Gene Identified That Helps Plant Cells Keep Communication Channels Open
Saturday, February 28, 2009 - 13:14
in Biology & Nature
Stem cells in plants' growing tips, called "meristems," communicate via microscopic channels called plasmodesmata. These channels, which transport nutrients and growth instructions, respond to cues such as growth signals or stress by changing shape and altering traffic flow. Scientists have identified a gene called GAT1, which encodes an enzyme that improves traffic flow by acting as an antioxidant -- a molecule that relieves cellular stress.