Formula for Longer Plant Life: Jasmonic Acid and MicroRNAs
September 26, 2008| |
Certain small sections of genes, the so called micro RNAs (miRNA), can regulate the growth and aging process in plants, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen have shown. These miRNAs inhibit certain transcription factors that regulate the production of jasmonic acid (JA), a hormone important for the plant’s aging processes. Their work appears in the current issue of PLoS Biology.
Detlef Weigel and colleagues investigated the effects that the transcription factors of the TCP family have on the growth and aging of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. TCPs, previously shown to be important for limiting the growth of leaves, are regulated by the microRNA miR319. The scientists found out that the higher the quantity of miR139 present in the plant, the smaller the amount of jasmonic acid produced, and hence the longer the growth period the plant has. Since the quantity of microRNAs can be controlled by genetic methods, it may be possible in the future to cultivate plants that live longer and grow faster.
Read the article at http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/news/formula-discovered-for-longer-plant-life The paper can be downloaded at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0060230
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Scientists on a Hunt for Traits to Breed Climate-Proof Crops
- IRRI BOT Calls for “Wholesale Reinvestment in Agriculture"
- Rising Prices Up Global Hunger Figures
- Scaling-up CGIAR Investments Could Prevent Future Food Crises
- Kenya Agri Minister Calls for Clear Direction for Biotech
- Farmers to Profit More from Biotech Cotton in West Africa
- ICRISAT to Re-establish Center in Nigeria
- Brazil Approves Two New GM Maize Varieties
- Plants Produce Aspirin to Deal with Stress
- CSREES Renews Grant to Sequence Wheat Chromosome
- Walnut Genetic Research
- Making Fluorescent Markers for Corn Tissues
- Agri Companies Collaborate on Calibration System for Low Linolenic Soybeans
- Promising Results from Japan GM Trials of Iron Deficiency Tolerant Rice
- Australia to Strengthen Iraqi Agricultural Sector
- HortResearch and Crop & Food Research to Merge
- Formula for Longer Plant Life: Jasmonic Acid and MicroRNAs
- EU SmartCell to use Plant Cells as Pharmaceutical Factories
- EU Biotech Industry Leaders for Consistent Long Term Biotech Policy
-
Research Highlights
- Researchers Discover a Protein that Regulates Plant Disease Response
- Study: Bees can Mediate Transgene Escape
- Scientists Pinpoint Gene Essential for Ear Development in Corn
- GM Rice Expressing an Antihypertensive Protein
-
Announcements
- Introductory Bioinformatics Course in Egypt
- International Conference on GMF in Jordan
-
Resources
- Biotech Communication Handbook
- Database of Isoflavone Compounds in Foods Updated
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet