Molecular Genetic Tools and Techniques for Marchantia polymorpha Research
Liverworts occupy a basal position in the evolution of land plants, and are a key group to address a wide variety of questions in plant biology. Marchantia polymorpha is a common, easily cultivated, dioecious liverwort species, and is emerging as an experimental model organism. The haploid gametophytic generation dominates the diploid sporophytic generation in its life cycle. Genetically homogeneous lines in the gametophyte generation can be established easily and propagated through asexual reproduction, which aids genetic and biochemical experiments. Owing to its dioecy, male and female sexual organs are formed in separat...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - February 23, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Ishizaki, K., Nishihama, R., Yamato, K. T., Kohchi, T. Tags: Special Focus Issue - Mini Reviews Source Type: research
The Naming of Names: Guidelines for Gene Nomenclature in Marchantia
While Marchantia polymorpha has been utilized as a model system to investigate fundamental biological questions for over almost two centuries, there is renewed interest in M. polymorpha as a model genetic organism in the genomics era. Here we outline community guidelines for M. polymorpha gene and transgene nomenclature, and we anticipate that these guidelines will promote consistency and reduce both redundancy and confusion in the scientific literature. (Source: Plant and Cell Physiology)
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - February 23, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Bowman, J. L., Araki, T., Arteaga-Vazquez, M. A., Berger, F., Dolan, L., Haseloff, J., Ishizaki, K., Kyozuka, J., Lin, S.-S., Nagasaki, H., Nakagami, H., Nakajima, K., Nakamura, Y., Ohashi-Ito, K., Sawa, S., Shimamura, M., Solano, R., Tsukaya, H., Ueda, T Tags: Special Focus Issue - Mini Reviews Source Type: research
Marchantia polymorpha: Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Morphology of a Model System
One of the classical research plants in plant biology, Marchantia polymorpha, is drawing attention as a new model system. Its ease of genetic transformation and a genome sequencing project have attracted attention to the species. Here I present a thorough assessment of the taxonomic status, anatomy and developmental morphology of each organ and tissue of the gametophyte and sporophyte on the basis of a thorough review of the literature and my own observations. Marchantia polymorpha has been a subject of intensive study for nearly 200 years, and the information summarized here offers an invaluable resource for future studie...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - February 23, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Shimamura, M. Tags: Special Focus Issue - Reviews Source Type: research
A Brief History of Marchantia from Greece to Genomics
While written accounts of plants date back thousands of years, due to the degradation of scientific literature during the dark ages descriptions descended from Greek writings are sometimes equivocal as to species identity. Such is the case with Marchantia in the pre-Renaissance literature; however, indisputable illustrations of Marchantia polymorpha were made as early as the mid-15th century, beginning a rich historical literature on its taxonomy, development and physiology. In this review, I present three vignettes, each of which are themselves abbreviated due to space constraints. The first presents the role of Marchanti...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - February 23, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Bowman, J. L. Tags: Special Focus Issue - Reviews Source Type: research
Marchantia: Past, Present and Future
(Source: Plant and Cell Physiology)
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - February 23, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Bowman, J. L., Araki, T., Kohchi, T. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Modulation of the Phosphate-Deficient Responses by MicroRNA156 and its Targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 in Arabidopsis
The microRNA156 (miR156)-modulated SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) is involved in diverse biological processes that include growth, development and metabolism. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis miR156 and SPL3 as regulators play important roles in phosphate (Pi) deficiency response. MiR156 was induced during Pi starvation whereas SPL3 expression was repressed. Phenotypes of reduced rhizosphere acidification and decreased anthocyanin accumulation were observed in 35S:MIM156 (via target mimicry) transgenic plants under Pi deficiency. The content and uptake of Pi in 35S:MIM156 Arabidopsis plants were increased...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Lei, K.-J., Lin, Y.-M., Ren, J., Bai, L., Miao, Y.-C., An, G.-Y., Song, C.-P. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
The DEAD-Box RNA Helicase AtRH7/PRH75 Participates in Pre-rRNA Processing, Plant Development and Cold Tolerance in Arabidopsis
This study investigated a DEAD-box RNA helicase, AtRH7/PRH75, in Arabidopsis. Expression of AtRH7/PRH75 was ubiquitous; however, the levels of mRNA accumulation were increased in cell division regions and were induced by cold stress. The phenotypes of two allelic AtRH7/PRH75-knockout mutants, atrh7-2 and atrh7-3, resembled auxin-related developmental defects that were exhibited in several ribosomal protein mutants, and were more severe under cold stress. Northern blot and circular reverse transcription–PCR (RT–PCR) analyses indicated that unprocessed 18S pre-rRNAs accumulated in the atrh7 mutants. The atrh7 mut...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Huang, C.-K., Shen, Y.-L., Huang, L.-F., Wu, S.-J., Yeh, C.-H., Lu, C.-A. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Conditioning of Roots with Hypoxia Increases Aluminum and Acid Stress Tolerance by Mitigating Activation of K+ Efflux Channels by ROS in Barley: Insights into Cross-Tolerance Mechanisms
Aluminum (Al) is prevalent in soils, but Al toxicity is manifested only under acid conditions. It causes severe damages to the root system. Short-term waterlogging stress can occur simultaneously with Al toxicity in areas with high rainfall or an inappropriate irrigation pattern. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most Al-sensitive small-grained cereals. In this work, we have investigated effects of short-term treatments with hypoxia and phenolic acid (two major constraints in waterlogged soils) on root sensitivity to low-pH and Al stresses. We showed that hypoxia-primed roots maintained higher cell viability when e...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Ma, Y., Zhu, M., Shabala, L., Zhou, M., Shabala, S. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Reconstitution of an Initial Step of Phototropin Signaling in Stomatal Guard Cells
Phototropins are light-activated receptor kinases that mediate a wide range of blue light responses responsible for the optimization of photosynthesis. Despite the physiological importance of phototropins, it is still unclear how they transduce light signals into physiological responses. Here, we succeeded in reproducing a primary step of phototropin signaling in vitro using a physiological substrate of phototropin, the BLUS1 (BLUE LIGHT SIGNALING1) kinase of guard cells. When PHOT1 and BLUS1 were expressed in Escherichia coli and the resulting recombinant proteins were incubated with ATP, white and blue light induced phos...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Takemiya, A., Doi, A., Yoshida, S., Okajima, K., Tokutomi, S., Shimazaki, K.-i. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Differential Contribution of Endoplasmic Reticulum and Chloroplast {omega}-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase Genes to the Linolenic Acid Content of Olive (Olea europaea) Fruit
Linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid present in plant lipids, which plays key roles in plant metabolism as a structural component of storage and membrane lipids, and as a precursor of signaling molecules. The synthesis of linolenic acid is catalyzed by two different -3 fatty acid desaturases, which correspond to microsomal- (FAD3) and chloroplast- (FAD7 and FAD8) localized enzymes. We have investigated the specific contribution of each enzyme to the linolenic acid content in olive fruit. With that aim, we isolated two different cDNA clones encoding two -3 fatty acid desaturases from olive (Olea europaea cv. Picua...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Hernandez, M. L., Sicardo, M. D., Martinez-Rivas, J. M. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Deep Sequencing of the Fruit Transcriptome and Lipid Accumulation in a Non-Seed Tissue of Chinese Tallow, a Potential Biofuel Crop
In this study we show that tallow is in fact a non-seed cellular tissue capable of triglyceride synthesis. Knowledge of lipid synthesis and storage mechanisms in tissues other than seed is limited but essential to generate oil-rich biomass crops. Here, we describe the annotated transcriptome assembly generated from the fruit coat, tallow and seed tissues of Chinese tallow. The final assembly was functionally annotated, allowing for the identification of candidate genes and reconstruction of lipid pathways. A tallow tissue-specific paralog for the transcription factor gene WRINKLED1 (WRI1) and lipid droplet-associated prote...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Divi, U. K., Zhou, X.-R., Wang, P., Butlin, J., Zhang, D.-M., Liu, Q., Vanhercke, T., Petrie, J. R., Talbot, M., White, R. G., Taylor, J. M., Larkin, P., Singh, S. P. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Differential Expression of Genes of the Calvin-Benson Cycle and its Related Genes During Leaf Development in Rice
To understand how the machinery for photosynthetic carbon assimilation is formed and maintained during leaf development, changes in the mRNA levels of the Calvin–Benson cycle enzymes, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase and two key enzymes for sucrose synthesis were determined in rice (Oryza sativa L.). According to the patterns of changes in the mRNA levels, these genes were categorized into three groups. Group 1 included most of the genes involved in the carboxylation and reduction phases of the Calvin–Benson cycle, as well as three genes in the regeneration phase. The mRNA leve...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Yamaoka, C., Suzuki, Y., Makino, A. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Analysis of the Fine-Tuning of Cyanobacterial Circadian Phase by Monochromatic Light and Long-Day Conditions
The cyanobacterial circadian-related protein, Pex, accumulates in the dark period of the diurnal light–dark cycle. After the diurnal cycle, an approximately 3 h advance in the phase of the circadian bioluminescence rhythm is observed in pex-deficient mutants, as compared with the wild type. However, it is unclear what type of photosensing mechanism regulates the accumulation and the phase change. In monochromatic light irradiation experiments, Pex accumulation was strongly repressed under blue light conditions; however, only small reductions in Pex accumulation were observed under red or green light conditions. After...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Kobayashi, T., Obana, Y., Kuboi, N., Kitayama, Y., Hayashi, S., Oka, M., Wada, N., Arita, K., Shimizu, T., Sato, M., Kanaly, R. A., Kutsuna, S. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Photosystem II Assembly Steps Take Place in the Thylakoid Membrane of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
Thylakoid biogenesis is an intricate process requiring accurate and timely assembly of proteins, pigments and other cofactors into functional, photosynthetically competent membranes. PSII assembly is studied in particular as its core protein, D1, is very susceptible to photodamage and has a high turnover rate, particularly in high light. PSII assembly is a modular process, with assembly steps proceeding in a specific order. Using aqueous two-phase partitioning to separate plasma membranes (PM) and thylakoid membranes (TM), we studied the subcellular localization of the early assembly steps for PSII biogenesis in a Synechoc...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Selao, T. T., Zhang, L., Knoppova, J., Komenda, J., Norling, B. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Identification of the Elusive Pyruvate Reductase of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Chloroplasts
Under anoxic conditions the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii activates various fermentation pathways leading to the creation of formate, acetate, ethanol and small amounts of other metabolites including d-lactate and hydrogen. Progress has been made in identifying the enzymes involved in these pathways and their subcellular locations; however, the identity of the enzyme involved in reducing pyruvate to d-lactate has remained unclear. Based on sequence comparisons, enzyme activity measurements, X-ray crystallography, biochemical fractionation and analysis of knock-down mutants, we conclude that pyruvate reduction in the...
Source: Plant and Cell Physiology - January 21, 2016 Category: Cytology Authors: Burgess, S. J., Taha, H., Yeoman, J. A., Iamshanova, O., Chan, K. X., Boehm, M., Behrends, V., Bundy, J. G., Bialek, W., Murray, J. W., Nixon, P. J. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
