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Thigmo responses in plants and fungi
Mordecai J Jaffe1, A Carl Leopold, Richard C Staples
1Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Tower Road, Ithaca, New York 14853 USA.
American Journal of Botany
|June 14, 2011
Summary
Plants use touch mechanisms (thigmo mechanisms) to adapt and survive by altering growth, form, and even capturing prey. These complex systems involve intricate signal transduction pathways, crucial for plant success.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Mechanobiology
- Adaptation Biology
Background:
- Thigmo mechanisms are plant adaptations enabling diverse functions like growth alteration, tropisms, and prey capture.
- These systems demonstrate sophisticated control over cell differentiation, growth rates, and specialized structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the signal transduction pathways underlying plant thigmo mechanisms.
- To identify potential components involved in transmitting touch signals within plants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on plant thigmo responses and signal transduction.
- Hypothesizing the roles of specific cellular components like integrin-like proteins and cytoskeletal structures.
Main Results:
- Thigmo events rely on signal transmission from the cell wall to the cytoplasm.
- Potential signal transduction components include integrin-like proteins, Hechtian strands, and cytoskeletal elements.
- Calcium/calmodulin pathways and action potentials are implicated in thigmo signal transmission.
Conclusions:
- Thigmo mechanisms are vital for plant and fungal adaptations, contributing significantly to their ecological success.
- Understanding these touch-response systems is key to comprehending plant survival strategies.
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Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
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