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Algal Lipid Pathways Linked to Those in Plants and Fungi

Red algae play an important role in carbon and nitrogen cycles in the ocean, and are potential biomass for biofuel production. However, few red algae have been studied at the genomic level to date. An international collaboration of researchers has found that some species of the extremophilic red algae Porphyra have a pathway similar to… [Read More]

Methylobacteria Shed Light on the C and N Cycles

Methylobacteriaare vital for processing single-carbon compounds like methanol, methylamine, and the greenhouse gas methane. They play a central role in the carbon and nitrogen cycle. While many researchers are studying the bacteria, their full functionality is still unknown– but it’s becoming more complete, thanks to a recent publication of six genomes of different strains of… [Read More]

Drifting Poplar Populations Inform Breeding Strategies

Since the publication of the genome sequence of the first tree, the black cottonwood or poplar Populustrichocarpain 2006 by the DOE Joint Genome Institute, a growing community of researchers have been engaged in advancing the development of poplar as a candidatefeedstockfornext-generationbiofuelsowing to the tree’s compact genome, rapid growth and life cycle. One area of study… [Read More]

Rethinking Rhodanobacter

Denitrification, or breaking down nitrates in soil, is important. It removes the chemicals from potentially contaminating groundwater, but it can also release nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Scientists discovered that many species of the low-pH dwelling bacteria in the Rhodanobactergenus are capable of denitrification. This is on the heels of the discovery… [Read More]

Prototypical genomic study of Plant-Microbe Interaction

Instead of using dangerous and toxic pesticides or expensive fertilizers, farmers may one day use microbes to fully manage diseases in soil. Already the microbial community in and surrounding plant roots fights pests and manages carbon and other soil nutrients, ultimately contributing to plant health and growth. What’s more, they aid plants in sequestering pollutants…. [Read More]

Getting to the Root— Unearthing the Plant-Microbe Quid Pro Quo

While the flower may attract the bee and the admiring eye of the passerby, it is the unseen complex network of life below ground where the action is. The microbial community or microbiome that inhabits the rhizosphere and endosphere —the niches immediately surrounding and inside a plant’s root—facilitates the shuttling of nutrients and information into… [Read More]

Understanding a Cereal Disease with DNA Sequencing

An international coalition of researchers, including those from the DOE Joint Genome Institute have now isolated the Barley stripe mosaic virus resistance gene from  Brachypodium distachyon. They found the single dominant gene responsible by analyzing the offspring of intercrossed disease-resistant and disease-susceptible Brachypodium. Their results were published in June in PLoSOne. Brachypodium distachyonis a good… [Read More]

Maturing Metagenomics Needs Ground Rules

For every known star in our universe, there are billions of microbes here on Earth. But scientists are unable to culture most of these species in the lab. One approach to getting to know these beguiling bugs is to look at the big picture of their community. Metagenomics aims to characterize the overall genomic profile… [Read More]