Cover image: Pictured are chromium flocs with adsorbed hydroxyl radicals that have reacted with an organic pollutant. Manshu Zhao et al. analyzed the interactions between organic pollutants and flocs, or sludges, that form when chromium catalysts are used to treat industrial wastewater through oxidation processes. Chromium flocs first adsorbed hydroxyl radicals and then adhered to organic pollutants through hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, resulting in long-lasting pollutant removal. The results suggest that, rather than just being waste products, chromium and other transition metal flocs could be used to enhance wastewater treatment processes. See the article by Zhao et al. e2403072121. Image credit: Manshu Zhao and Mingming Gao.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY:兰大揭示植物侧根发生的新机制
前期的研究显示 RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 7 (RLK7) 和它的配体 TARGET OF LBD SIXTEEN 2 (TOLS2)参与了侧根的发生和间隔调控。本研究发现CLAVATA3 INSENSITIVE RECEPTOR KINASEs (CIKs) 的突变体cik 侧根数目显著增加，这是因为侧根的发生以及侧根的间隔变小。
cik mutants 呈现出对TOLS2 peptides的不敏感表型. TOLS2 可以促进 CIKs and RLK7的互作以及对CIKs的磷酸化。过表达转录因子 PUCHI 和组成型激活MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASE 4 (MKK4) and MKK5 可以部分挽救cik and rlk7-3 mutants的侧根发育的表型.
最后作者发现在pericycle cells中生长素的水平影响了CIKs的定位，从而决定了侧根基细胞的功能。
小结：本研究揭示了CIKs-RLK7 模块调控侧根发育的机制。
原文：CLAVATA3 INSENSITIVE RECEPTOR KINASEs regulate lateral root initiation and spacing in Arabidopsis
