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Opportunities and challenges in plant chemical biology

Nature Chemical Biology volume 5, pages 268–272 (2009)Cite this article

Chemical biology is beginning to enhance our understanding of diverse cellular processes in plants, including endomembrane trafficking, hormone transport and cell wall biosynthesis. To reach its potential requires the development of a community-wide infrastructure of technology and expertise. We present some of the opportunities and challenges in this emerging branch of plant biology and offer some suggestions for enhancing the approach to the benefit of the community at large.

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Figure 1: Cellulose microfibrils are one of the primary components of plant cell walls and are composed of 36 hydrogen-bonded β-1,4-linked glucose residues, each produced from a single CESA subunit.
Figure 2: Bioactive chemicals can perturb distinct or intersecting biological pathways.
Figure 3: Bioactive small molecules can dissect rapid cellular processes.
Figure 4: Small molecules can help to define complex cellular networks.
Figure 5: Enhanced microscopy, increased automation and quantification of seedling and cellular-level phenotypic data will drive plant chemical biology toward a more sophisticated, network-oriented view of development by providing access to more quantifiable phenotypes.

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Acknowledgements

N.V.R. and G.R.H. are grateful to the US National Science Foundation (MCB-0520325 and MCB-0817916) for support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Integrative Genome Biology and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Glenn R. Hicks and Natasha V. Raikhel are at the Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA. nraikhel@ucr.edu,

    Glenn R Hicks & Natasha V Raikhel

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  1. Glenn R Hicks
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  2. Natasha V Raikhel
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Hicks, G., Raikhel, N. Opportunities and challenges in plant chemical biology. Nat Chem Biol 5, 268–272 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio0509-268

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