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Ectopic KNOX Expression Affects Plant Development by Altering Tissue Cell Polarity and Identity
Annis Richardson1, Alexandra B Rebocho1, Enrico Coen2
1Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
The Plant Cell
|August 25, 2016
Summary
Plant development involves tissue and regional polarity. In barley, the KNOTTED1-like Homeobox (KNOX) gene BKn3 alters polarity, affecting cell differentiation and organ shape, revealing how KNOX genes influence plant morphology.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Developmental genetics
- Morphogenesis
Background:
- Plant development relies on tissue cell and regional polarity.
- The barley Hooded mutant exhibits altered polarity due to ectopic KNOX gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between KNOX genes, polarity, and plant shape.
- To analyze the spatiotemporal effects of ectopic BKn3 expression in barley.
Main Methods:
- Observing dynamic reorientation of auxin transporter SoPIN1 localization with increasing BKn3 expression.
- Analyzing ectopic expression of auxin importer LIKE AUX1 and boundary gene NO APICAL MERISTEM.
- Utilizing computational modeling to understand polarity-guided growth and wing emergence.
Main Results:
- Tissue cell polarity, indicated by SoPIN1 patterns, underpins oriented cell differentiation in hairs.
- Ectopic BKn3 expression leads to anisotropic growth and wing formation, explained by polarity-guided growth models.
- Inverted ectopic flower orientation is not linked to SoPIN1, suggesting independent regulation of regional polarity.
Conclusions:
- KNOX genes can trigger diverse morphogenetic outcomes by interacting with tissue cell polarity, identity, and growth.
- Tissue cell polarity is crucial for oriented cell differentiation and anisotropic growth.
- Regional polarity, as seen in flower orientation, may be regulated independently of tissue cell polarity.
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