New Study Reveals How Similar Plant Proteins Drive Unique Growth Pathways.

Scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, have discovered that proteins with similar structures can control plant cell shape and development in remarkably different ways. Their findings, published in Science Advances, shed new light on the intricate molecular machinery that governs plant growth.

The research centers on the SCAR/WAVE protein complex—a critical system responsible for organizing the actin cytoskeleton, which acts like an internal scaffolding for cells. This structure is essential for shaping specialized cell features such as root hairs, vital for absorbing nutrients, and leaf hairs, or trichomes, which contribute to surface protection.

Like many organisms, plants depend on the constant reorganization of their cytoskeleton to adapt and grow. The SCAR/WAVE complex activates the ARP2/3 protein group, which triggers branching in actin filaments. Though SCAR/WAVE genes are widespread among plants, they typically appear in small families, leaving researchers curious about whether each variant serves a unique role.

Led by Dr. Sebastian Schornack, the Cambridge team examined two closely related SCAR proteins—MtAPI and MtHAPI1—in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Their experiments revealed that the two proteins are not functionally interchangeable. MtAPI was essential for root hair development, while MtHAPI1 could not substitute in this role. However, when tested in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, MtHAPI1 successfully restored trichome development in mutants, whereas MtAPI did not—demonstrating their distinct biological functions.

Further analysis pinpointed a 42-amino acid segment within an unstructured region of MtAPI that drastically influences its stability. This sequence acts as a destabilizing element, leading to reduced levels of MtAPI in plant cells. Interestingly, the destabilizing effect was consistent even when this sequence was added to other proteins or tested in different plant species.

“Our study highlights a surprising source of protein functional diversity,” said Dr. Sabine Brumm, the study’s lead author. “Intrinsically disordered regions, often overlooked, are crucial in determining a protein’s role.”

Dr. Schornack added that the findings provide a deeper understanding of how protein function and stability are precisely regulated in plants—knowledge that could eventually help optimize plant growth and resilience.

This research opens new paths for exploring how plants tailor their growth processes through subtle molecular differences

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-proteins-cell-growth-distinct-ways.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.