Membrane proteins are essential determinants of many biological processes in plants. They function in metabolic processes, signal transduction, transport of small molecules and polymers across endo- and plasma membranes, and intercompartmental trafficking of proteins, lipids, and cell wall components. During these integrative processes, dynamic interactions of membrane proteins with other membrane or soluble components are thought to provide a high degree of flexibility that usually characterizes higher plants. This concept is supported by the recent release of a first, partial Arabidopsis interactome by the Arabidopsis Interactome Mapping Consortium (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6042/601.full.htm). The Arabidopsis interactome reveals a strong enrichment of a few network communities, including those for transmembrane transport and vesicle trafficking. Strikingly, the large transmembrane transport community shares a high amount of proteins with the vesicle trafficking community suggesting a strong physical and functional overlap and interaction.
Under this framework, we welcome interested individuals or groups that would like to contribute to this Research Topic to submit an abstract describing the focus of their planned project and the family (or families) of membrane proteins (such as transporters, interacting regulators, receptors, etc.) to be studied. All type of articles – Original Research Articles, Opinion Articles or Review Articles – are welcome. Please note, while the previous Research Topic “Evolution of Transporters in Plants” was clearly focused on transport proteins, this second call emphasizes analyses of transporter and non-transporter membrane proteins, such as receptors or regulatory/signaling components.
Membrane proteins are essential determinants of many biological processes in plants. They function in metabolic processes, signal transduction, transport of small molecules and polymers across endo- and plasma membranes, and intercompartmental trafficking of proteins, lipids, and cell wall components. During these integrative processes, dynamic interactions of membrane proteins with other membrane or soluble components are thought to provide a high degree of flexibility that usually characterizes higher plants. This concept is supported by the recent release of a first, partial Arabidopsis interactome by the Arabidopsis Interactome Mapping Consortium (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6042/601.full.htm). The Arabidopsis interactome reveals a strong enrichment of a few network communities, including those for transmembrane transport and vesicle trafficking. Strikingly, the large transmembrane transport community shares a high amount of proteins with the vesicle trafficking community suggesting a strong physical and functional overlap and interaction.
Under this framework, we welcome interested individuals or groups that would like to contribute to this Research Topic to submit an abstract describing the focus of their planned project and the family (or families) of membrane proteins (such as transporters, interacting regulators, receptors, etc.) to be studied. All type of articles – Original Research Articles, Opinion Articles or Review Articles – are welcome. Please note, while the previous Research Topic “Evolution of Transporters in Plants” was clearly focused on transport proteins, this second call emphasizes analyses of transporter and non-transporter membrane proteins, such as receptors or regulatory/signaling components.