Functional analysis of the BEige and Chediak-Higashi domain gene Mp in .

BEige and Chediak-Higashi domain containing proteins (BDCPs) have been described to function in membrane-dependent processes in eukaryotes. This role was also observed for the BDCP SPIRRIG (SPI) in the model plant in the context of cell morphogenesis. Additionally, was found to control salt stress resistance by mediating mRNA stability and salt stress-dependent processing body formation.

Heat Stress-Dependent Association of Membrane Trafficking Proteins With mRNPs Is Selective.

The Arabidopsis AAA ATPase SKD1 is essential for ESCRT-dependent endosomal sorting by mediating the disassembly of the ESCRTIII complex in an ATP-dependent manner. In this study, we show that SKD1 localizes to messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes upon heat stress. Consistent with this, the interactome of SKD1 revealed differential interactions under normal and stress conditions and included membrane transport proteins as well as proteins associated with RNA metabolism.

Unravelling the molecular basis of the dominant negative effect of myosin XI tails on P-bodies.

The directional movement and positioning of organelles and macromolecules is essential for regulating and maintaining cellular functions in eukaryotic cells. In plants, these processes are actin-based and driven by class XI myosins, which transport various cargos in a directed manner. As the analysis of myosin function is challenging due to high levels of redundancy, dominant negative acting truncated myosins have frequently been used to study intracellular transport processes.

A Comprehensive Toolkit for Quick and Easy Visualization of Marker Proteins, Protein-Protein Interactions and Cell Morphology in .

Even though stable genomic transformation of sporelings and thalli of is straightforward and efficient, numerous problems can arise during critical phases of the process such as efficient spore production, poor selection capacity of antibiotics or low transformation efficiency. It is therefore also desirable to establish quick methods not relying on stable transgenics to analyze the localization, interactions and functions of proteins of interest. The introduction of foreign DNA into living cells via biolistic mechanisms has been first reported roughly 30 years ago and has been commonly exploited in established plant model species such as or .

Neighboring plants divergently modulate effects of loss-of-function in maize mycorrhizal phosphate uptake on host physiology and root fungal microbiota.

Maize, a main crop worldwide, establishes a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi providing nutrients to the roots from soil volumes which are normally not in reach of the non-colonized root. The mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway (MPU) spans from extraradical hyphae to root cortex cells housing fungal arbuscules and promotes the supply of phosphate to the mycorrhizal host in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. This symbiotic association with the mycobiont has been shown to affect plant host nutritional status and growth performance.

Mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway in maize: vital for growth and cob development on nutrient poor agricultural and greenhouse soils.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providing predominantly phosphorus in the form of orthophosphate (Pi) in exchange for plant carbohydrates on low P soils. The goal of this work was to generate molecular-genetic evidence in support of a major impact of the mycorrhizal Pi uptake (MPU) pathway on the productivity of the major crop plant maize under field and controlled conditions. Here we show, that a loss-of-function mutation in the mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter gene Pht1;6 correlates with a dramatic reduction of above-ground biomass and cob production in agro-ecosystems with low P soils.