Biomolecular condensates formed through phase separation have emerged as a central principle of cellular organization, enabling the dynamic regulation of gene expression, signaling, metabolism, and stress responses. While early conceptual advances in condensate biology have largely originated from animal and in vitro systems, plant cells present a unique set of biological and technical challenges, including rigid cell walls, turgor pressure, plastid autofluorescence, complex endomembrane organization, and acute environmental responsiveness. These distinctive features impede the direct transfer of existing methodologies and drive the development of heterogeneous experimental practices. In this community comment, we present a comprehensive methodological framework for studying biomolecular condensates in plants, spanning in silico prediction, in vitro reconstitution, molecular dynamics simulations, live-cell and super-resolution imaging, material property measurements, membrane-associated condensates, and synthetic condensate engineering. We highlight best practices, common pitfalls, and plant-specific considerations, emphasizing the need for orthogonal validation, quantitative interpretation, and physiological relevance. By consolidating current methodologies and articulating shared principles, this review aims to establish a foundation for rigorous, reproducible, and conceptually coherent research in condensate biology of plants and beyond, with emerging implications for crop genetic improvement and synthetic biology applications.
Jiaxuan Peng, J. Agudo-Canalejo, Monika Chodasiewicz et al.· Science China Life Sciences· 0 citations
The TDIF-PXY signaling module is best known for its role in vascular development, a process closely linked to phloem function and long-distance sugar transport. However, the molecular mechanisms by which TDIF-PXY-mediated vascular development links phloem sugar transport and signaling to leaf senescence remain largely unclear. Here, we show that Arabidopsis TDIF-PXY-defective mutants exhibit accelerated leaf senescence, accompanied by impaired phloem transport and increased vein callose deposition, together with transcriptional reprogramming of sugar metabolism and carbohydrate accumulation. Inducible PXY knockdown further suggests that changes in sugar metabolism-related gene expression associated with TDIF-PXY attenuation arise primarily from impaired phloem transport rather than from a direct transcriptional output of this pathway. Genetic and metabolic analyses identify trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) as a key signal contributing to the premature senescence of the pxy mutant. Mechanistically, the T6P-inhibited SnRK1 catalytic subunit KIN10 directly interacts with and phosphorylates the senescence regulator ORE1 at S115, promoting ORE1 destabilization. Elevated T6P inhibits KIN10 activity, thereby reducing S115-dependent ORE1 phosphorylation and stabilizing ORE1. During natural leaf aging, the expression of TDIF-PXY pathway genes and phloem transport capacity decline, whereas T6P accumulation and vein callose deposition increase. Maintaining TDIF expression in phloem tissues preserves phloem transport and delays senescence. Together, these findings reveal a T6P-KIN10-ORE1 regulatory axis that links vascular function to leaf aging, supporting the idea that vascular status serves as an intrinsic cue for the onset of leaf senescence.
Junjie Liu, Yong-Lin Lv, Zhenpei Pang et al.· Plant Communications· 0 citations
Cell-type-specific responses of Arabidopsis seedlings to nine phytohormones are described, characterize transcriptional crosstalk among them, and identify a guard-cell MYB60 module linked to stomatal regulation.
Zhijian Liu, Zhuowen Li, Yuzhuo Wang et al.· Nature Communications· 0 citations
The roles and molecular mechanisms of diverse RNA types, the roles of RNA structures and modifications in regulatory processes, and the translational application of RNA-based strategies for improving agronomic traits are discussed.
Yijun Qi, Yue-Qin Chen, Hongwei Guo et al.· Science China Life Sciences· 0 citations
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