Vascular patterning

Single-cell transcriptomics sheds light on the identity and metabolism of developing leaf cells

As the main photosynthetic instruments of vascular plants, leaves are crucial and complex plant organs. A strict organization of leaf mesophyll and epidermal cell layers orchestrates photosynthesis and gas exchange. In addition, water and nutrients for leaf growth are transported through the vascular tissue. To establish the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of these different leaf tissues, we performed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing of individual cells isolated from young leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings grown in two different environmental conditions. The detection of approximately 19,000 different transcripts in over 1,800 high-quality leaf cells revealed 14 cell populations composing the young, differentiating leaf. Besides the cell populations comprising the core leaf tissues, we identified subpopulations with a distinct identity or metabolic activity. In addition, we proposed cell-type-specific markers for each of these populations. Finally, an intuitive web tool allows for browsing the presented dataset. Our data present insights on how the different cell populations constituting a developing leaf are connected via developmental, metabolic, or stress-related trajectories.

A vacuolar hexose transport is required for xylem development in the inflorescence stem

In Angiosperms, the development of the vascular system is controlled by a complex network of transcription factors. However, how nutrient availability in the vascular cells affects their development remains to be addressed. At the cellular level, cytosolic sugar availability is regulated mainly by sugar exchanges at the tonoplast through active and/or facilitated transport. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), among the genes encoding tonoplastic transporters, SUGAR WILL EVENTUALLY BE EXPORTED TRANSPORTER 16 (SWEET16) and SWEET17 expression has been previously detected in the vascular system. Here, using a reverse genetics approach, we propose that sugar exchanges at the tonoplast, regulated by SWEET16, are important for xylem cell division as revealed in particular by the decreased number of xylem cells in the swt16 mutant and the accumulation of SWEET16 at the procambium-xylem boundary. In addition, we demonstrate that transport of hexoses mediated by SWEET16 and/or SWEET17 is required to sustain the formation of the xylem secondary cell wall. This result is in line with a defect in the xylem cell wall composition as measured by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy in the swt16swt17 double mutant and by upregulation of several genes involved in secondary cell wall synthesis. Our work therefore supports a model in which xylem development partially depends on the exchange of hexoses at the tonoplast of xylem-forming cells.

Knox homologs shoot meristemless (STM) and KNAT6 are epistatic to CLAVATA3 (CLV3) during shoot meristem development in Arabidopsis thaliana

BACKGROUND

In Arabidopsis, the genes SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) and CLAVATA3 (CLV3) antagonistically regulate shoot meristem development. STM is essential for both development and maintenance of the meristem, as stm mutants fail to develop a shoot meristem. CLV3, on the other hand, negatively regulates meristem proliferation, and clv3 mutants possess an enlarged shoot meristem. Genetic interaction studies revealed that stm and clv3 dominantly suppress each other's phenotypes. STM works in conjunction with its closely related homologue KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX GENE 6 (KNAT6) to promote meristem development and organ separation, as stm knat6 double mutants fail to form shoot meristem and produce a fused cotyledon.

RESULTS

In this study, we show that clv3 fails to promote shoot meristem formation in stm-1 background if we also remove KNAT6. stm-1 knat6 clv3 triple mutants result in shoot meristem termination and produce fused cotyledons similar to stm knat6 double mutant. Notably, the stm-1 knat6 and stm-1 knat6 clv3 alleles lack tissue in the presumed region of SAM that is a novel phenotype reported in Arabidopsis mutants. stm-1 knat6 clv3 also showed reduced inflorescence size as compared to clv3 single or stm clv3 double mutants.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to previously published data, these data suggest that STM and KNAT6 are redundantly required for the vegetative SAM, but insufficient for the inflorescence meristem.

Plant vascular development: mechanisms and environmental regulation

Plant vascular development is a complex process culminating in the generation of xylem and phloem, the plant transporting conduits. Xylem and phloem arise from specialized stem cells collectively termed (pro)cambium. Once developed, xylem transports mainly water and mineral nutrients and phloem transports photoassimilates and signaling molecules. In the past few years, major advances have been made to characterize the molecular, genetic and physiological aspects that govern vascular development. However, less is known about how the environment re-shapes the process, which molecular mechanisms link environmental inputs with developmental outputs, which gene regulatory networks facilitate the genetic adaptation of vascular development to environmental niches, or how the first vascular cells appeared as an evolutionary innovation. In this review, we (1) summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms involved in vascular development, focusing on the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, (2) describe the anatomical effect of specific environmental factors on the process, (3) speculate about the main entry points through which the molecular mechanisms controlling of the process might be altered by specific environmental factors, and (4) discuss future research which could identify the genetic factors underlying phenotypic plasticity of vascular development.

Pharmacognostic Study of Sangkareho Root (Callicarpa longifolia Lam.) from Pelaihari, South Kalimantan

Sangkareho (Callicarpa longifolia Lam.) is used traditionally by one of Kalimantan's indigenous tribes, the Dayak Tunjung tribe as a medicine for colds and inflammation, where the plant parts used are the roots. Considering its very potential prospects, research aimed at providing a scientific basis for plant pharmacognostic data needs to be carried out with qualitative methods. The qualitative examination is done by several methods including test identification of organoleptic, macroscopic, microscopic, and chemical compounds. Organoleptic test results showed that the roots have a light brown color, bitter and slightly spicy, and a rather pungent odor. Microscopic test results showed sangkareho root has a length of � 90 cm; width of � 1 cm; and for the form of a spear with a ride root system. Microscopic observations are found in the form of epidermal cells, exodermis, cortex, endodermis, bearing files, calcium oxalate crystals, and stone cells. The identification of chemical compounds showed positive results against alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and triterpenoids. The thin-layer chromatography profile shows four separate stains with eluent ethyl acetate : methanol : water in a ratio of 8 : 2 : 1, respectively.

Fine-tuning of root elongation by ethylene: a tool to study dynamic structure-function relationships between root architecture and nitrate absorption

Background Recently developed genetic and pharmacological approaches have been used to explore NO3-/ethylene signalling interactions and how the modifications in root architecture by pharmacological modulation of ethylene biosynthesis affect nitrate uptake. Key Results Structure-function studies combined with recent approaches to chemical genomics highlight the non-specificity of commonly used inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis such as AVG (l-aminoethoxyvinylglycine). Indeed, AVG inhibits aminotransferases such as ACC synthase (ACS) and tryptophan aminotransferase (TAA) involved in ethylene and auxin biosynthesis but also some aminotransferases implied in nitrogen (N) metabolism. In this framework, it can be assumed that the products of nitrate assimilation and hormones may interact through a hub in carbon (C) and N metabolism to drive the root morphogenetic programme (RMP). Although ethylene/auxin interactions play a major role in cell division and elongation in root meristems, shaping of the root system depends also on energetic considerations. Based on this finding, the analysis is extended to nutrient ion-hormone interactions assuming a fractal or constructal model for root development. Conclusion Therefore, the tight control of root structure-function in the RMP may explain why over-expressing nitrate transporter genes to decouple structure-function relationships and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has been unsuccessful.

Leaf hydraulic conductance varies with vein anatomy across Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type and leaf vein mutants

Leaf venation is diverse across plant species and has practical applications from paleobotany to modern agriculture. However, the impact of vein traits on plant performance has not yet been tested in a model system such as Arabidopsis thaliana. Previous studies analysed cotyledons of A. thaliana vein mutants and identified visible differences in their vein systems from the wild type (WT). We measured leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ), vein traits, and xylem and mesophyll anatomy for A. thaliana WT (Col-0) and four vein mutants (dot3-111 and dot3-134, and cvp1-3 and cvp2-1). Mutant true leaves did not possess the qualitative venation anomalies previously shown in the cotyledons, but varied quantitatively in vein traits and leaf anatomy across genotypes. The WT had significantly higher mean Kleaf . Across all genotypes, there was a strong correlation of Kleaf with traits related to hydraulic conductance across the bundle sheath, as influenced by the number and radial diameter of bundle sheath cells and vein length per area. These findings support the hypothesis that vein traits influence Kleaf , indicating the usefulness of this mutant system for testing theory that was primarily established comparatively across species, and supports a strong role for the bundle sheath in influencing Kleaf .

ClearSee: a rapid optical clearing reagent for whole-plant fluorescence imaging

Imaging techniques for visualizing and analyzing precise morphology and gene expression patterns are essential for understanding biological processes during development in all organisms. With the aid of chemical screening, we developed a clearing method using chemical solutions, termed ClearSee, for deep imaging of morphology and gene expression in plant tissues. ClearSee rapidly diminishes chlorophyll autofluorescence while maintaining fluorescent protein stability. By adjusting the refractive index mismatch, whole-organ and whole-plant imaging can be performed by both confocal and two-photon excitation microscopy in ClearSee-treated samples. Moreover, ClearSee is applicable to multicolor imaging of fluorescent proteins to allow structural analysis of multiple gene expression. Given that ClearSee is compatible with staining by chemical dyes, the technique is useful for deep imaging in conjunction with genetic markers and for plant species not amenable to transgenic approaches. This method is useful for whole imaging for intact morphology and will help to accelerate the discovery of new phenomena in plant biological research.

Summary: The optical clearing reagent ClearSee improves the multicolor imaging of fluorescent proteins and dyes and allows the structural analysis of gene expression patterns in multiple plant tissues.

A Journey Through a Leaf: Phenomics Analysis of Leaf Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis, leaves contribute to the largest part of the aboveground biomass. In these organs, light is captured and converted into chemical energy, which plants use to grow and complete their life cycle. Leaves emerge as a small pool of cells at the vegetative shoot apical meristem and develop into planar, complex organs through different interconnected cellular events. Over the last decade, numerous phenotyping techniques have been developed to visualize and quantify leaf size and growth, leading to the identification of numerous genes that contribute to the final size of leaves. In this review, we will start at the Arabidopsis rosette level and gradually zoom in from a macroscopic view on leaf growth to a microscopic and molecular view. Along this journey, we describe different techniques that have been key to identify important events during leaf development and discuss approaches that will further help unraveling the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie leaf growth.

Suppression of Dwarf and irregular xylem Phenotypes Generates Low-Acetylated Biomass Lines in Arabidopsis

eskimo1-5 (esk1-5) is a dwarf Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant that has a constitutive drought syndrome and collapsed xylem vessels, along with low acetylation levels in xylan and mannan. ESK1 has xylan O-acetyltransferase activity in vitro. We used a suppressor strategy on esk1-5 to screen for variants with wild-type growth and low acetylation levels, a favorable combination for ethanol production. We found a recessive mutation in the KAKTUS (KAK) gene that suppressed dwarfism and the collapsed xylem character, the cause of decreased hydraulic conductivity in the esk1-5 mutant. Backcrosses between esk1-5 and two independent knockout kak mutants confirmed suppression of the esk1-5 effect. kak single mutants showed larger stem diameters than the wild type. The KAK promoter fused with a reporter gene showed activity in the vascular cambium, phloem, and primary xylem in the stem and hypocotyl. However, suppression of the collapsed xylem phenotype in esk1 kak double mutants was not associated with the recovery of cell wall O-acetylation or any major cell wall modifications. Therefore, our results indicate that, in addition to its described activity as a repressor of endoreduplication, KAK may play a role in vascular development. Furthermore, orthologous esk1 kak double mutants may hold promise for ethanol production in crop plants.

Polarity, continuity, and alignment in plant vascular strands

Plant vascular cells are joined end to end along uninterrupted lines to connect shoot organs with roots; vascular strands are thus polar, continuous, and internally aligned. What controls the formation of vascular strands with these properties? The "auxin canalization hypothesis"-based on positive feedback between auxin flow through a cell and the cell's capacity for auxin transport-predicts the selection of continuous files of cells that transport auxin polarly, thus accounting for the polarity and continuity of vascular strands. By contrast, polar, continuous auxin transport-though required-is insufficient to promote internal alignment of vascular strands, implicating additional factors. The auxin canalization hypothesis was derived from the response of mature tissue to auxin application but is consistent with molecular and cellular events in embryo axis formation and shoot organ development. Objections to the hypothesis have been raised based on vascular organizations in callus tissue and shoot organs but seem unsupported by available evidence. Other objections call instead for further research; yet the inductive and orienting influence of auxin on continuous vascular differentiation remains unique.

Leaf development

Leaves are the most important organs for plants. Without leaves, plants cannot capture light energy or synthesize organic compounds via photosynthesis. Without leaves, plants would be unable perceive diverse environmental conditions, particularly those relating to light quality/quantity. Without leaves, plants would not be able to flower because all floral organs are modified leaves. Arabidopsis thaliana is a good model system for analyzing mechanisms of eudicotyledonous, simple-leaf development. The first section of this review provides a brief history of studies on development in Arabidopsis leaves. This history largely coincides with a general history of advancement in understanding of the genetic mechanisms operating during simple-leaf development in angiosperms. In the second section, I outline events in Arabidopsis leaf development, with emphasis on genetic controls. Current knowledge of six important components in these developmental events is summarized in detail, followed by concluding remarks and perspectives.

Immunolocalization of hemicelluloses in Arabidopsis thaliana stem. Part II: Mannan deposition is regulated by phase of development and its patterns of temporal and spatial distribution differ between cell types

Microdistribution of mannans in Arabidopsis stem was examined using immunolocalization with mannan-specific monoclonal antibodies (LM21 and LM22). Mannan labeling in secondary xylem cells (except for protoxylem vessels) was initially detected in the cell wall during S(2) formation and increased gradually during development. Labeling in metaxylem vessels (vessels) was detected earlier than that in xylary fibers (fibers), but was much weaker than fibers. The S(1) layer of vessels and fibers showed much less labeling than the S(2) layer. Some strong labeling was also detected in pit membranes of vessel pits. Interfascicular fibers (If-fibers) showed more heterogeneous labeling patterns than fibers by LM21. Unlike fibers, If-fibers also revealed some strong labeling in the cell corner of the S(1) layer, indicating different mannan labeling patterns between If-fibers and fibers. Interestingly, protoxylem vessels (proto-vessels) showed strong labeling at the early stage of secondary xylem formation with more intense labeling in the outer- than inner cell wall even though fibers and vessels showed no or very low labeling at this stage. Labeling intensity of proto-vessels was also much stronger than vessels and stronger or slightly weaker than fibers by LM21 and LM22, respectively. Using pectinase and mild alkali treatment, the presence of mannans in parenchymatous cells was also confirmed. Together our observations indicate that there are temporal and spatial variations in mannan labeling between cell types in the secondary xylem of Arabidopsis stems. Some similar features of mannan labeling between Arabidopsis and poplar are also discussed.

Regulation of inflorescence architecture by intertissue layer ligand-receptor communication between endodermis and phloem

Multicellular organisms achieve final body shape and size by coordinating cell proliferation, expansion, and differentiation. Loss of function in the Arabidopsis ERECTA (ER) receptor-kinase gene confers characteristic compact inflorescence architecture, but its underlying signaling pathways remain unknown. Here we report that the expression of ER in the phloem is sufficient to rescue compact er inflorescences. We further identified two Epidermal Patterning Factor-like (EPFL) secreted peptide genes, EPFL4 and EPFL6/CHALLAH (CHAL), as redundant, upstream components of ER-mediated inflorescence growth. The expression of EPFL4 or EPFL6 in the endodermis, a layer adjacent to phloem, is sufficient to rescue the er-like inflorescence of epfl4 epfl6 plants. EPFL4 and EPFL6 physically associate with ER in planta. Finally, transcriptome analysis of er and epfl4 epfl6 revealed a potential downstream component as well as a role for plant hormones in EPFL4/6- and ER-mediated inflorescence growth. Our results suggest that intercell layer communication between the endodermis and phloem mediated by peptide ligands and a receptor kinase coordinates proper inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis.

A clade in the QUASIMODO2 family evolved with vascular plants and supports a role for cell wall composition in adaptation to environmental changes

The evolution of plant vascular tissue is tightly linked to the evolution of specialised cell walls. Mutations in the QUASIMODO2 (QUA2) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana were previously shown to result in cell adhesion defects due to reduced levels of the cell wall component homogalacturonic acid. In this study, we provide additional information about the role of QUA2 and its closest paralogues, QUASIMODO2 LIKE1 (QUL1) and QUL2. Within the extensive QUA2 family, our phylogenetic analysis shows that these three genes form a clade that evolved with vascular plants. Consistent with a possible role of this clade in vasculature development, QUA2 is highly expressed in the vascular tissue of embryos and inflorescence stems and overexpression of QUA2 resulted in temperature-sensitive xylem collapse. Moreover, in-depth characterisation of qua2 qul1 qul2 triple mutant and 35S::QUA2 overexpression plants revealed contrasting temperature-dependent stem development with dramatic effects on stem width. Taken together, our results suggest that the QUA2-specific clade contributed to the evolution of vasculature and illustrate the important role that modification of cell wall composition plays in the adaptation to changing environmental conditions, including changes in temperature.

Phosphoenolpyruvate provision to plastids is essential for gametophyte and sporophyte development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Restriction of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) supply to plastids causes lethality of female and male gametophytes in Arabidopsis thaliana defective in both a phosphoenolpyruvate/phosphate translocator (PPT) of the inner envelope membrane and the plastid-localized enolase (ENO1) involved in glycolytic PEP provision. Homozygous double mutants of cue1 (defective in PPT1) and eno1 could not be obtained, and homozygous cue1 heterozygous eno1 mutants [cue1/eno1(+/-)] exhibited retarded vegetative growth, disturbed flower development, and up to 80% seed abortion. The phenotypes of diminished oil in seeds, reduced flavonoids and aromatic amino acids in flowers, compromised lignin biosynthesis in stems, and aberrant exine formation in pollen indicate that cue1/eno1(+/-) disrupts multiple pathways. While diminished fatty acid biosynthesis from PEP via plastidial pyruvate kinase appears to affect seed abortion, a restriction in the shikimate pathway affects formation of sporopollonin in the tapetum and lignin in the stem. Vegetative parts of cue1/eno1(+/-) contained increased free amino acids and jasmonic acid but had normal wax biosynthesis. ENO1 overexpression in cue1 rescued the leaf and root phenotypes, restored photosynthetic capacity, and improved seed yield and oil contents. In chloroplasts, ENO1 might be the only enzyme missing for a complete plastidic glycolysis.

Modification of cell proliferation patterns alters leaf vein architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana

Formation of leaf vascular pattern requires regulation of a number of cellular processes, including cell proliferation. To assess the role of cell proliferation during vein order formation, leaf development in genetic lines exhibiting aberrant cell proliferation patterns due to altered expression patterns of ANT and ICK1 genes was analyzed. Modification of cell proliferation patterns alters the number of higher order veins and the number of minor tertiary veins remodeled as intersecondary veins in Arabidopsis rosette leaves. Minor vein complexity, as indicated by branch point and freely ending veinlet number, is highly correlated with a decrease or increase in cell proliferation. Observations of procambial strand formation in modified cell proliferation pattern lines showed that vein pattern is specified early in leaf development and that formation of freely ending veinlets is temporally correlated with the expansion of ground meristem when cell proliferation is terminated prematurely. Taken together, our observations indicate that: (1) genes that modulate cell proliferation play a key role in regulating the meristematic competence of ground meristem cells to form procambium and vein pattern during leaf development, and (2) ANT is a crucial part of this regulation.

Synchronization of plant circadian oscillators with a phase delay effect of the vein network

Synchronization phenomena in coupled circadian oscillators of plant leaves were investigated experimentally using bioluminescence technology for a clock gene. Analyzing the phase of circadian oscillation, the phase-wave propagations and the phase delay caused by the vein network were observed. We describe these phase dynamics using a two-layer model with coupled Stuart-Landau equations. Global synchronization of circadian oscillators in the leaf is also investigated.

Eucalyptus gunnii CCR and CAD2 promoters are active in lignifying cells during primary and secondary xylem formation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Cell-specific expression patterns of the Eucalyptus gunnii cinnamoyl coenzymeA reductase (EgCCR) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (EgCAD2) promoters were analyzed by promoter-GUS histochemistry in the primary and secondary xylem tissues from floral stems and roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression patterns indicated that the EgCCR and EgCAD2 genes were expressed in a coordinated manner in primary and secondary xylem tissues of the Arabidopsis floral stem and root. Both genes were expressed in all lignifying cells (vessel elements, xylem fibers and paratracheal parenchyma cells) of xylem tissues. The capacity for long-term monolignol production appeared to be related to the cell-specific developmental processes and biological roles of different cell types. Our results suggested that lignification of short-lived vessel elements was achieved by a two-step process involving (i) monolignol production by vessel elements prior to vessel programmed cell death and (ii) subsequent monolignol production by vessel-associated living paratracheal parenchyma cells following vessel element cell death. EgCCR and EgCAD2 gene expression patterns suggested that the process of xylem cell lignification was similar in both primary and secondary xylem tissues in Arabidopsis floral stems and roots.

Genetic variations of cell wall digestibility related traits in floral stems of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions as a basis for the improvement of the feeding value in maize and forage plants

Floral stems of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions were used as a model system relative to forage plant stems in genetic variation studies of lignin content and cell wall digestibility related traits. Successive investigations were developed in a core collection of 24 Arabidopsis accessions and in a larger collection of 280 accessions. Significant genetic variation for lignin content in the cell wall, and for the two in vitro cell wall digestibility investigated traits, were found both in the core collection and in the large collection. Genotype x environment interactions, investigated in the core collection, were significant with a few genotypes contributing greatly to interactions, based on ecovalence value estimates. In the core collection, genotypes 42AV, 224AV, and 8AV had low cell wall digestibility values, whatever be the environmental conditions. Genotype 157AV, observed only in one environment, also appeared to have a low cell wall digestibility. Conversely, genotypes 236AV, 162AV, 70AV, 101AV, 83AV had high cell wall digestibility values, genotype 83AV having a slightly greater instability across differing environments than others. The well-known accession Col-0 (186AV) appeared with a medium level of cell wall digestibility and a weak to medium level of interaction between environments. The ranges of variation in cell wall digestibility traits were higher in the large collection than in the core collection of 24 accessions, these results needing confirmation due to the lower number of replicates. Accessions 295AV, 148AV, and 309AV could be models for low stem cell wall digestibility values, with variable lignin content. Similarly, accessions 83AV and 162AV, already identified from the study of the core collection, and five accessions (6AV, 20AV, 91AV, 114AV, and 223AV) could be models for high stem cell wall digestibility values. The large variations observed between Arabidopsis accessions for both lignin content and cell wall digestibility in floral stems have strengthened the use this species as a powerful tool for discovering genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis and lignification of dicotyledons forage plants. Investigations of this kind might also be applicable to monocotyledons forage plants due to the basic similarity of the genes involved in the lignin pathway of Angiosperms and the partial homology of the cell wall composition and organization of the mature vascular system in grasses and Arabidopsis.

Control of leaf vascular patterning by polar auxin transport

The formation of the leaf vascular pattern has fascinated biologists for centuries. In the early leaf primordium, complex networks of procambial cells emerge from homogeneous subepidermal tissue. The molecular nature of the underlying positional information is unknown, but various lines of evidence implicate gradually restricted transport routes of the plant hormone auxin in defining sites of procambium formation. Here we show that a crucial member of the AtPIN family of auxin-efflux-associated proteins, AtPIN1, is expressed prior to pre-procambial and procambial cell fate markers in domains that become restricted toward sites of procambium formation. Subcellular AtPIN1 polarity indicates that auxin is directed to distinct "convergence points" in the epidermis, from where it defines the positions of major veins. Integrated polarities in all emerging veins indicate auxin drainage toward pre-existing veins, but veins display divergent polarities as they become connected at both ends. Auxin application and transport inhibition reveal that convergence point positioning and AtPIN1 expression domain dynamics are self-organizing, auxin-transport-dependent processes. We derive a model for self-regulated, reiterative patterning of all vein orders and postulate at its onset a common epidermal auxin-focusing mechanism for major-vein positioning and phyllotactic patterning.

Role of auxin in regulating Arabidopsis flower development

To elucidate the role of auxin in flower morphogenesis, its distribution patterns were studied during flower development in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Expression of DR5::GUS was regarded to reflect sites of free auxin, while immunolocalization with auxin polyclonal antibodies visualized conjugated auxin distribution. The youngest flower bud was loaded with conjugated auxin. During development, the apparent concentration of free auxin increased in gradual patterns starting at the floral-organ tip. Anthers are major sites of high concentrations of free auxin that retard the development of neighboring floral organs in both the acropetal and basipetal directions. The IAA-producing anthers synchronize flower development by retarding petal development and nectary gland activity almost up to anthesis. Tapetum cells of young anthers contain free IAA which accumulates in pollen grains, suggesting that auxin promotes pollen-tube growth towards the ovules. High amounts of free auxin in the stigma induce a wide xylem fan immediately beneath it. After fertilization, the developing embryos and seeds show elevated concentrations of auxin, which establish their axial polarity. This developmental pattern of auxin production during floral-bud development suggests that young organs which produce high concentrations of free IAA inhibit or retard organ-primordium initiation and development at the shoot tip.

Novel markers of xylogenesis in zinnia are differentially regulated by auxin and cytokinin

The characterization of in vitro xylogenic cultures of zinnia (Zinnia elegans) has led to major discoveries in the understanding of xylem formation in plants. We have constructed and characterized a subtractive library from zinnia cultures enriched in genes that are specifically expressed at the onset of secondary wall deposition and tracheary element (TE) programmed cell death. This Late Xylogenesis Library (LXL) consisted of 236 nonredundant cDNAs, 77% of which encoded novel sequences in comparison with the 17,622 expressed sequence tag sequences publicly available. cDNA arrays were constructed to examine dynamic global gene expression during the course of TE formation. As a first step in dissecting auxin and cytokinin signaling during TE differentiation, macroarrays were probed with cDNAs from cells cultured in different hormonal conditions. Fifty-one percent of the LXL genes were induced by either auxin or cytokinin individually, the large majority by auxin. To determine the potential involvement of these categories of genes in TE differentiation, multiplex in situ-reverse transcription-PCR was performed on cells for two genes encoding putative cell wall proteins: Gibberellin stimulated transcript-1, induced by auxin alone, and expansin 5, induced by cytokinin alone. All transcriptionally active TEs expressed both genes, indicating that, although these genes may not be considered as specific markers for TE differentiation per se, they are nevertheless an integral part of TE differentiation program. Among the non-TE population, four different gene expression-based cell types could be distinguished. Together, these results demonstrate the underlying complexity of hormonal perception and the existence of several different cell types in in vitro TE cell cultures.

Multiple regulatory elements contribute to the vascular-specific expression of the rice HD-Zip gene Oshox1 in Arabidopsis

The primary vascular tissues of plants differentiate from a single precursor tissue, the procambium. The role of upstream regulatory sequences in the transcriptional control of early vascular-specific gene expression is largely unknown. The onset of expression of the rice homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene Oshox1 marks procambial cells that have acquired their distinctive anatomical features but do not yet display any overt signs of terminal vascular differentiation. The expression pattern of Oshox1 in rice appears to be mainly controlled by the activity of the 1.6 kb upstream promoter region. Here, we show that the Oshox1 promoter directs vascular, auxin- and sucrose-responsive reporter gene expression in Arabidopsis plants in a fashion comparable with that in rice. This is the case not only during normal development but also upon experimental manipulation, suggesting that the cis-acting regulatory elements that are instrumental in Oshox1 expression pattern are conserved between rice and Arabidopsis. Finally, through analysis of reporter gene expression profiles conferred by progressive 5' deletions of the Oshox1 promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis, we have identified upstream regulatory regions required for auxin and sucrose inducibility, and for cell type-, tissue- and organ-specific aspects of Oshox1 expression. Our study suggests that Oshox1 embryonic vascular expression is mainly achieved through suppression of expression in non-vascular tissues.

DRP1A is responsible for vascular continuity synergistically working with VAN3 in Arabidopsis

In most dicotyledonous plants, vascular tissues in the leaf have a reticulate venation pattern. We have isolated and characterized an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant defective in the vascular network defective mutant, van3. van3 mutants show a discontinuous vascular pattern, and VAN3 is known to encode an ADP-ribosylation-factor-GTPase-activating protein that regulates membrane trafficking in the trans-Golgi network. To elucidate the molecular nature controlling the vein patterning process through membrane trafficking, we searched VAN3-interacting proteins using a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two hybrid system. As a result, we isolated the plant Dynamin-Related Protein 1A (DRP1A) as a VAN3 interacting protein. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of DRP1AGUS and VAN3GUS were very similar. The subcellular localization of VAN3 completely overlapped to that of DRP1A. drp1a showed a disconnected vascular network, and the drp1a mutation enhanced the phenotype of vascular discontinuity of the van3 mutant in the drp1a van3 double mutant. Furthermore, the drp1 mutation enhanced the discontinuous vascular pattern of the gnom mutant, which had the same effect as that of the van3 mutation. These results indicate that DRP1 modulates the VAN3 function in vesicle budding from the trans-Golgi network, which regulates vascular formation in Arabidopsis.