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In the September Issue of Trends in Plant Science

The cell biology of tetrapyrroles: a life and death struggle Tetrapyrroles such as chlorophyll and heme are co-factors for essential proteins involved in a wide variety of crucial cellular functions. Nearly 2% of the proteins encoded by the Arabidopsis thaliana genome are thought to bind tetrapyrroles, demonstrating their central role in plant metabolism. Although the enzymes required for tetrapyrrole biosynthesis are well characterized, there are still major questions about the regulation of the pathway, and the transport of tetrapyrroles within cells. Matthew J. Terry and colleagues discuss the cell biology of tetrapyrrole metabolism and its implications for tetrapyrroles as signaling molecules.

Genetic perspectives on crop domestication The process of crop domestication has long been a topic of active research not only for many fields of plant biology but across several other disciplines such as archaeology and anthropology. Genetic data have proved a powerful resource for drawing inferences on questions regarding the geographical origins of crops, the numbers of independent domestication events for a given crop species, the specific molecular changes underlying domestication traits, and the nature of artificial selection during domestication and subsequent crop improvement. Briana L. Gross and Kenneth M. Olsen argue that these genetic inferences are fundamentally compatible with recent archaeological data that support a view of domestication as a geographically diffuse, gradual process. The authors also discuss the future of plant domestication genetics in an era of readily accessible genomic data for non-model plant species.

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In the October Issue of Trends in Plant Science

Transport barriers made of cutin, suberin and associated waxes Cutinized leaf epidermal cells and suberized root cell walls form important lipophilic interfaces between the plant and its environment, significantly contributing to the regulation of water uptake and the transport of solutes in and out of the plant. A wealth of new molecular information on the genes and enzymes contributing to cutin, suberin and wax biosynthesis have become available within the past few years, which is examined by Lukas Schreiber in the context of the functional properties of these barriers in terms of transport and permeability.

Genomic insights into photosynthesis in eukaryotic phytoplankton The evolution of photosynthesis completely altered the biogeochemistry of our planet and permitted the evolution of more complex multicellular organisms. Terrestrial photosynthesis is carried out largely by green algae and their descendents, the higher plants, whereas in the ocean the most abundant photosynthetic eukaryotes are microscopic and have red algal affiliations. Chris Bowler and colleagues discuss the marine microbes, a highly successful and diverse group of organisms collectively known as phytoplankton, and review how insights from whole genome analyses have improved our understanding of the novel innovations employed by them to maximize photosynthetic efficiency in variable light environments.

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Most Read Articles Article Feed

These are the five most downloaded papers for the 30 days preceding September 9, 2010. See full list of most read articles

ABA perception and signalling

Agepati S. Raghavendra, Vijay K. Gonugunta, Alexander Christmann, Erwin Grill
10.1016/j.tplants.2010.04.006

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ROS signalling – specificity is required

Ian M. Møller, Lee J. Sweetlove
10.1016/j.tplants.2010.04.008

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Biosynthesis of glucosinolates – gene discovery and beyond

Ida E. Sønderby, Fernando Geu-Flores, Barbara A. Halkier
10.1016/j.tplants.2010.02.005

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The plant N-end rule pathway: structure and functions

Emmanuelle Graciet, Frank Wellmer
10.1016/j.tplants.2010.04.011

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WRKY transcription factors

Paul J. Rushton, Imre E. Somssich, Patricia Ringler, Qingxi J. Shen
10.1016/j.tplants.2010.02.006

Summary | | | Supplemental Data