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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
09:23
Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize
Published on: January 14, 2016
Oscillating gene expression determines competence for periodic Arabidopsis root branching
Miguel A Moreno-Risueno1, Jaimie M Van Norman, Antonio Moreno
1Department of Biology and Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 11, 2010
Summary
Plant roots develop lateral roots periodically, guided by cyclic gene expression pulses that establish prebranch sites. This periodic mechanism in plants shares similarities with molecular clocks found in animals.
Area of Science:
- Plant developmental biology
- Molecular genetics
- Root development
Background:
- Plants and animals exhibit periodic production of modular developmental units.
- Lateral root formation in plants occurs periodically along the primary root axis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanism regulating periodic lateral root formation in plants.
- To identify genes and regulatory processes involved in establishing prebranch sites and root periodicity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a reporter gene to visualize cyclic expression pulses at future lateral root sites.
- Performed microarray and promoter-luciferase assays to identify oscillating genes in the root tip.
- Conducted genetic studies to assess the role of transcriptional regulators in developmental periodicity.
Main Results:
- Cyclic expression pulses of a reporter gene mark prebranch sites, preceding lateral root formation.
- Both prebranch site production and root bending exhibit periodicity.
- Identified two sets of genes oscillating in opposite phases at the root tip.
- Discovered that specific oscillating transcriptional regulators are essential for the periodicity of developmental processes.
Conclusions:
- A molecular mechanism involving oscillating gene expression regulates periodic lateral root development in plants.
- This mechanism establishes prebranch sites and influences root bending periodicity.
- The identified molecular clock-like characteristics suggest conserved principles in developmental periodicity across kingdoms.
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