Orchestration of phosphate homeostasis by the ITPK1-type inositol phosphate kinase in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.

Land plants have evolved sophisticated sensing mechanisms and signalling pathways to adapt to phosphate-limited environments. While molecular players contributing to these adaptations in flowering plants have been described, how non-vascular bryophytes regulate phosphate (Pi) homeostasis remained largely unknown. In this study, we present findings that both male and female plants of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha respond to altered phosphate availability through substantial developmental changes.

ITPK1 Regulates Jasmonate-Controlled Root Development in .

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a plant hormone that regulates a plethora of physiological processes including immunity and development and is perceived by the F-Box protein, Coronatine-insensitive protein 1 (COI1). The discovery of inositol phosphates (InsPs) in the COI1 receptor complex highlights their role in JAperception. InsPs are phosphate-rich signaling molecules that control many aspects of plant physiology.

INOSITOL (1,3,4) TRIPHOSPHATE 5/6 KINASE1-dependent inositol polyphosphates regulate auxin responses in Arabidopsis.

The combinatorial phosphorylation of myo-inositol results in the generation of different inositol phosphates (InsPs), of which phytic acid (InsP6) is the most abundant species in eukaryotes. InsP6 is also an important precursor of the higher phosphorylated inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs), such as InsP7 and InsP8, which are characterized by a diphosphate moiety and are also ubiquitously found in eukaryotic cells. While PP-InsPs regulate various cellular processes in animals and yeast, their biosynthesis and functions in plants has remained largely elusive because plant genomes do not encode canonical InsP6 kinases.

Regulation of plant biotic interactions and abiotic stress responses by inositol polyphosphates.

Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs), derivatives of inositol hexakisphosphate (phytic acid, InsP) or lower inositol polyphosphates, are energy-rich signaling molecules that have critical regulatory functions in eukaryotes. In plants, the biosynthesis and the cellular targets of these messengers are not fully understood. This is because, in part, plants do not possess canonical InsP kinases and are able to synthesize PP-InsP isomers that appear to be absent in yeast or mammalian cells.

Identification and functional characterization of mRNAs that exhibit stop codon readthrough in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Stop codon readthrough (SCR) is the process of continuation of translation beyond the stop codon, generating protein isoforms with C-terminal extensions. SCR has been observed in viruses, fungi, and multicellular organisms, including mammals. However, SCR is largely unexplored in plants.