Scientists have discovered a hitherto unknown plant process, the repercussions of which could be huge

Researchers discovered that P-body-mediated translation inhibition regulates Arabidopsis meiotic exit.

Albert Cairó, Karel Ha, and colleagues uncovered a previously unknown process of gene expression reprogramming during cell division. The mechanism occurs at the end of meiosis, the specialised cell division required for sexual reproduction, and allows germ cells and pollen to separate.

Dynamix Localization

This method involves the dynamic localization of essential regulatory components into intracellular condensates that resemble liquid droplets. This technology is closely tied to seed development and could open up new avenues for developing more sustainable crops that can withstand harsher climatic conditions. The findings were just published in the prestigious journal Science.

Cells do not remain static; they evolve from one type to the next. The activation of a certain set of genes affects how cells specialise to do specific tasks, as well as when they divide and differentiate. Cell biologists like Albert Cairo and Karel Riha use advanced scientific methods to investigate the plant's microworld. As cell biology undergoes a revolution, the traditional concept of cellular organisation is expanding into uncharted territory.

"On the one hand, this marks the end of meiotic activity, but it also means the beginning of a genetically distinct generation of cells," Cairó explains. But hold on, there's more. Similar mechanisms, such as cellular differentiation or stress responses, are thought to be at work in other animals and biological environments, according to the research team.

The revelation of Karel Ha's laboratory members could have far-reaching societal ramifications.

"We are experiencing a climate emergency. Plants can endure a broad range of conditions, including intense heat and drought, but their development and reproduction are severely impeded. This means we risk dramatically reducing food production at a time when yields must be increased to meet human requirements. As a result, plant research should now be prioritised "Karel ha, reporter and research group chairman, adds.

The primary goal of the laboratory is to shed light on fundamental biological processes that are directly tied to plant reproduction and seed generation, which translate into crop yield in a variety of crops.

The journey to comprehension

Meiosis is particularly challenging to analyse in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The researchers focused on the extraordinary and uncommon cells seen in 0.1-0.4 mm flower buds. Furthermore, the meiotic division processes investigated happen quickly—the entire process takes five to six hours. As a result, catching them is challenging. To investigate this process, the research team will need to use cutting-edge technology as well as a great deal of creativity and imagination.

Anna Vargová made a substantial contribution to our understanding of the newly described complex process. Pavlna Mikulková provided expertise and a magical touch in filming live cell meiosis using a Lightsheet microscope. The study team received assistance from the CEITEC CELLIM core facility and the Plant Sciences core facility. The research lasted more than eight years and was financed by the REMAP financing programme of the Czech Ministry of Education and Culture. "It would have been very impossible to develop such a sophisticated project without the long-term funding we secured," Albert Cairó says. "Indeed, it appeared at one point that our only constraint was our imagination, and I feel that this was key to our far-reaching discovery."

"Meiotic exit in Arabidopsis is controlled by P-body-mediated limitation of translation," Albert Cairo, Anna Vargová, Neha Shukla, Claudio Capitao, Pavlna Mikulková, Soa Valuchová, Jana Pecinková, Petra Bulánková, and Karel ha, Science, August 4, 2022. DOI: 10.1126/science.ab0904.

Surprisingly, there was no foreign involvement in this study, which is unusual for multinational research institutes like CEITEC. The research team took a completely new course this time, and the investigation was completed exclusively by members of Karel ha's research group.