Leaf vein patterning is regulated by the aperture of plasmodesmata intercellular channels
Nguyen Manh Linh1, Enrico Scarpella1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Plos Biology
|September 27, 2022
Summary
Plant veins form through a novel pathway involving plasmodesmata (PDs) and auxin, distinct from animal cell movement. This GNOM-regulated mechanism coordinates auxin transport, signaling, and PD aperture for intricate tissue network development.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Animal cells form tissue networks via cell migration and membrane protein interactions.
- Plant cells lack these mechanisms, yet form complex vascular networks, with auxin transport and signaling previously implicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the unknown mechanisms underlying plant vascular network formation.
- To identify additional pathways involved in vein patterning beyond auxin transport and signaling.
Main Methods:
- Investigated Arabidopsis mutants lacking GNOM (GN) function, a regulator of auxin transport and signaling.
- Analyzed plasmodesmata (PD) permeability in developing vein tissues.
- Examined the effects of inhibiting auxin transport, signaling, and PD aperture regulation.
Main Results:
- A novel GNOM-dependent pathway involving plasmodesmata (PD) aperture regulation was identified.
- PD permeability is dynamically regulated during vein formation.
- Impaired PD regulation disrupts auxin transport and signaling, leading to vein patterning defects.
Conclusions:
- Plant vein patterning relies on three coordinated GNOM-dependent pathways: auxin signaling, polar auxin transport, and PD-mediated signal movement.
- This PD-based mechanism for tissue network formation is unique among multicellular organisms.
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