Microtubules have important roles in intracellular trafficking. The targeted transport of cellulose synthase along microtubule tracks determines the orientation of cellulose microfibrils and hence influences cell shape and elongation (Lloyd, 2006; Paredez et al., 2006). The ability of microtubules to alter their cellular layout in response to various stimuli is central to their function. In the...

As indicated by various and some overlapped phenotypes of the dominant mutants, the Aux/IAA genes of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) concomitantly exhibit a functional similarity and differentiation. To evaluate the contributions of their expression patterns determined by promoter activity and molecular properties of their gene products to Aux/IAA function, we examined phenotypes of transgen...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Adventitious roots (ARs) are essential for vegetative propagation. The Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factors SHORT ROOT (SHR) and SCARECROW (SCR) affect primary/lateral root development, but their involvement in AR formation is uncertain. LAX3 and AUX1 auxin influx carriers contribute to primary/lateral root development. LAX3 expression is regulated by SHR, and LAX3 con...

The leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity from cotyledons of 4-day-old soybean seedlings has been fractionated into three components. One of these exclusively acylates two of the six tRNA(Leu) species present in this tissue. The remaining two enzyme fractions charge the other four tRNA(Leu) species equally well. Soybean hypocotyls appear to contain only the last two enzyme fractions.

Low concentrations of boron were found to affect the bioelectric field potentials of hypocotyls excised from 4-day-old mung bean (Phaseolus aureus cv. Oklahoma 612) seedlings grown in darkness and irradiated with red light. The significance of this effect is discussed in relation to the possible role of boron in some membrane function.

Three new dammarane triterpenes, cereotagaloperoxide, cereotagalol A, and cereotagalol B, together with four known dammarane triterpenes, an oleanane triterpene, and 13 known lupane triterpenes were isolated from the hypocotyls and fruits of Ceriops tagal. The structures of 1-3 were characterized on the basis of their spectroscopic data.

Transgenic tomato hypocotyls with altered levels of an XTH gene were used to study how XET activity could affect the hypocotyl growth and cell wall extensibility. Transgenic hypocotyls showed significant over-expression (line 13) or co-suppression (line 33) of the SlXTH1 in comparison with the wild type, with these results being correlated with the results on specific soluble XET activity, sugg...