Showing papers by "Natasha V. Raikhel published in 2001"
TL;DR: The syntaxin family of soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor adaptor protein receptors (SNAREs) is known to play an important role in the fusion of transport vesicles with specific organelles, and two previously uncharacterized syntaxin groups are reported on.
Abstract: The syntaxin family of soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor adaptor protein receptors (SNAREs) is known to play an important role in the fusion of transport vesicles with specific organelles. Twenty-four syntaxins are encoded in the genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. These 24 genes are found in 10 gene families and have been reclassified as syntaxins of plants (SYPs). Some of these gene families have been previously characterized, with the SYP2-type syntaxins being found in the prevacuolar compartment (PVC) and the SYP4-type syntaxins on the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Here we report on two previously uncharacterized syntaxin groups. The SYP5 group is encoded by a two-member gene family, whereas SYP61 is a single gene. Both types of syntaxins are localized to multiple compartments of the endomembrane system, including the TGN and the PVC. These two groups of syntaxins form SNARE complexes with each other, and with other Arabidopsis SNAREs. On the TGN, SYP61 forms complexes with the SNARE VTI12 and either SYP41 or SYP42. SYP51 and SYP61 interact with each other and with VTI12, most likely also on the TGN. On the PVC, a SYP5-type syntaxin interacts specifically with a SYP2-type syntaxin, as well as the SNARE VTI11, forming a SNARE complex likely involved in TGN-to-PVC trafficking.
253 citations
TL;DR: Inactivation of the Arabidopsis gene VACUOLELESS1 (VCL1) blocks vacuole formation and alters the pattern of cell division orientation and cell elongation in the embryo, consistent with a role in vacuoles biogenesis.
188 citations
TL;DR: It is found that disruption of individual syntaxins from these families is lethal in the male gametophyte of Arabidopsis, and it is clear that each syntaxin in the SYP2 and SYP4 families serves an essential nonredundant function.
Abstract: Syntaxins are a large group of proteins found in all eukaryotes involved in the fusion of transport vesicles to target membranes. Twenty-four syntaxins grouped into 10 gene families are found in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, each group containing one to five paralogous members. The Arabidopsis SYP2 and SYP4 gene families contain three members each that share 60 to 80% protein sequence identity. Gene disruptions of the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) orthologs of the SYP2 and SYP4 gene families (Pep12p and Tlg2p, respectively) indicate that these syntaxins are not essential for growth in yeast. However, we have isolated and characterized gene disruptions in two genes from each family, finding that disruption of individual syntaxins from these families is lethal in the male gametophyte of Arabidopsis. Complementation of the syp21-1 gene disruption with its cognate transgene indicated that the lethality is linked to the loss of the single syntaxin gene. Thus, it is clear that each syntaxin in the SYP2 and SYP4 families serves an essential nonredundant function.
119 citations
TL;DR: The 75th anniversary of Plant Physiology comes at a very exciting time in the history of plant biology, and the Society is currently experiencing an unprecedented acceleration in the pace of scientific progress.
Abstract: The 75th anniversary of Plant Physiology comes at a very exciting time in the history of plant biology. We are currently experiencing an unprecedented acceleration in the pace of scientific progress (as our Society's recent publication of the 1,400-page textbook Plant Biochemistry and Molecular
20 citations
5 citations
TL;DR: The “typical” plant about which biology professors often pontificate does not exist: It is a fictional entity they have created in their feeble attempts to bring order and simplicity to the amazing complexity and diversity presented by the plant world.
Abstract: The “typical” plant about which we biology professors often pontificate does not exist: It is a fictional entity we have created in our feeble attempts to bring order and simplicity to the amazing complexity and diversity presented by the plant world. Nevertheless, in this post-genomic era, rice
3 citations
TL;DR: The November 2001 issue of The Plant Cell includes a letter to the editor from Sheng Luan and colleagues regarding the renaming of genes and duplication of gene names in the literature.
Abstract: The November 2001 issue of The Plant Cell includes a letter to the editor from Sheng Luan and colleagues regarding the renaming of genes and duplication of gene names in the literature. Plant Physiology joins with The Plant Cell in recognizing gene nomenclature as an important issue and fully
1 citations
Patent•
09 Nov 2001TL;DR: In this article, the fucosyltransferase (FTase) that adds this residue was purified from pea epicotyls, which made it possible to clone a homologous gene from Arabidopsis.
Abstract: Plant cell walls play a crucial role in development, signal transduction, and disease resistance. They are made of cellulose and matrix polysaccharides such as hemicelluloses and pectins. Xyloglucan, the principal hemicellulose of dicotyledonous plants, has a terminal fucosyl residue that may affect the extensibility of the cell wall and thus influence plant growth and morphology. The fucosyltransferase (FTase) that adds this residue was purified from pea epicotyls. Peptide sequence information derived from the 62 kDa purified pea FTase made it possible to clone a homologous gene from Arabidopsis. The instant invention involves methods of expressing the Arabidopsis FTase gene in plants and plants thereby obtained.
1 citations
TL;DR: It is fortunate that the burden of deciding between the many excellent nominees for Plant Physiology 's first Best Paper Award was borne collectively by the committee.
Abstract: It is always extremely difficult to select recipients for awards because invariably there are more worthy candidates than there are awards. It is fortunate that the burden of deciding between the many excellent nominees for Plant Physiology 's first Best Paper Award was borne collectively by the