Cell pattern in the Arabidopsis root epidermis determined by lateral inhibition with feedback.
In the root epidermis of Arabidopsis, hair and nonhair cell types are specified in a distinct position-dependent pattern. Here, we show that transcriptional feedback loops between the WEREWOLF (WER), CAPRICE (CPC), and GLABRA2 (GL2) genes help to establish this pattern. Positional cues bias the expression of the WER MYB gene, leading to the induction of CPC and GL2 in cells located in a particular position (N) and adoption of the nonhair fate. The truncated MYB encoded by CPC mediates a lateral inhibition mechanism to negatively regulate WER, GL2, and its own gene in the alternative position (H) to induce the hair fate. These results provide a molecular genetic framework for understanding the determination of a cell-type pattern in plants.
Lee
Myeong Min
MM
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
Schiefelbein
John
J
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
C511988:ATR1 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C511989:CPC protein, Arabidopsis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C089991:GL2 protein, Arabidopsis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; C402111:WER protein, Arabidopsis