR functions in these processes has not yet been determined. To gain further insights, rapamycin-sensitive transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines (BP12) expressing yeast FK506 Binding Protein12 were developed. Inhibition of TOR in BP12 plants by rapamycin resulted in slower overall root, leaf, and shoot growth and development leading to poor nutrient uptake and light energy utilization. Experimental limitation of nutrient availability and light energy supply in wild-type Arabidopsis produced phenotypes observed with TOR knockdown plants, indicating a link between TOR signaling and nutrition/light energy status. Genetic and physiological studies together with RNA sequencing and metabolite analysis of TOR-suppressed lines revealed that TOR regulates development and life span in Arabidopsis by restructuring cell growth, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, gene expression, and rRNA and protein synthesis. Gain- and loss-of-function Ribosomal Protein S6 (RPS6) mutants additionally show that TOR function involves RPS6-mediated nutrition and light-dependent growth and life span in Arabidopsis.

A tale of two tissues: AtGH9C1 is an endo-β-1,4-glucanase involved in root hair and endosperm development in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis AtGH9C1 is an endo-β-1,4-glucanase possessing a carbohydrate-binding domain (CBM49). Analysis of AtGH9C1 expression by promoter-reporter GUS, RT-PCR, public transcriptome databases and GFP protein tagging demonstrated a high and selective expression of AtGH9C1 in root hairs and in the endosperm. Expression in root hair cells started prior to bulge formation and continued during hair elongation. AtGH9C1 expression increased with treatments that increase density (ACC) or length (sucrose) of root hairs. Expression in the endosperm extended sequentially to the micropylar, peripheral and chalazal compartments. A mutant with reduced AtGH9C1 expression had a delay in germination and a marked reduction in root hair presence. Complementation of the mutant partially improved both germination and root hair density. Experiments with ectopically expressed AtGH9C1-GFP with and without the CBM49, demonstrated that both forms of the protein are secreted and that CBM49 targets the protein to specific regions of the cell wall, but what makes these regions special is still unknown. The amino acid alignment of angiosperm GH9 genes with C-terminal extensions illustrate that AtGH9C1 belongs to a different clade than its tomato homolog, S1GH9C1. The latter has a CBM49 that was shown to bind crystalline cellulose. We suggest that AtGH9C1 is associated with the weakening of the cell wall during formation and growth of the root hair as well as with the sequential anterior-posterior breakdown of the endosperm cell wall that provides space for the growing embryo. Thus, is likely that the CBM49 of AtGH9C1 recognizes a form of cellulose or glucan polymer that is prevalent in the wall of these specialized tissues and that is different than the one recognized by S1GH9C1.

Identification of a putative receptor-ligand pair controlling cell separation in plants

Cell separation events are important throughout the lifespan of a plant. To assure that the plant's integrity is not compromised, such events, which depend on cell wall degradation, have to be tightly controlled both in time and space. The final step of floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis is controlled by INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA), in that mutation of IDA causes a block in abscission. Overexpression results in early abscission of floral organs. In a recent article we show that this is also the case when overexpressing the related IDA-LIKE (IDL) proteins, indicating a degree of functional redundancy. Based on gene swap and deletion constructs introduced in the ida mutant and synthetic peptide assays we demonstrated that the conserved C-terminal motif (EPIP) of IDA and IDL1 was sufficient to replace IDA function. This function is dependent on the presence of the receptor-like kinases (RLK) HAESA (HAE) and HAESA-LIKE2 (HSL2), suggesting that an IDA peptide acts as a ligand interacting with these receptors. Our study further revealed that the five IDL genes are expressed at various sites where cell separation takes place. We suggest that the IDL proteins constitute a family of ligands that act through RLKs similar to HAESA and control cell separation at different sites and development stages during the life of the plant.

New insights into the role of plant formins: regulating the organization of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton

Formins are well-known as important regulators participating in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton in organisms. For many years in the past, research on plant formins is more difficult than that in other eukaryotic formins and is limited to class I formins. Nevertheless, positive progress has been made in plant formin research recently, especially the investigations on class II formins. New functions of plant formins are identified gradually, such as regulating cell division and affecting diffuse cell expansion. More significantly, plant formins are also verified to interact with microtubules in vivo and in vitro. They may probably function as linking proteins between microtubules and microfilaments to participate in various cellular processes.

Differential tissue distribution of metabolites in Jacobaea vulgaris, Jacobaea aquatica and their crosses

Plants are attacked by many different herbivores. Some will consume whole leaves or roots, while others will attack specific types of tissue. Thus, insight into the metabolite profiles of different types of leaf tissues is necessary to understand plant resistance against herbivores. Jacobaea vulgaris, J. aquatica and three genotypes of their crossings were used to study the variation in metabolomic profiles between epidermis and mesophyll tissues. Extracts of epidermis and mesophyll tissues were obtained using carborundum abrasion (CA). Subsequently, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and multivariate data analyses were applied to compare the metabolome profiles. Orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) resulted in a clear separation of epidermis and mesophyll extracts. The epidermis contained significantly higher amounts of jacaranone and phenylpropanoids, specifically chlorogenic (5-O-CQA) and feruloyl quinic (FQA) acids compared to the mesophyll. In contrast, the mesophyll showed significantly higher concentrations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), specifically jacobine and jaconine. The tissue specific distribution of these compounds was constant over all genotypes tested. Phenylpropanoids, 5-O-CQA and FQA, as well as PAs are known for their inhibitory effect on herbivores, especially against thrips. Thrips feeding commences with the penetration of the epidermis, followed by ingestion of sub-epidermal or mesophyll. Thrips thus may have to encounter phenylpropanoids in the epidermis as the first line of defence, before encountering the PAs as the ultimate defence in the mesophyll. The finding of tissue specific defense may have a major impact on studies of plant resistance. We cannot judge resistance using analyses of a whole roots, leafs or flowers. In such a whole-organism approach, the levels of potential defense compounds are far below the real ones encountered in tissues involved in the first line of defense. Instead, it is of great importance to study the defence compounds in the specific tissue to which the herbivore is confined.

Transcriptome analysis reveals critical genes and key pathways for early cotton fiber elongation in Ligon lintless-1 mutant

Fiber length is a key determinant of cotton yield and quality. Using a monogenic dominant cotton mutant Ligon lintless-1 with extremely short fibers, we employed microarray technology and quantitative real time PCR to compare transcriptomes of Li(1) and the normal wild-type TM-1, the results showed that only a few genes differentially expressed in 0 days postanthesis (DPA) ovules and 3 DPA fibers, whereas 577 transcripts differentially expressed in 6 DPA fibers. 6 DPA is probably a key phase determining fiber elongation. Gene ontology analyses showed such processes as response to stimulus, signal transduction, and lipid metabolism were readjusted by the mutant gene. Pathway studio analysis indicated that auxin signaling and sugar signaling pathways play major roles in modulation of early fiber elongation. This work provides new insight into the mechanisms of fiber development, and offers novel genes as potential objects for genetic manipulation to achieve improvement of fiber properties.

Characterization of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expansin gene, TaEXPB23, involved in the abiotic stress response and phytohormone regulation

Expansins are proteins that are generally accepted to be key regulators of cell wall extension and plant growth. We examined the expression pattern of TaEXPB23, a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expansin gene, under exogenous phytohormone and abiotic stress treatments. In addition, we evaluated its function in the tolerance to salt stress and high temperature (HT) by overexpressing it in transgenic tobacco plants. In subcellular localization assays, TaEXPB23 localized to the cell wall. Expression analysis demonstrated that the transcription pattern of TaEXPB23 corresponded to wheat coleoptile growth. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that TaEXPB23 transcript expression was upregulated by exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salt stress, but downregulated by exogenous gibberellins (GA₃), ethylene (ET), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and α-naphthlcetic acid (NAA). Overexpression of TaEXPB23 in tobacco (tabacum) conferred tolerance to salt stress by enhancing water retention ability (WRA) and decreasing osmotic potential (OP). However, transgenic plants overexpressing TaEXPB23 did not show any improvement in the tolerance to HT stress. These results suggested that TaEXPB23 is regulated by phytohormones and is involved in the regulation of salt stress tolerance.

Four alleles of AtCESA3 form an allelic series with respect to root phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant cell shape is determined by the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in the primary cell wall. Consequently, mutations that affect genes encoding the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of cellulose, namely, the cellulose synthase catalytic subunits, can alter cell shape substantially, particularly in the roots of affected plants. The multiple response expansion1 (mre1) mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana results from a point mutation in the AtCESA3 gene, which encodes one of the three isoforms of the cellulose synthase catalytic subunit required for synthesis of cellulose in the primary cell wall. Phenotypic comparison of the mre1 mutant with three other alleles (ectopic lignification1-1, ectopic lignification1-2 and constitutive expression of vsp1) showed that these four alleles form an allelic series with respect to their root phenotypes, with mre1 being the weakest allele identified to date. These analyses demonstrated that sucrose affects a significant alteration of cell shape in the roots of these mutants and likely suppresses root cell division in them as well, and that the chemical aminoisobutyric acid can suppress these effects of sucrose. Interestingly, the cell walls in the roots of these four AtCESA3 alleles contain different percentages of cellulose, and these percentages correlate with the lengths of the roots and cortex cells in these roots when grown on media containing high levels of sucrose.

Control of stomatal aperture: a renaissance of the old guard

Stomata, functionally specialized small pores on the surfaces of leaves, regulate the flow of gases in and out of plants. The pore is opened by an increase in osmotic pressure in the guard cells, resulting in the uptake of water. The subsequent increase in cell volume inflates the guard cell and culminates with the opening of the pore. Although guard cells can be regarded as one of the most thoroughly investigated cell types, our knowledge of the signaling pathways which regulate guard cell function remains fragmented. Recent research in guard cells has led to several new hypotheses, however, it is still a matter of debate as to whether guard cells function autonomously or are subject to regulation by their neighboring mesophyll cells.This review synthesizes what is known about the mechanisms and genes critical for modulating stomatal movement. Recent progress on the regulation of guard cell function is reviewed here including the involvement of environmental signals such as light, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 and endogenous plant hormones. In addition we re-evaluate the important role of organic acids such as malate and fumarate play in guard cell metabolism in this process.

Effects of cooking on the cell walls (dietary fiber) of 'Scarlet Warren' winter squash ( Cucurbita maxima ) studied by polysaccharide linkage analysis and solid-state (13)C NMR

Cell wall polysaccharides of 'Scarlet Warren' winter squash ( Cucurbita maxima ) were investigated before and after thermal processing. Linkage analysis of polysaccharides was done by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The linkage analysis showed the cell wall polysaccharide compositions of raw and cooked squash were similar. The total pectic polysaccharides (galacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan, arabinan, and arabinogalactan) contents of the cell walls of both raw and cooked squash were 39 mol %. The amounts of pectic polysaccharides and xyloglucan in the cell walls of squash showed little alteration on heating. The cellulose content of the raw and cooked cell walls was relatively high at 47 mol %, whereas the xyloglucan content was low at 4 mol %. Solid-state (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques were used to examine the molecular motion of the polysaccharides in the cell walls. The mobility of highly flexible galactan depends on the water content of the sample, but no difference was seen between raw and cooked samples. Likewise, the mobility of semimobile pectic polysaccharides was apparently unaltered by cooking. No change was detected in the rigid cellulose microfibrils on cooking.

Drought tolerance through over-expression of the expansin gene TaEXPB23 in transgenic tobacco

Expansins are proteins that are the key regulators of wall extension during plant growth. To investigate the role of TaEXPB23, a wheat expansin gene, we analyzed TaEXPB23 mRNA expression levels in response to water stress in wheat and examined the drought resistance of transgenic tobaccos over-expressing TaEXPB23. We found that the expression of TaEXPB23 corresponded to wheat coleoptile growth and the response to water stress. The results also indicated that the transgenic tobacco lines lost water more slowly than the wild-type (WT) plants under drought stress; their cells could sustain a more integrated structure under water stress than that of WT. Other physiological and biochemical parameters under water stress, such as electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, photosynthetic rate, F(v)/F(m) and ΦPSII, also suggested that the transgenic tobaccos were more drought resistant than WT plants.

OsBC1L4 encodes a COBRA-like protein that affects cellulose synthesis in rice

Plant morphogenesis is highly dependent on the regulation of cell division and expansion. The organization of the cellulose microfibrils in the cell wall is a key determinant of cell expansion. Previously, a dwarf mutant with fewer tillers, Osbc1l4 (Oryza sativa brittle culm 1 like 4), was identified by screening a rice T-DNA insertion mutant library. It is reported here that OsBC1L4 encodes a COBRA-like protein that exhibits typical structural features of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor protein. The T-DNA insertion in OsBC1L4 results in abnormal cell expansion. A decrease in cellulose content but the increase in pectin and starch contents was identified in Osbc1l4 mutants by measuring the content of wall components. OsBC1L4 was expressed in all tissues/organs examined, with a low level in leaves. OsBC1L4 protein is mainly located in the cell wall and plasma membrane. Correlation analysis indicated that the expression of OsBC1L4 was highly correlated to that of several primary wall-forming cellulose synthase genes (CESAs). Moreover, the expression level of several cellulose-related genes is increased in Osbc1l4 mutants, which suggests that a feedback mechanism may exist during cellulose synthesis.

Antisense inhibition of the iron-sulphur subunit of succinate dehydrogenase enhances photosynthesis and growth in tomato via an organic acid-mediated effect on stomatal aperture

Transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants expressing a fragment of the Sl SDH2-2 gene encoding the iron sulfur subunit of the succinate dehydrogenase protein complex in the antisense orientation under the control of the 35S promoter exhibit an enhanced rate of photosynthesis. The rate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was reduced in these transformants, and there were changes in the levels of metabolites associated with the TCA cycle. Furthermore, in comparison to wild-type plants, carbon dioxide assimilation was enhanced by up to 25% in the transgenic plants under ambient conditions, and mature plants were characterized by an increased biomass. Analysis of additional photosynthetic parameters revealed that the rate of transpiration and stomatal conductance were markedly elevated in the transgenic plants. The transformants displayed a strongly enhanced assimilation rate under both ambient and suboptimal environmental conditions, as well as an elevated maximal stomatal aperture. By contrast, when the Sl SDH2-2 gene was repressed by antisense RNA in a guard cell-specific manner, changes in neither stomatal aperture nor photosynthesis were observed. The data obtained are discussed in the context of the role of TCA cycle intermediates both generally with respect to photosynthetic metabolism and specifically with respect to their role in the regulation of stomatal aperture.