Apocarotenoid signaling regulates meristem activity and shapes shoot and root lateral organ formation in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Plastids synthesize signals crucial for plant development, including carotenoid-derived molecules with hormonal and retrograde signaling functions that regulate nuclear gene expression, which is an emerging research area. Here we investigate the function of the plastid-derived apocarotenoid signal 1 (ACS1), whose accumulation disrupts plastid biogenesis, affects lateral organ formation, and compromises apical meristem maintenance. By modulating ACS1 levels in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) through different light conditions, we show its reversible and dynamic role in leaf and root development. Notably, the characteristic morphological defects of ACS1-accumulating mutants revert under conditions that limit its synthesis, even several days post-germination. This indicates that ACS1 does

SUBMITTER: Sierra J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508801 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature