Science Visualized

Credit: Hyemin Seo

MUTE in Action

Stomata are a type of cellular valve found on the surface of plants. Because they allow gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen to flow in and out of plants, they are arguably some of the most important cellular structures on Earth. Under a microscope, stomata resemble tiny mouths, opening and closing as a plant regulates gases and water in its tissue. UT Austin scientists in the lab of Professor Keiko Torii uncovered the series of developmental steps that are necessary for a plant to develop its stomata. One step involves a protein nicknamed MUTE, which is shown in yellow in this microscopic image from cell and molecular biology graduate student Hyemin Seo.