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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize
Published on: January 15, 2016
A novel two-component hybrid molecule regulates vascular morphogenesis of the Arabidopsis root
A P Mähönen1, M Bonke, L Kauppinen
1Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, POB 56, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
The developmental ontogeny of the vascular system (consisting of xylem, phloem and [pro]cambium) is poorly understood despite its central role in plant physiology. We show that in the Arabidopsis root meristem, xylem cell lineages are specified early, whereas phloem and procambium are established through a set of asymmetric cell divisions. These divisions require the WOODEN LEG (WOL) gene. The WOL gene encodes a novel two-component signal transducer with an unusual tandem arrangement of two receiver domains. It is expressed specifically in the vasculature from the early stages of embryogenesis on, consistent with a role as a sensor for vascular morphogenesis.
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