Arabidopsis stomatal initiation is controlled by MAPK-mediated regulation of the bHLH SPEECHLESS.
Stomata, epidermal structures that modulate gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere, play critical roles in primary productivity and the global climate. Positively acting transcription factors and negatively acting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling control stomatal development in Arabidopsis; however, it is not known how the opposing activities of these regulators are integrated. We found that a unique domain in a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) stomatal initiating factor, SPEECHLESS, renders it a MAPK phosphorylation target in vitro and modulates its function in vivo. MAPK cascades modulate a diverse set of activities including development, cell proliferation, and response to external stresses. The coupling of MAPK signaling to SPEECHLESS activity provides cell type specificity for MAPK output while allowing the integration of multiple developmental and environmental signals into the production and spacing of stomata.
Lampard
Gregory R
GR
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Macalister
Cora A
CA
Bergmann
Dominique C
DC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C517480:SPEECHLESS protein, Arabidopsis