Top Stories:
Illuminating Study Reveals How Plants Respond to Light -
Plants need sunlight to grow and flower. New research from the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research shows that the process of taking in light is very complex. Proteins within the plant’s cells prepare to respond to light while the plant is in the dark (for example, at night). These proteins, FHY3 and FAR1, stimulate the production of another pair of proteins, FHY1 and FHL, which are key participants in the plant’s light response. The reason plants may do this at night is believed to be fairly simple: plants can respond to the first light of the new day without any delay. And like many cellular processes, a negative feedback response was discovered between FHY3, FAR1, and phytochrome A (phytochrome A is a light-sensing pigment protein found within a cell’s nucleus). The more phytochrome A that builds up within the cell, the less FHY3 and FAR1. This inverse relationship helps regulate the flow of light responses within the plant. Published in Science.

Evolutionary Biology Research on Plant Shows Significance of Maternal Effects - As winter approaches, we can look to the skies and see flocks of birds migrating south. Other animals are adapted to colder environments with thick fur coats. Humans have the luxury of buying jackets and sweaters or turning on the heater. But what do immobile organisms such as plants do? With global climate changes a high concern, research is underway to see what plants do in response to changes. Findings so far suggest that plants grown in the same setting as their maternal plant perform nearly three and a half times better than those grown in a differing environment. These findings show that plant can overcome differences in the environment because maternal plants give cues to their offspring that aid in adaptation. Published in Science.

Researchers Successfully Simulate Photosynthesis and Design a Better Leaf - One pressing question in crop production revolves around how to increase production while decreasing the amount of fertilizers used. Researchers at the University of Illinois have found an answer by using a computer model that mimics the process of photosynthetic evolution. With this “in silico” approach, researchers are hoping to provide new information on the countless permutations without having to test the more than one hundred known proteins that contribute to photosynthesis. Published in Plant Physiology.

Other News:
Health
Cranberry Sauce: Good For What Ails You - Every Thanksgiving dinner holds a host of foods from breads to pies and to the turkey. But the most important side dish just so happens to be the cranberry sauce. Research now suggests that compounds within cranberries are able to alter E. coli bacteria in ways that prevent the bacterium from
initiating infection within the human body. Scientists are now trying to figure out how
exactly cranberries ward off a wide variety of bacteria, not just E. coli. Anyone up for a glass of cranberry juice?

Alternative Fuels
Through Genetics, Tapping a Tree’s Potential as a Source of Energy - When we think of biofuels like ethanol, images of large cornfields come to mind. But Dr. Vincent L. Chiang (North Carolina State University) has developed transgenic trees that have half the amount of lignin compared to their natural counterparts. Lignin is a chemical compound that interferes with efforts to turn a tree’s cellulose into ethanol. While the advancement looks great for biofuel manufacturers, scientists fear that the large reduction in lignin will lead to less sturdy, more vulnerable trees (lignin aids in structural support and resistance to pests).