SHOT GLASS, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, promotes gemma cup and gametangiophore development in Marchantia polymorpha.

Many plants reproduce asexually by generating clonal progeny from vegetative tissues, a process known as vegetative reproduction. This reproduction mode contrasts with sexual reproduction, which enhances genetic diversity. The bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha L.

Evolutionary-conserved RLF, a cytochrome b-like heme-binding protein, regulates organ development in Marchantia polymorpha.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, REDUCED LATERAL ROOT FORMATION (RLF), a cytochrome b-like heme-binding domain (Cytb5-HBD) protein, is necessary for proper lateral root (LR) formation. Whereas the other Cytb5-HBD proteins in A. thaliana regulate different metabolic reactions, RLF is unique as it specifically regulates organ development.

PROTON ATPASE TRANSLOCATION CONTROL 1-mediated H -ATPase translocation boosts plant growth under drought by optimizing root and leaf functions.

Optimizing leaf photosynthesis and root water and mineral uptake in crops during drought is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity under climate change. Although plasma membrane H -ATPase plays a key role in plant physiological processes, its overexpression alone does not consistently improve growth. While PROTON ATPASE TRANSLOCATION CONTROL 1 (PATROL1) regulates H -ATPase translocation in response to various environmental stimuli in leaves, its function in roots remains largely unknown.

Divergent evolution of a thermospermine-dependent regulatory pathway in land plants.

Plants adapted to life on land by developing diverse anatomical features across lineages. The molecular basis of these innovations often involves the emergence of new genes or establishing new connections between conserved elements, though evidence for evolutionary genetic circuit rewiring remains scarce. Here, we show that the thermospermine-dependent pathway regulating vascular cell proliferation in Arabidopsis thaliana operates as two distinct modules with different functions in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha.

Regulation of ROP GTPase cycling between active and inactive states is essential for vegetative organogenesis in Marchantia polymorpha.

Rho/Rac of plant (ROP) GTPases are plant-specific proteins that function as molecular switches, activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and inactivated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha contains single copies of ROP (MpROP), GEFs [ROPGEF and SPIKE (SPK)] and GAPs [ROPGAP and ROP ENHANCER (REN)]. MpROP regulates the development of various tissues and organs, such as rhizoids, gemmae and air chambers.

Migration of prospindle before the first asymmetric division in germinating spore of .

The development of the plant body starts with spore germination in bryophytes. In many cases, the first division of the spore occurs after germination and cell elongation of the spore. In , asymmetric division occurs upon spore germination to generate two daughter cells: the larger one retains the ability to divide and develops into the thallus via sporeling or protonema, while the smaller one maintains tip growth and differentiates into the first rhizoid, providing a scaffold for initial development.

Improved clearing method contributes to deep imaging of plant organs.

Tissue clearing methods are increasingly essential for the microscopic observation of internal tissues of thick biological organs. We previously developed TOMEI, a clearing method for plant tissues; however, it could not entirely remove chlorophylls nor reduce the fluorescent signal of fluorescent proteins. Here, we developed an improved TOMEI method (iTOMEI) to overcome these limitations.

Roles of actin cytoskeleton for regulation of chloroplast anchoring.

Chloroplasts are known to maintain specific intracellular distribution patterns under specific environmental conditions, enabling the optimal performance of photosynthesis. To this end, chloroplasts are anchored in the cortical cytoplasm. In leaf epidermal cells of aquatic monocot Vallisneria, we recently demonstrated that the anchored chloroplasts are rapidly de-anchored upon irradiation with high-intensity blue light and that the process is probably mediated by the blue-light receptor phototropins.

Blue-light-induced rapid chloroplast de-anchoring in Vallisneria epidermal cells.

In the outer periclinal cytoplasm of leaf epidermal cells of an aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria, blue light induces "chloroplast de-anchoring", a rapid decline in the resistance of chloroplasts against centrifugal force. Chloroplast de-anchoring is known induced within 1 min of irradiation with high-fluence-rate blue light specifically, preceding the commencement of chloroplasts migration toward the anticlinal cytoplasm. However, its regulatory mechanism has remained elusive, although pharmacological analysis suggested that a calcium release from intracellular calcium stores is necessary for the response.

Engineering a collagen matrix that replicates the biological properties of native extracellular matrix.

In this study, we aimed to replicate the function of native tissues that can be used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The key to such replication is the preparation of an artificial collagen matrix that possesses a structure resembling that of the extracellular matrix. We, therefore, prepared a collagen matrix by fibrillogenesis in a NaCl/Na(2)HPO(4) aqueous solution using a dialysis cassette and investigated its biological behavior in vitro and in vivo.

Reorganized actin filaments anchor chloroplasts along the anticlinal walls of Vallisneria epidermal cells under high-intensity blue light.

In epidermal cells of the aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, high-intensity blue light (BL) induces the avoidance response of chloroplasts. We examined simultaneous BL-induced changes in the configuration of actin filaments in the cytoplasmic layers that face the outer periclinal wall (P side) and the anticlinal wall (A side). The results clearly showed that dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton occurs on both sides.