Unlocking auxin: The tiny hormone with big implications for crops

How does a tiny molecule help shape the future of global food security? Researchers from the University of Tasmania have provided new insights into auxin, a master plant hormone, and its vital role in starch production—the powerhouse of the world's most important crops.

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Research unravels dual role of membrane protein in rice ethylene signal transduction

A research team, led by Professor Zhang Jinsong from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed insights into the mechanism by which the membrane protein MHZ3 collaborates with the ethylene receptor to regulate the phosphorylation of OsCTR2 (CONSTITUTIVE TRIPLE RESPONSE2), thereby controlling the switch of the ethylene signaling in rice.

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Scientists discover how yeast cells sense physical stresses on the membranes that protect them

Cell membranes play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and functionality of cells. However, the mechanisms by which they perform these roles are not yet fully understood. Scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with the Institut de biologie structurale de Grenoble (IBS) and the University of Fribourg (UNIFR), have used cryo-electron microscopy to observe how lipids and proteins at the plasma membrane interact and react to mechanical stress.

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