Protein import into chloroplasts: an ever-evolving storyThis review is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Plant Cell Biology.

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Smith

Chloroplasts are but one type of a diverse group of essential organelles that distinguish plant cells and house many critical biochemical pathways, including photosynthesis. The biogenesis of plastids is essential to plant growth and development and relies on the targeting and import of thousands of nuclear-encoded proteins from the cytoplasm. The import of the vast majority of these proteins is dependent on translocons located in the outer and inner envelope membranes of the chloroplast, termed the Toc and Tic complexes, respectively. The core components of the Toc and Tic complexes have been identified within the last 12 years; however, the precise functions of many components are still being elucidated, and new components are still being identified. In Arabidopsis thaliana (and other species), many of the components are encoded by more than one gene, and it appears that the isoforms differentially associate with structurally distinct import complexes. Furthermore, it appears that these complexes represent functionally distinct targeting pathways, and the regulation of import by these separate pathways may play a role in the differentiation and specific functions of distinct plastid types during plant growth and development. This review summarizes these recent discoveries and emphasizes the mechanisms of differential Toc complex assembly and substrate recognition.

Author(s):  
Raegan T Larson ◽  
Heather E McFarlane

Abstract Cellulose is one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. It provides mechanical support to growing plant cells and important raw materials for paper, textiles, and biofuel feedstocks. Cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors (CBIs) are invaluable tools for studying cellulose biosynthesis and can be important herbicides for controlling weed growth. Here, we review CBIs with particular focus on the most widely used CBIs and recently discovered CBIs. We discuss the effects of these CBIs on plant growth and development and plant cell biology, and summarize what is known about the mode of action of these different CBIs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Larsen

Ethylene is the simplest unsaturated hydrocarbon, yet it has profound effects on plant growth and development, including many agriculturally important phenomena. Analysis of the mechanisms underlying ethylene biosynthesis and signalling have resulted in the elucidation of multistep mechanisms which at first glance appear simple, but in fact represent several levels of control to tightly regulate the level of production and response. Ethylene biosynthesis represents a two-step process that is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels, thus enabling plants to control the amount of ethylene produced with regard to promotion of responses such as climacteric flower senescence and fruit ripening. Ethylene production subsequently results in activation of the ethylene response, as ethylene accumulation will trigger the ethylene signalling pathway to activate ethylene-dependent transcription for promotion of the response and for resetting the pathway. A more detailed knowledge of the mechanisms underlying biosynthesis and the ethylene response will ultimately enable new approaches to be developed for control of the initiation and progression of ethylene-dependent developmental processes, many of which are of horticultural significance.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 508e-508
Author(s):  
Bin Liu ◽  
Royal D. Heins

A concept of ratio of radiant to thermal energy (RRT) has been developed to deal with the interactive effect of light and temperature on plant growth and development. This study further confirms that RRT is a useful parameter for plant growth, development, and quality control. Based on greenhouse experiments conducted with 27 treatment combinations of temperature, light, and plant spacing, a model for poinsettia plant growth and development was constructed using the computer program STELLA II. Results from the model simulation with different levels of daily light integral, temperature, and plant spacing showed that the RRT significantly affects leaf unfolding rate when RRT is lower than 0.025 mol/degree-day per plant. Plant dry weight is highly correlated with RRT; it increases linearly as RRT increases.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1311
Author(s):  
Magdalena Chmur ◽  
Andrzej Bajguz

Brassinolide (BL) represents brassinosteroids (BRs)—a group of phytohormones that are essential for plant growth and development. Brassinazole (Brz) is as a synthetic inhibitor of BRs’ biosynthesis. In the present study, the responses of Wolffia arrhiza to the treatment with BL, Brz, and the combination of BL with Brz were analyzed. The analysis of BRs and Brz was performed using LC-MS/MS. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenes, and xanthophylls) levels were determined using HPLC, but protein and monosaccharides level using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results indicated that BL and Brz influence W. arrhiza cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. The most stimulatory effects on the growth, level of BRs (BL, 24-epibrassinolide, 28-homobrassinolide, 28-norbrassinolide, catasterone, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, typhasterol, and 6-deoxytyphasterol), and the content of pigments, protein, and monosaccharides, were observed in plants treated with 0.1 µM BL. Whereas the application of 1 µM and 10 µM Brz caused a significant decrease in duckweed weight and level of targeted compounds. Application of BL caused the mitigation of the Brz inhibitory effect and enhanced the BR level in duckweed treated with Brz. The level of BRs was reported for the first time in duckweed treated with BL and/or Brz.


Author(s):  
Yuki Nakamura ◽  
Anh H. Ngo

The article Non-specific phospholipase C (NPC): an emerging class of phospholipase C in plant growth and development, was originally published Online First without Open Access.


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