Stay in touch with the endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum(ER),which is composed of a continuous network of tubules and sheets,forms the most widely distributed membrane system in eukaryotic cells.As a result,it engages a variety of organelles by establishing membrane contact sites(MCSs).These contacts regulate organelle positioning and remodeling,including fusion and fission,facilitate precise lipid exchange,and couple vital signaling events.Here,we systematically review recent advances and converging themes on ER-involved organellar contact.The molecular basis,cellular influence,and potential physiological functions for ER/nuclear envelope contacts with mitochondria,Golgi,endosomes,lysosomes,lipid droplets,autophagosomes,and plasma membrane are summarized.

Proximity labeling: an emerging tool for probing in planta molecular interactions

Protein–protein interaction(PPI)networks are key to nearly all aspects of cellular activity.Therefore,the identification of PPIs is important for understanding a specific biological process in an organism.Compared with conventional methods for probing PPIs,the recently described proximity labeling(PL)approach combined with mass spectrometry(MS)-based quantitative proteomics hasemerged as apowerful approach for characterizing PPIs.However,the application of PL in planta remains in its infancy.Here,we summarize recent progress in PL and its potential utilization in plant biology.We specifically summarize advances in PL,including the development and comparison of different PL enzymes and the application of PL for deciphering various molecular interactions in different organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.

Plant multiscale networks:charting plant connectivity by multi-level analysis and imaging techniques

In multicellular and even single-celled organisms,individual components are interconnected at multiscale levels to produce enormously complex biological networks that help these systems maintain homeostasis for development and environmental adaptation.Systems biology studies initially adopted network analysis to explore how relationships between individual components give rise to complex biological processes.Network analysis has been applied to dissect the complex connectivity of mammalian brains across different scales in time and space in The Human Brain Project.In plant science,network analysis has similarly been applied to study the connectivity of plant components at the molecular,subcellular,cellular,organic,and organism levels.Analysis of these multiscale networks contributes to our understanding of how genotype determines phenotype.In this review,we summarized the theoretical framework of plant multiscale networks and introduced studies investigating plant networks by various experimental and computational modalities.We next discussed the currently available analytic methodologies and multi-level imaging techniques used to map multiscale networks in plants.Finally,we highlighted some of the technical challenges and key questions remaining to be addressed in this emerging field.