Cytokinins regulate spatially specific ethylene production to control root growth in Arabidopsis.

Two principal growth regulators, cytokinins and ethylene, are known to interact in the regulation of plant growth. However, information about the underlying molecular mechanism and positional specificity of cytokinin/ethylene crosstalk in the control of root growth is scarce. We have identified the spatial specificity of cytokinin-regulated root elongation and root apical meristem (RAM) size, both of which we demonstrate to be dependent on ethylene biosynthesis.

Exploring the Binding Affinity of the ARR2 GARP DNA Binding Domain via Comparative Methods.

Plants have evolved signaling mechanisms such as the multi-step phosphorelay (MSP) to respond to different internal and external stimuli. MSP responses often result in gene transcription regulation that is modulated through transcription factors such as B-type Arabidopsis response regulator (ARR) proteins. Among these proteins, ARR2 is a key component that is expressed ubiquitously and is involved in many aspects of plant development.

Target Identification and Mechanism of Action of Picolinamide and Benzamide Chemotypes with Antifungal Properties.

Invasive fungal infections are accompanied by high mortality rates that range up to 90%. At present, only three different compound classes are available for use in the clinic, and these often suffer from low bioavailability, toxicity, and drug resistance. These issues emphasize an urgent need for novel antifungal agents.

Regulation of genes involved in nitrogen utilization on different C/N ratios and nitrogen sources in the model ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum.

Nitrogen (N) utilization by ectomycorrhizal fungi is an essential aspect of their ecosystem function. N deposition changes both the N pools and the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the substrates where ectomycorrhizal fungi are found, and it is important to understand how these changes affect the N forms used by ectomycorrhizal fungi. To overcome the difficulties of studying ectomycorrhizal fungi in situ, we investigated all known N genes in the model fungus, Hebeloma cylindrosporum in a culture study.

PtAAP11, a high affinity amino acid transporter specifically expressed in differentiating xylem cells of poplar.

Amino acids are the currency of nitrogen exchange between source and sink tissues in plants and constitute a major source of the components used for cellular growth and differentiation. The characterization of a new amino acid transporter belonging to the amino acid permease (AAP) family, AAP11, expressed in the perennial species Populus trichocarpa is reported here. PtAAP11 expression analysis was performed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and GUS activity after poplar transformation.

Characterization of an amino acid permease from the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are capable of exploiting organic nitrogen sources, but the molecular mechanisms that control such an uptake are still unknown. Polymerase chain reaction-based approaches, bioinformatic tools, and a heterologous expression system have been used to characterize a sequence coding for an amino acid permease (GmosAAP1) from the AM fungus Glomus mosseae. The GmosAAP1 shows primary and secondary structures that are similar to those of other fungal amino acid permeases.

Characterization and regulation of PiDur3, a permease involved in the acquisition of urea by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus.

Urea, which is known to be a source of nitrogen for the growth of many organisms, represents an important fertilizer in forest soils. Since most trees form symbiotic associations with ectomycorrhizal fungi, the capacities of these symbionts to take up and assimilate urea would determine the efficiency of urea nitrogen salvaging by plants. We showed that Paxillusinvolutus, an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete, is capable of using urea as sole nitrogen source.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza: studies on the geosiphon symbiosis lead to the characterization of the first glomeromycotan sugar transporter.

The intimate arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) association between roots and obligate symbiotic Glomeromycota ('AM fungi') 'feeds' about 80% of land plants. AM forming fungi supply land plants with inorganic nutrients and have an enormous impact on terrestrial ecosystems. In return, AM fungi obtain up to 20% of the plant-fixed CO(2), putatively as monosaccharides.

Characterization of a carbohydrate transporter from symbiotic glomeromycotan fungi.

The symbiotic relationships between mycorrhizal fungi and plants have an enormous impact on terrestrial ecosystems. Most common are the arbuscular mycorrhizas, formed by fungi belonging to the phylum Glomeromycota. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi facilitate the uptake of soil nutrients by plants and in exchange obtain carbohydrates, thus representing a large sink for atmospheric plant-fixed CO(2).

Nitrogen transport in the ectomycorrhiza association: the Hebeloma cylindrosporum-Pinus pinaster model.

The function of the ectomycorrhizal mutualism depends on the ability of the fungal symbionts to take up nutrients (particularly nitrogen) available in inorganic and/or organic form in the soil and to translocate them (or their metabolites) to the symbiotic roots. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying nutrient exchanges between fungus and plant at the symbiotic interface is necessary to fully understand the function of the mycorrhizal symbioses. The present review reports the characterization of several genes putatively involved in nitrogen uptake and transfer in the Hebeloma cylindrosporum-Pinus pinaster ectomycorrhizal association.