How Plants Transport Massive Amounts of Protein Into Seed Vacuoles: Research Traces the Evolutionary Steps

How did plants evolve the ability to transport massive amounts of protein into seed vacuoles?

A research team has revealed the molecular steps that led to the emergence of this plant-specific vacuolar transport system. Their work shows that the acquisition of this pathway was driven by the stepwise neofunctionalization of a membrane fusion protein called VAMP7.

How plants transport massive amounts of protein into seed vacuoles: Research traces the evolutionary steps

Seed plants, such as soybeans, store large amounts of protein in specialized organelles called protein storage vacuoles. These proteins not only sustain seedling growth but also serve as a major source of dietary protein for humans and livestock.

Unraveling How Plants Evolved to Transport Large Quantities of Protein into

In the diverse world of plant biology, seed plants occupy a unique niche owing to their ability to accumulate vast amounts of storage proteins within specialized organelles known as protein storage vacuoles. These vacuoles are not mere cellular compartments but vital reservoirs that fuel early seedling development and act as crucial nutritional reservoirs for both humans and livestock. Unlike in animals or fungi, where such a pronounced and effi…