title: Differentiation of conductive cells: a matter of life and death.
abstract: Two major conducting tissues in plants, phloem and xylem, are composed of highly specialized cell types adapted to long distance transport. Sieve elements (SEs) in the phloem display a thick cell wall, callose-rich sieve plates and low cytoplasmic density. SE differentiation is driven by selective autolysis combined with enucleation, after which the plasma membrane and some organelles are retained. By contrast, differentiation of xylem tracheary elements (TEs) involves complete clearance of the cellular components by programmed cell death followed by autolysis of the protoplast; this is accompanied by extensive deposition of lignin and cellulose in the cell wall. Emerging molecular data on TE and SE differentiation indicate a central role for NAC and MYB type transcription factors in both processes.
authors: Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK; Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Jung-Ok
authors: JO
authors: Heo
authors: Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK.
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Blob
authors: Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK; Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: yrjo.helariutta@slcu.cam.ac.uk.
authors: Ykä
authors: Y
authors: Helariutta
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D052585:Phloem / Q000502:physiology*; D063245:Plant Development / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052584:Xylem / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors