About this Research Topic
This Research Topic addresses the metabolism and function of the amino acid Serine in plants. We emphasize the interaction and coordination between the Serine biosynthetic pathways and other metabolic pathways.
Serine is a polar amino acid that plays a fundamental role in plant metabolism, plant development, and cell signalling. In addition to being a building block for proteins, Serine participates in the biosynthesis of biomolecules such as amino acids, nucleotides, phospholipids, and sphingolipids. Plants possess at least two serine biosynthetic pathways: i) the glycolate pathway associated with photorespiration and ii) the so-called Phosphorylated Pathway of Serine Biosynthesis. The biological significance of the coexistence of several pathways for the biosynthesis of Serine is not known. In particular, we poorly understand the contribution that each pathway makes to plant serine homeostasis, how pathways are integrated and coordinated, and how they interact at the transcriptional/translational/posttranslational levels. The interactions between the photorespiratory and non-photorespiratory serine biosynthetic pathways may be particularly important in environments with increased CO2 concentrations in forthcoming years, which could have unpredictable effects on plants, and for plants with a C4 photosynthetic metabolism where photorespiratory activity is restricted. We also poorly understand the coordination of Serine biosynthetic pathways with other essential metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis, respiration, protein synthesis, and nitrogen assimilation to control plant growth and development.
This Research Topic welcomes manuscripts using physiological, biochemical, genomics, and metabolomics approaches to tackle the following:
- the characterization of enzymes participating in serine homeostasis (biosynthesis and catabolism)
- the role of specific Serine biosynthetic pathways in different cell types and tissues as well as under varying environmental conditions
- the connections between serine biosynthetic pathways and other metabolic pathways
- the role of Serine in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses
- the role of Serine as a signalling molecule
We encourage the submission of all article types welcomed in the specialty section Plant Metabolism and Chemodiversity.
Serine is a polar amino acid that plays a fundamental role in plant metabolism, plant development, and cell signalling. In addition to being a building block for proteins, Serine participates in the biosynthesis of biomolecules such as amino acids, nucleotides, phospholipids, and sphingolipids. Plants possess at least two serine biosynthetic pathways: i) the glycolate pathway associated with photorespiration and ii) the so-called Phosphorylated Pathway of Serine Biosynthesis. The biological significance of the coexistence of several pathways for the biosynthesis of Serine is not known. In particular, we poorly understand the contribution that each pathway makes to plant serine homeostasis, how pathways are integrated and coordinated, and how they interact at the transcriptional/translational/posttranslational levels. The interactions between the photorespiratory and non-photorespiratory serine biosynthetic pathways may be particularly important in environments with increased CO2 concentrations in forthcoming years, which could have unpredictable effects on plants, and for plants with a C4 photosynthetic metabolism where photorespiratory activity is restricted. We also poorly understand the coordination of Serine biosynthetic pathways with other essential metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis, respiration, protein synthesis, and nitrogen assimilation to control plant growth and development.
This Research Topic welcomes manuscripts using physiological, biochemical, genomics, and metabolomics approaches to tackle the following:
- the characterization of enzymes participating in serine homeostasis (biosynthesis and catabolism)
- the role of specific Serine biosynthetic pathways in different cell types and tissues as well as under varying environmental conditions
- the connections between serine biosynthetic pathways and other metabolic pathways
- the role of Serine in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses
- the role of Serine as a signalling molecule
We encourage the submission of all article types welcomed in the specialty section Plant Metabolism and Chemodiversity.
Keywords: phosphorylated pathway, glycerate pathway, primary metabolism, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, glycine decarboxylase, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, phosphoserine phosphatase, phosphoserine aminotransferase
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