Nancy A. Eckardt

Biochemical and molecular basis for impairment of photosynthetic potential

Ozone induces reductions in net photosynthesis in a large number of plant species. A primary mechanism by which photosynthesis is reduced is through impact on carbon dioxide fixation. Ozone induces loss in Rubisco activity associated with loss in concentration of the protein. Evidence is presented that ozone may induce oxidative modification of Rubisco leading to subsequent proteolysis. In addition, plants exposed to ozone sustain reduction in rbcS, the mRNA for the small subunit of Rubisco. This loss in rbcS mRNA may lead to a reduced potential for synthesis of the protein. The regulation of O3-induced loss of Rubisco, and implications of the decline in this protein in relation to accelerated senescence are discussed.

Foolish Seedlings and DELLA Regulators: The Functions of Rice SLR1 and Arabidopsis RGL1 in GA Signal Transduction

As every student of plant biology learns, gibberellin (GA) was first isolated in Japan in the 1930s from a fungus that causes a serious disease in rice, called “foolish seedling disease” ( bakanae-byo ) by Japanese farmers. Afflicted plants were characterized by excessive growth of seedlings and

ATM to the rescue: Repairing DNA damage

Human genetic disorders present a logical starting point for the identification and functional analysis of numerous proteins. In addition to understanding a disease and searching for a cure, the identification of a “culprit” gene and the corresponding protein may shed light on fundamental

Tangerine Dreams: Cloning of Carotenoid Isomerase from Arabidopsis and Tomato

Carotenoids are vital components of photosynthetic cells, where they play important accessory roles in light harvesting and energy transfer to the chlorophylls, maintain structural integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus, and provide photoprotection against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen

New Insights into Auxin Biosynthesis

It is well known that auxins, primarily indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), exert control over many important developmental processes in plants, including cell division and cell expansion, vascular tissue differentiation, root initiation, apical dominance, gravitropic and phototropic responses, flowering,

Plant Disease Susceptibility Genes

A recent search of the ISI Web of Science identified 524 documents related to “plant disease resistance” and just 1 match for the phrase “plant disease susceptibility.” This does not mean that scientists are not engaged in the study of what makes plants susceptible to disease. Resistance and

The Future of Science: Food and Water for Life

Throughout the world, an estimated one billion people lack access to clean fresh water, and almost as many suffer from hunger and malnourishment. At the other end of the food spectrum, millions of people suffer disease and ill health associated with overconsumption and poor-quality nutrition. For

Sequencing the Rice Genome

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is one of the most important crops in the world. Rice, wheat, and maize together account for about half of the world’s food production, and rice itself is the principal food of half of the world’s population ([Sasaki and Burr, 2000][1]). Rice is the obvious choice for the

Oxylipin Signaling in Plant Stress Responses

Oxidized fatty acids, termed oxylipins, are an important class of signaling molecule in plants, especially related to plant stress responses and innate immunity. The best-characterized oxylipins are jasmonic acid (JA) and its immediate precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), which are formed

Identification of Rust Fungi Avirulence Elicitors

Rust fungi (Basidiomycetes of the order Uredinales) are obligate biotrophs that grow and reproduce only in living plant tissue. There are on the order of 5000 or more species of rust fungi that collectively cause disease on most crops, ornamentals, and many other plants. For example, rusts caused by