Volume 42, Issue 9,02 May 2023

This cover highlights the article An actin remodelling role for Arabidopsis processing bodies revealed by their proximity interactome by Chen Liu, Panagiotis Moschou and colleagues. The characterization of the evolutionary conserved condensate’s proteome known as processing bodies reveals their extensive association with membrane-bound proteins and actin remodelling. In particular, the connection between the SCAR/WAVE-actin nucleating complex and the processing bodies’ component DECAPPING1 (DCP1) at the cell vertex defines an actin remodelling module with implications for growth direction. Image shows epidermal and root cap cells of the transition-elongation zone of a four-day-old Arabidopsis root, expressing mCherry labelled actin and GFP labelled DCP1 with DAPI counterstaining. (Scientific image by Chen Liu & Andriani Mentzelopoulou, University of Crete, Greece)

Our research in brief

Work in our group focuses on the roles of homeostasis of proteins and RNA in the development and perception of the environment. We are particularly interested in how catabolism and processing of molecules such as proteins and RNA dictate the fundamental biological processes of stem cell fate regulation, asymmetric cell division, cell polarity and regeneration. In our research, we mainly use the model plant Arabidopsis but we also use crop models such as rapeseed. You can read more about what we do here.

Our activities take place in two beautiful locations: Uppsala (Sweden) and the island of Crete (Greece). In Uppsala, you can find us at Uppsala BioCentrum here, in the Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). In Crete, at the University of Crete (UoC ), in the Department of Biology and at the Foundation of Research and Technology (FORTH here), in the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB). We are also part of the Linnean Centre for Plant Biology in Uppsala, which fosters excellent research by providing an arena for cross-disciplinary contacts and the development of ground-breaking research!

Our sponsors

Our work is funded by the European Research Council (ERC), EU Horizon 2020, Hellenic Foundation of Research and Tehcnology-Hellas (HFRI), General Secretariat of Research and Innovation-Greece, Swedish Research Council VR, FORMAS, Carl Tryggers Foundation, Wallenberg Foundation, SLU, IMBB, and UoC. We work in the frame of the EU actions COST proteostasis BM1307 and EPICATCH networks. More on our funding and projects here.