title: Polarity in plant asymmetric cell division: Division orientation and cell fate differentiation.
abstract: Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is universally required for the development of multicellular organisms. Unlike animal cells, plant cells have a rigid cellulosic extracellular matrix, the cell wall, which provides physical support and forms communication routes. This fundamental difference leads to some unique mechanisms in plants for generating asymmetries during cell division. However, plants also utilize intrinsically polarized proteins to regulate asymmetric signaling and cell division, a strategy similar to the differentiation mechanism found in animals. Current progress suggests that common regulatory modes, i.e. protein spontaneous clustering and cytoskeleton reorganization, underlie protein polarization in both animal and plant cells. Despite these commonalities, it is important to note that intrinsic mechanisms in plants are heavily influenced by extrinsic cues. To control physical asymmetry in cell division, although our understanding is fragmentary thus far, plants might have evolved novel polarization strategies to orientate cell division plane. Recent studies also suggest that the phytohormone auxin, one of the most pivotal small molecules in plant development, regulates ACD in plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Wanchen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, NJ 08901, USA; Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, NJ 08854, USA. Electronic address: dong@waksman.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D060049:Asymmetric Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D016764:Cell Polarity; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D008954:Models, Biological; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D063245:Plant Development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015003:Yeasts / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Asymmetric cell division; Auxin signaling; Cell division orientation; Cell polarity; Differential cell identity; Plant development; Protein polarization