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Maddy Seale

@maddyseale.bsky.social

2.2K followers 1.1K following 130 posts

Associate Editor at Science covering plant science.

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Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 2d

My pick for In Other Journals:
Engineering agricultural nitrogen fixation. Nishida et al bred soybean lines and modified rhizobial bacteria to enhance infection and reduce nitrous oxide emissions.
My summary here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Paper here:
doi.org/10.1038/s414...

#PlantScience

In Other Journals

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 2d

The structure of chlorophyll f-containing photosystem I from photosynthetic bacteria:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

(2/2)

Locating the missing chlorophylls f in far-red photosystem I

The discovery of chlorophyll f-containing photosystems, with their long-wavelength photochemistry, represented a distinct, low-energy paradigm for oxygenic photosynthesis. Structural studies on chloro...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 2d

Out in @science.org this week:

A new FRET sensor for salicylic acid gives insight into spatial dynamics of pathogen infection www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

(1/2)

#PlantScience

SALICYLIC ACID SENSOR1 reveals the propagation of an SA hormone surge during plant pathogen advance

Salicylic acid (SA) is a key phytohormone that orchestrates immune responses against pathogens, including Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. The timing and extent of SA accumulation are tightly controlled...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 5d

Out First Release in @science.org this week:
The development of a directed evolution strategy with proof of concept in plant immune protein engineering.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Engineered geminivirus replicons enable rapid in planta directed evolution

Directed evolution can rapidly generate genetic variants with new and enhanced properties, yet efficient platforms for performing such evolution directly in plant cells have been lacking. We developed...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 5d

Wonderful to see this beautiful image on the cover of Science this week highlighting a paper that uses high resolution imaging to show the spatial patterns of bacterial attraction to glutamine from roots.
Paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Perspective here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 20d

Out First Release in @science.org this week:

A large scale analysis of the epigenetics of transposable elements in Arabidopsis shows transgenerational stability

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

#PlantScience

Transposable elements are vectors of recurrent transgenerational epigenetic inheritance

DNA methylation loss at transposable elements (TEs) can affect neighboring genes and be epigenetically inherited in plants, yet the determinants and significance of this additional system of inheritan...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · 26d

My pick for In Other Journals this week-
Tracking mutations to understand radial flower development
My summary here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Paper here:
doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#plantscience

In Other Journals

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Sep 12

Link to the paper here:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Structure and function of a huge photosystem I–fucoxanthin chlorophyll supercomplex from a coccolithophore

Photosystem I (PSI) is a pigment-protein complex, which converts light energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis. Among photosynthetic organisms, PSI-LHC (light-harvesting complex) structures exhi...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Sep 12

Introducing a new metabolic cycle - the McG cycle - into Arabidopsis to convert 3PG to acetyl coA. This then feeds into endogenous lipid synthesis increasing plant lipids, seed yield and biomass. Out this week in @science.org!

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#PlantScience

Dual-cycle CO2 fixation enhances growth and lipid synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Carbon fixation through the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle accounts for the majority of carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake from the atmosphere. The CBB cycle generates C3 carbohydrates but is inefficient ...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Sep 12

Delighted that this enormous photosystem I complex from the coccolithophore E. huxleyi made it onto the cover of @science.org this week
#PlantScience

Science Magazine @science.org · Sep 11

The photosystem I and light-harvesting proteins of marine coccolithophores assemble into a huge molecular machine that efficiently captures, transfers, and converts light energy, demonstrating the evolutionary diversity of photosynthesis.

Learn more this week in Science: https://scim.ag/4mZBkpy

The photosynthetic proteins of marine coccolithophores capture green light underwater and appear orange-red. Their photosystem I and light-harvesting proteins assemble into a huge molecular machine that efficiently captures, transfers, and converts light energy, demonstrating the evolutionary diversity of photosynthesis and the ultimate pursuit of light.

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Aug 26

Science @science.org is recruiting an editor with postdoctoral expertise in infectious diseases or microbiomes. Come and work with us in the UK or USA! bit.ly/3UHOiMf
🧪

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Aug 22

My pick for In Other Journals this week:
MSH1 suppresses organelle mutation - an investigation of how many plants maintain very low mitochondrial mutation rates

My summary here:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Paper here: doi.org/10.1371/jour...
@sloanevolab.bsky.social
#PlantScience

In Other Journals

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Aug 15

Out in @science.org The crazy sequence of events from planting maize in dense fields. Density-dependent linalool release triggers release of compounds into the soil affecting microbes and plants.
Article: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Perspective: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#PlantScience

Linalool-triggered plant-soil feedback drives defense adaptation in dense maize plantings

High planting density boosts crop yields but also heightens pest and pathogen risks. How plants adapt their defenses under these conditions remains unclear. In this study, we reveal that maize enhance...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jul 21

My pick for In Other Journals this week: Sequencing senescence in plants. Single nucleus RNA seq maps out the timing of nutrient allocation during senescence.
My summary here:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...

In Other Journals

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jul 17

Thanks - I'll keep it in mind for the future!

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jul 17

I am looking forward to my first @aspbofficial.bsky.social #PlantBio2025 meeting next week in Milwaukee. If anyone there wants to chat about publishing in @science.org then do get in touch. My colleague @sarahlempriere.bsky.social who handles commentary articles will be there too!
#PlantScience

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jul 11

I'll be at this meeting in Edinburgh in September. Happy to chat to anyone going about publishing in Science!
#PlantScience

The Sainsbury Laboratory @thesainsburylab.bsky.social · Jul 10

You still have a full day to submit your abstract and register for the 13th edition of the Plant Peptide Receptor Meeting! 🌿
More info and registration:
pprm2025.events.kdmeventsportal.co.uk

Also take a moment to appreciate this beautiful logo made by our skilled @hsuanpai.bsky.social 🎨

#PPRM

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 27

Conjugating drugs to plant polysaccharide, xyloglucan, to enable efficient gut targeting with the assistance of microbes.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

(2/2)

Bespoke plant glycoconjugates for gut microbiota–mediated drug targeting

The gut microbiota of mammals possess distinctive metabolic pathways with untapped therapeutic potential. Using molecular insights into dietary fiber metabolism by the human gut microbiota, we designe...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 27

Two plant-related papers in @science.org this week handled by my colleagues:

Genetic adaptation within ash tree populations offering possible avenues to explore to combat ash dieback.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

(1/2)

#PlantScience

Rapid polygenic adaptation in a wild population of ash trees under a novel fungal epidemic

Rapid evolution through small shifts in allele frequencies at thousands of loci is a long-standing neo-Darwinian prediction but is hard to characterize in the wild. European ash tree (Fraxinus excelsi...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 25

My pick for In Other Journals this week
Zooming in on light stress
Water droplets focus light on the surface of a leaf leading to an increase in chloroplast Ca2+, probably coming from a store in the ER. @simonstael.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
#PlantScience

In Other Journals

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 14

Thanks Mary!

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 13

Out First Release in @science.org today, nice work finding that redox regulates multimerisation of Aux/IAA proteins during root xerobranching:

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Redox-regulated Aux/IAA multimerization modulates auxin responses

Reactive oxygen species function as key signals in plant adaptation to environmental stresses like drought. Roots respond to transient water unavailability by temporarily ceasing branching through the...

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 13

#PlantScience

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 13

Finally, a book review looking at North America's prairie grasses, which are being affected by both climate change and changing land use.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(8/8)

North America’s last prairies

The region’s grasslands—vital ecosystems and carbon sinks—have been farmed and ranched beyond recognition

www.science.org

Maddy Seale @maddyseale.bsky.social · Jun 13

We also have a wonderful News Feature from @erikstokstad.bsky.social about what scientists are learning by studying the world's hottest tropical forests
www.science.org/content/arti...
and you can listen to the related podcast here: www.science.org/content/podc...
(7/8)

Tropical forests are heating up. Can they cope?

Scientists are pushing plants beyond their comfort zone to test their resilience to warming

www.science.org