Potassium extrusion by plant cells: evolution from an emergency valve to a driver of long-distance transport.

The ability to accumulate nutrients is a hallmark for living creatures and plants evolved highly effective nutrient transport systems, especially for the uptake of potassium (K). However, plants also developed mechanisms that enable the rapid extrusion of K in combination with anions. The combined release of K and anions is probably an ancient extrusion system, as it is found in the Characeae that are closely related to land plants.

Natural genetic variation underlying the negative effect of elevated CO on ionome composition in .

The elevation of atmospheric CO leads to a decline in plant mineral content, which might pose a significant threat to food security in coming decades. Although few genes have been identified for the negative effect of elevated CO on plant mineral composition, several studies suggest the existence of genetic factors. Here, we performed a large-scale study to explore genetic diversity of plant ionome responses to elevated CO, using six hundred accessions, representing geographical distributions ranging from worldwide to regional and local environments.

Characterization of the signalling pathways involved in the repression of root nitrate uptake by nitrate in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, root high-affinity nitrate (NO3-) uptake depends mainly on NRT2.1, 2.4, and 2.

Loss of Polycomb proteins CLF and LHP1 leads to excessive RNA degradation in Arabidopsis.

Polycomb-group (PcG) proteins are major chromatin complexes that regulate gene expression, mainly described as repressors keeping genes in a transcriptionally silent state during development. Recent studies have nonetheless suggested that PcG proteins might have additional functions, including targeting active genes or acting independently of gene expression regulation. However, the reasons for the implication of PcG proteins and their associated chromatin marks on active genes are still largely unknown.