Bound Polyamines in Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Literature abounds in regard to biology of aliphatic polyamines (PAs) in all eukaryotic cells examined. In plants, PAs are important players in growth, cell proliferation, cell cycle, differentiation, organogenesis, morphogenesis, dormancy, tuberization, reproduction (flowering, embryogenesis, pollen germination, fruit set and ripening), senescence/PCD, ion channels, responses to environmental stresses, photosynthesis, and other.

In nature, PAs occur as free molecular bases but are often found bound to different molecules with a variety of linkages, for example to small molecules, such as phenolic acids, and to various macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and other. In plant cells, PAs are often covalently linked to hydroxycinnamic acids or to proteins, the latter catalysed by transglutaminases (TGases). Compelling evidence in favour of important roles for PAs in a variety of biological events has emerged via experiments using molecular approaches and metabolic inhibitors. Although PAs are known to be bound to other molecules, role(s) of such partnering is largely unknown thus far.

The aim of this issue is to invite research articles, including reviews, on all types of bound PA and their implicated functions. Physiological aspects of these modifications are welcome even if in certain instances these could be hypothetical. The idea is to derive a unifying concept to interpret the multiple molecular roles of these relatively simple aliphatic polycations.

We welcome articles that focus on bound PAs and their role in any aspect of plant cell biology. These could include original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modelling approaches and methodologies. Each potential author should submit an abstract.

For information on manuscript preparation and related matters, please visit the "Instructions for Authors" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/instructions/).

Prof. Donatella Serafini-Fracassini
Dr. Autar K. Mattoo
Dr. Iris Aloisi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• bound aliphatic polyamines
• putrescine
• spermidine
• spermine
• thermospermine
• transglutaminase
• conjugation processes
• type of linkages
• partner molecules
• structure-activity relationship
• hypusination