Project description:Differentiation processes in the primary root meristem are controlled by several signaling pathways that are regulated by phytohormones or by secreted peptides. Long term maintenance of an active root meristem requires that the generation of new root meristem cells and the loss of cells from the meristem due to differentiation is precisely coordinated. Via phenotypic and large scale transcriptome analyses of mutants, we show that the signalling peptide CLE40 and the receptor proteins CLV2 and CRN act in two genetically separable pathways that antagonistically regulate cell differentiation in the proximal root meristem. CLE40 inhibits cell differentiation throughout the primary root meristem by controlling genes with roles in abscisic acid, auxin and cytokinin signalling. CRN and CLV2 jointly control target genes that promote cell differentiation specifically in the transition zone of the proximal root meristem. While CRN and CLV2 are not acting in the CLE40 signaling pathway under normal growth conditions, both proteins are required when the levels of CLE40 or related CLE peptides increase. We show here that two antagonistically acting pathways controlling root meristem differentiation can be activated by the same peptide in a dosage dependent manner.
Project description:Differentiation processes in the primary root meristem are controlled by several signaling pathways that are regulated by phytohormones or by secreted peptides. Long term maintenance of an active root meristem requires that the generation of new root meristem cells and the loss of cells from the meristem due to differentiation is precisely coordinated. Via phenotypic and large scale transcriptome analyses of mutants, we show that the signalling peptide CLE40 and the receptor proteins CLV2 and CRN act in two genetically separable pathways that antagonistically regulate cell differentiation in the proximal root meristem. CLE40 inhibits cell differentiation throughout the primary root meristem by controlling genes with roles in abscisic acid, auxin and cytokinin signalling. CRN and CLV2 jointly control target genes that promote cell differentiation specifically in the transition zone of the proximal root meristem. While CRN and CLV2 are not acting in the CLE40 signaling pathway under normal growth conditions, both proteins are required when the levels of CLE40 or related CLE peptides increase. We show here that two antagonistically acting pathways controlling root meristem differentiation can be activated by the same peptide in a dosage dependent manner. 3 replicates reference(Col-0), clv2-gabi, cle40-2; 2 replicates crn-3
Project description:DELLA proteins act as hubs that relay environmental information to the multiple transcriptional circuits that control growth and development through physical interaction with transcription factors from different families. We have analyzed the presence of one DELLA protein at the Arabidopsis genome by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to large-scale sequencing and we find that it binds at the promoters of multiple genes. Enrichment analysis shows a strong preference for cis elements recognized by specific transcription factor families. In particular, we demonstrate that DELLA proteins are recruited by type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (ARR) to the promoters of cytokinin-regulated genes, where they act as transcriptional co-activators. The biological relevance of this mechanism is underpinned by the necessity of simultaneous presence of DELLAs and ARRs to restrict root meristem growth and to promote photomorphogenesis.
Project description:We report the discovery of a root growth program in Arabidopsis that is independent of a functional quiescent center (QC). In this regulatory program, PHABULOSA (PHB), posttranscriptionally regulated by SHR and SCR, plays a central role. In phb shr and phb scr mutants, root meristem/growth activity recovers significantly. Interestingly, this recovery does not accompany the resurgence of QC cells. PHB regulates apical root growth in stele cells of the root meristem, located proximal to the QC. Our genome-wide investigation suggests that PHB exerts its influence on root growth by regulating auxin-cytokinin homeostasis. Apical root growth was restored when cytokinin levels were genetically reduced in the shr mutant. Conversely, when miRNA-resistant PHB was expressed in the root stele cells, apical root growth and meristem functions were significantly inhibited without blocking the QC identity. Taken together, our investigation reveals two mechanisms through which SHR regulates root growth and stem cell activities: one is to specify and maintain the QC and the other is to regulate the proximal meristem activity through PHB and cytokinin. In this regulation, QC seems to be more involved in maintaining the “growth signal” and thus ensure the indeterminate root growth.
Project description:DELLA proteins act as hubs that relay environmental information to the multiple transcriptional circuits that control growth and development through physical interaction with transcription factors from different families. We have analyzed the presence of one DELLA protein at the Arabidopsis genome by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to large-scale sequencing and we find that it binds at the promoters of multiple genes. Enrichment analysis shows a strong preference for cis elements recognized by specific transcription factor families. In particular, we demonstrate that DELLA proteins are recruited by type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (ARR) to the promoters of cytokinin-regulated genes, where they act as transcriptional co-activators. The biological relevance of this mechanism is underpinned by the necessity of simultaneous presence of DELLAs and ARRs to restrict root meristem growth and to promote photomorphogenesis. Provided are 3 biological replicates analysing RGA binding sites in Arabidopsis seedlings. ChIP-seq was performed on plants expressing RGA-GFP under the native RGA promoter and on non-transgenic control plants as reference
Project description:Maintenance of the root-meristem is determined by polar auxin transport (PAT) and asymmetric cell division (ACD). We find that flavonoids scutellarin and scutellarein, which both have 6-hydroxyl group that differs in its structure from all known-flavonoid PAT inhibitors, promote PAT and ACD in Arabidopsis thaliana root tip, and increase root length. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression under scutellarin and mock (DMSO) treatment and identified distinct classes of genes regulated by scutellarin.