ER-Derived Compartments Are Formed by Highly Regulated Processes and Have Special Functions in Plants

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Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of plants is a part of the endomembrane system, a highly conserved system that functions in many lower and higher eukaryotes. Yet, as opposed to the ER of animal cells, the ER of plants also serves naturally as an origin for the generation of multiple ER-derived compartments having multiple functions in plant development and response to the environment. The major functions of ER-derived compartments are to store reserve com- pounds, such as storage proteins, storage oils, and rubber, as well as to accumulate massive amounts of hydrolytic enzymes in response to pathogen attacks. In addition, ER-derived compartments also transiently accumulate specific proteases that are subsequently internalizedintothevacuolesanddegradeseedstorage proteins during germination (Hara-Nishimura et al., 2004). The diversity, biogenesis, final destination, and multiple functions of ER-derived compartments in plants are the subject of this Focus issue on ER-derived compartments and is discussed in a number of joint Updates. In addition, this Focus issue includes two research papers that are related to this topic.