Plant biology

From the Journals: MCP

Protein acetylation helps plants adapt to light. Mapping protein locations in 3D tissues. Demystifying the glycan–protein interactome. Read about these recent papers.

From lab to land: Crop modifications are fortifying our food supply against climate change

Scientists explore genetic and biochemical innovations fueling future-proofing agriculture

Modern plant enzyme partners with surprisingly ancient protein

A recent study reveals that a protein responsible for building a key component of modern plant cell walls first emerged in ancient species.

Harnessing a natural plant insecticide for commercial use

Researchers in Australia have identified circular peptides, called cyclotides, that affect the formation of cell membranes, causing death or restricted growth.

Simple trick could improve accuracy of plant genetics research

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a technique used to study gene activity in other organisms can also be used to make studies in plants more accurate.

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors

Rice feeds the world. But researchers have found that a look-alike weed has many ways of getting ahead.

‘Inert’ ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought

Pesticide users sometimes know very little about how inerts function. That’s partly because they are regulated very differently than active ingredients.

Vampire viruses prey on other viruses to replicate themselves

And they may hold the key to new antiviral therapies.

You say genome editing, I say natural mutation

A Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory plant geneticist and computational biologist teamed up to decipher the unpredictability of natural and engineered mutations in tomatoes.