Overexpression of the plastidial pseudo-protease AtFtsHi3 enhances drought tolerance while sustaining plant growth.

With climate change, droughts are expected to be more frequent and severe, severely impacting plant biomass and quality. Here, we show that overexpressing the Arabidopsis gene AtFtsHi3 (FtsHi3OE) enhances drought-tolerant phenotypes without compromising plant growth. AtFtsHi3 encodes a chloroplast envelope pseudo-protease; knock-down mutants (ftshi3-1) are found to be drought tolerant but exhibit stunted growth.

Genome-Wide Identification of Malectin/Malectin-Like Domain-Containing Proteins and Expression Analyses Reveal Novel Candidates for Signaling and Regulation of Wood Development.

Malectin domain (MD) is a ligand-binding protein motif of pro- and eukaryotes. It is particularly abundant in Viridiplantae, where it occurs as either a single (MD, PF11721) or tandemly duplicated domain (PF12819) called malectin-like domain (MLD). In herbaceous plants, MD- or MLD-containing proteins (MD proteins) are known to regulate development, reproduction, and resistance to various stresses.

Arabidopsis and Contribute to Wood Cell Expansion and Secondary Wall Formation.

Xyloglucan is the major hemicellulose of dicotyledon primary cell walls, affecting the load-bearing framework with the participation of xyloglucan -transglycosylase/hydrolases (XTHs). We used loss- and gain-of function approaches to study functions of and abundantly expressed in cambial regions during secondary growth of Arabidopsis (). In secondarily thickened hypocotyls, these enzymes had positive effects on vessel element expansion and fiber intrusive growth.

The interaction between glucose and cytokinin signaling in controlling Arabidopsis thaliana seedling root growth and development.

Cytokinin (CK) and glucose (GLC) control several common responses in plants. There is an extensive overlap between CK and GLC signal transduction pathways in Arabidopsis. Physiologically, both GLC and CK could regulate root length in light.

Defense Responses in Aspen with Altered Pectin Methylesterase Activity Reveal the Hormonal Inducers of Tyloses.

Tyloses are ingrowths of parenchyma cells into the lumen of embolized xylem vessels, thereby protecting the remaining xylem from pathogens. They are found in heartwood, sapwood, and in abscission zones and can be induced by various stresses, but their molecular triggers are unknown. Here, we report that down-regulation of PECTIN METHYLESTERASE1 (PtxtPME1) in aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) triggers the formation of tyloses and activation of oxidative stress.

The interaction between glucose and cytokinin signal transduction pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cytokinins (CKs) and glucose (GLC) control a number of common responses in plants. We hypothesize that there may be an extensive overlap between CK- and GLC-signalling pathways. Microarray along with physiological analysis has been performed to find out the interdependence/overlap between CK and GLC signal transduction pathways in Arabidopsis seedlings.

Cytokinin-induced root growth involves actin filament reorganization.

Root architecture is developmentally plastic and affected by many intrinsic factors (e.g. plant hormones) and extrinsic factors (e.

Cytokinin interplay with ethylene, auxin, and glucose signaling controls Arabidopsis seedling root directional growth.

Optimal root architecture is established by multiple intrinsic (e.g. hormones) and extrinsic (e.

Role of glucose in spatial distribution of auxin regulated genes.

Plants have the ability to adjust its physiology and metabolism to the changes of nutrient availability in the environment. Since a number of common responses are regulated by sugar and auxin, the obvious question arises is whether sugar and auxin act interdependently to bring about changes in plant morphology. In the February issue of the PLoS ONE, we presented detailed investigation of glucose and auxin signaling interaction in controlling root growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.