George Komis

TL;DR: This review focuses on the transduction of second messenger and hormone signals by MAPK modules in plant abiotic stress responses and how this crosstalk regulates gene expression and other cellular and physiological responses to enable adaptation and/or resistance to abiotic stresses.

TL;DR: The applications of Agrobacterium based transient plant transformation technology in biotech industry are presented in thorough detail and involve production of recombinant proteins (plantibodies, vaccines and therapeutics) and effectoromics-assisted breeding of late blight resistance in potato.

TL;DR: Genetic, pharmacological, molecular, cytological, and biochemical analyses suggest that ANP2/ANP3, MPK4, and the microtubule-associated protein MAP65-1 are all essential for the proper organization of cortical microtubules in Arabidopsis epidermal cells.

Abstract: *† These two authors contributed equally to this work. SUMMARY The proper spatial and temporal expression and localization of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is essential for developmental and cellular signalling in all eukaryotes. Here, we analysed expression, subcellular localization and function of MPK6 in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana using wild-type plants and three mpk6 knock-out mutant lines. The MPK6 promoter showed two expression maxima in the most apical part of the root meristem and in the root transition zone. This expression pattern was highly consistent with ‘no root’ and ‘short root’ phenotypes, as well as with ectopic cell divisions and aberrant cell division planes, resulting in disordered cell files in the roots of these mpk6 knock-out mutants. In dividing root cells, MPK6 was localized on the subcellular level to distinct fine spots in the pre-prophase band and phragmoplast, representing the two most important cytoskeletal structures controlling the cell division plane. By combining subcellular fractionation and microscopic in situ and in vivo co-localization methods, MPK6 was localized to the plasma membrane (PM) and the trans-Golgi network (TGN). In summary, these data suggest that MPK6 localizing to mitotic microtubules, secretory TGN vesicles and the PM is involved in cell division plane control and root development in Arabidopsis.

TL;DR: MPK4 is shown to be involved in the regulation of mitosis/cytokinesis through modulation of the cell division plane and cytokinetic progression in control, mutant and inhibitor-treated cells.