Organelle Interactions in Plant Cells.

The sequestration of enzymes and associated processes into sub-cellular domains, called organelles, is considered a defining feature of eukaryotic cells. However, what leads to specific outcomes and allows a eukaryotic cell to function singularly is the interactivity and exchanges between discrete organelles. Our ability to observe and assess sub-cellular interactions in living plant cells has expanded greatly following the creation of fluorescent fusion proteins targeted to different organelles.

Proximity driven plastid-nucleus relationships are facilitated by tandem plastid-ER dynamics.

Peri-nuclear clustering (PNC) of chloroplasts has largely been described in senescent and pathogen- or reactive oxygen species-stressed cells. Stromules, tubular plastid extensions, are also observed under similar conditions. Coincident observations of PNC and stromules associate the two phenomena in facilitating retrograde signaling between chloroplasts and the nucleus.

Effects of Immersion on Knowledge Gain and Cognitive Load in Additive Manufacturing Process Education.

Although the additive manufacturing (AM) market continues to grow, industries face barriers to AM adoption due to a shortage of skilled designers in the workforce that can apply AM effectively to meet this demand. This shortage is attributed to the high cost and infrastructural requirements of introducing high- barrier-to-entry AM processes such as powder bed fusion (PBF) into in-person learning environments. To meet the demands for a skilled AM workforce, it is important to explore other mediums of AM education, such as computer-aided instruction (CAI) and virtual reality (VR), which can increase access to hands-on learning experiences for inaccessible AM processes.

Using ER-Targeted Photoconvertible Fluorescent Proteins in Living Plant Cells.

Photoconvertible fluorescent proteins (pcFPs) enable differential coloring of a single organelle. Several pcFP-based probes have been targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and can serve as useful tools to study ER dynamics and interactions with other organelles. Here, we describe the procedure to conduct live-cell imaging experiments using ER-targeted pcFP-based probes.