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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Imaging Cell Shape Change in Living Drosophila Embryos
Published on: March 30, 2011
Trichome morphogenesis: a cell-cycle perspective
1ZMBP, Entwicklungsgenetik, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, D-72076 Tüingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Arabidopsis leaf hairs (trichomes) are polyploid epidermal cells with a predictable branching pattern. More than 15 genes have been identified that are involved in the regulation of branching. The cloning of the ZWICHEL, ANGUSTIFOLIA and STICHEL genes points to two mechanistic aspects of branch formation: (i) a role of the microtubule cytoskeleton; and (ii) a link to the regulation of cell divisions. The latter aspect is supported by the recent identification of an Arabidopsis mutant with multicellular trichomes, the siamese mutant, suggesting that Arabidopsis trichomes are evolutionarily derived from multicellular forms. We speculate that the spatial information for branch formation is derived from mechanisms employed in cell divisions.
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