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Plastid signals and the bundle sheath: mesophyll development in reticulate mutants
Peter K Lundquist1, Christian Rosar, Andrea Bräutigam
1Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Molecular Plant
|September 19, 2013
Summary
Reticulate mutants reveal how plastid metabolism in bundle sheath cells influences mesophyll development. This research highlights the importance of plastid retrograde signaling in plant leaf development and C3 photosynthesis.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Leaf development involves complex cell type orchestration.
- Reticulate variegation mutants exhibit distinct vein and interveinal pigmentation due to mesophyll cell development defects.
- These mutants are valuable tools for studying cell-type-specific developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review reticulate mutants and their phenotypes, focusing on Arabidopsis thaliana.
- To critically assess the supply and signaling hypotheses regarding plastid metabolism and mesophyll development.
- To discuss the implications for leaf development and bundle sheath function in C3 plants.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic characterization of reticulate mutants.
- Review of existing literature on plastid metabolism and leaf development.
- Comparative analysis of proposed models (supply vs. signaling hypotheses).
Main Results:
- Most reticulate mutants are affected in plastid metabolic pathways expressed in vasculature-associated tissues.
- This implicates bundle sheath cells and their chloroplasts in mesophyll development.
- Evidence supports the significance of plastid retrograde signaling in cell development.
Conclusions:
- Reticulate mutants provide insights into cell-type-specific leaf development.
- Plastid retrograde signaling plays a crucial role in plant development.
- The bundle sheath is significant for C3 photosynthesis and overall leaf development.
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