title: Patterning the axis in plants--auxin in control.
abstract: Axis formation and patterning are fundamental processes establishing the body organization of multicellular organisms. In plants, patterning is not confined to embryogenesis but continues to produce new structures--lateral organs--along the growing primary body axis and also initiates secondary body axes. The signalling molecule auxin has been identified as a key player in plant axial patterning. The shoot and root sections of the axis seem to produce lateral organs in different ways. However, very recent findings suggest a general mechanism of branching triggered by local accumulation of auxin in a 'zone of competence' at the margin of stem-cell systems. How the general auxin signal is converted into organ-specific developmental programs remains a major challenge for the future.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Developmental Genetics, Tübingen University, Auf der Morgenstelle 3, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. ive.desmet@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Ive
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jürgens
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D052585:Phloem / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D059828:Plant Cells; D063245:Plant Development; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D052584:Xylem / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids