Boron-bridged GIPCs stabilize cell wall anchoring and PIN polar domains.

July 16, 2026| Source: Cell

Boron (B) is an essential plant micronutrient whose deficiency impairs global crop yields. Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs) are major lipids in the plasma membrane (PM), and PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins mediate polar auxin transport (PAT) via asymmetric PM localization. This study demonstrates that these components are functionally linked: B cross-links nearly all GIPC series, forming physical PM-cell wall attachments visualized as Hechtian strands. B-mediated cross-linking also restricts PIN2 lateral diffusion and endocytosis, stabilizing its polar domain formation via direct GIPC-PIN2 interaction. Phenotypic evidence supports this mechanism, as both B deficiency and impaired GIPC biosynthesis phenocopy high-order pin mutants, showing defective PIN localization and diminished auxin maxima. Thus, the B-dependent, GIPC-mediated PM-cell wall continuum immobilizes PIN polar domains, enabling PAT and ensuring proper plant development and environmental adaptation.

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The honey bee stinger: An unusual pump with collapsible double pistons.

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Health & MedicineOctober 15, 2026

Mitochondria-targeted tetraoxanes initiate lipid peroxidation to drive ferroptosis and tumor suppression.

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