title: Direct evidence that suspensor cells have embryogenic potential that is suppressed by the embryo proper during normal embryogenesis.
abstract: The suspensor is a temporary supporting structure of proembryos. It has been proposed that suspensor cells also possess embryogenic potential, which is suppressed by the embryo as an effect of the embryo-suspensor interaction. However, data to support this hypothesis are not yet available. In this report, using an in vivo living cell laser ablation technique, we show that Arabidopsis suspensor cells can develop into embryos after removing the embryo proper. The embryo proper plays a critical role in maintaining suspensor cell identity. However, this depends on the developmental stage; after the globular embryo stage, the suspensors no longer possess the potential to develop into embryos. We also reveal that hypophysis formation may be essential for embryo differentiation. Furthermore, we show that, after removing the embryo, auxin gradually accumulates in the top suspensor cell where cell division occurs to produce an embryo. Auxin redistribution likely reprograms the fate of the suspensor cell and triggers embryogenesis in suspensor cells. Thus, we provide direct evidence that the embryo suppresses the embryogenic potential of suspensor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China;
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Xinbo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China;
authors.forename: Xingchun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Junyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Ce
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China;
authors.forename: Liyao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Changchun, 130102, China.
authors.forename: Xianzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; mxsun@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Meng-Xiang
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009024:Morphogenesis; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C091601:ABI3 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005966:Glucuronidase
keywords: auxin; cell-to-cell interaction; embryogenesis; in vivo laser ablation; suspensor