This post was originally published September 20, 2019.
If you want to see the scientific article, you can find it at this link here. (You may not be able to access this article at the link, please contact me if you want to see the whole scientific article.)
Here’s a breakdown of what the paper is about, without all the scientific jargon:
- What did we know before this research? That corn uses the same molecules for growth and defense!
For several years of now we’ve known about a group of molecules in corn plants, called the “kauralexins” (pronounced “core-a-lex-ins”). We knew corn was making them when it was under attack from disease and drought, but we didn’t know the genes and proteins that made these molecules. We also knew that another group of molecules were used for the plant to grow, called the “gibberellins” (pronounced “jib-er-el-ins”). We thought that the plant was using the same starting molecules to make both the defense molecules and growth molecules.
- What did we discover? The genes that corn uses to make defense molecules!
We found the genes that are used to make the kauralexins molecules, the defense molecules. While we originally thought that the growth and defense molecules used the same starting components, we found that early on the way, the defense molecules take on a different structure. This way the plant doesn’t accidentally grow when it means to defend, or vice versa. Want a different explainer? Follow along the images at the bottom of this page!
- How did we discover that? We found out what some corn genes do!
We took some genes from corn and put them into E. coli. Luckily, this E. coli won’t make you sick. We let the E. coli grow and produce protein from the genes we put in, and then we see what those proteins do. Turns out these proteins make our molecules, the kauralexins, and they make a starting molecule that is different than is used to make the gibberellins! This way, the plant can use different starting materials to differentiate whether it should grow or defend, and the two pathways do not need to interfere or compete with each other.
- Why does this discovery matter? This helps us make better plants!
Now we better understand how plants decide to allocate their supplies to growth or defense! If we can understand how plants do these processes, we can breed or engineer both corn and other plant species to be healthier and stronger. If a plant can produce its own defensive molecules, as well as grow when it needs to, we don’t need to add as many herbicides and pesticides.
Now how we thought building and defending a corn plant worked – two different processes used the same starting molecules (or bricks)! With no way to stop your warrior or your builder, both will use the bricks if they are there.
This is what you would want to happen if you want to grow, but how do you stop your defender from taking the bricks?
You wouldn’t want to grow when you’re under attack! But how do you stop the builder from taking the bricks?
You (and corn) found a solution – when you are making your bricks, make two similar but different styles. Your builder can only use the builder-only bricks. Your defender can use both bricks, but prefers the special defender-only bricks. Then the two can stop fighting and do the right job, at the right time! Make the type of bricks you need when the proper need arises.
