title: Cell-fate specification in the epidermis: a common patterning mechanism in the root and shoot.
abstract: The specification of epidermal hairs in Arabidopsis provides a useful model for the study of pattern formation in plants. Although the distributions of hair cells in the root and shoot appear quite different, recent studies show that pattern formation in each relies on a common cassette of transcriptional regulators. During development in each organ, neighboring cells compete to express regulators that specify the primary cell fate (including WEREWOLF [WER]/GLABRA1 [GL1], GL3/bHLH, TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA [TTG], and GL2), as well as those that prevent their neighbors from adopting this fate (including CAPRICE [CPC] and TRIPTYCHON [TRY]). The basic mechanism of lateral inhibition with feedback that has been uncovered by recent studies provides a conceptual framework for understanding how patterns of cell fate in general may be specified during plant development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, 830 North University Avenue, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA. schiefel@umich.edu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiefelbein
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000254:growth & development*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development*; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; D014157:Transcription Factors; C511988:ATR1 protein, Arabidopsis; C511989:CPC protein, Arabidopsis; C089991:GL2 protein, Arabidopsis; C417284:GL3 protein, Arabidopsis; C468526:TRIPTYCHON protein, Arabidopsis; C121067:TTG1 protein, Arabidopsis; C402111:WER protein, Arabidopsis; C071556:GL1 protein, Arabidopsis