Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Long-term, High-resolution Confocal Time Lapse Imaging of Arabidopsis Cotyledon Epidermis during Germination
Published on: December 31, 2012
MpANT regulates meristem development in Marchantia polymorpha
Wu Liu1, Zhengfei Yang2, Gui Cai3
1National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Carbon Capture, CAS, Shanghai 200032, China; Cluster of Plant Developmental Biology, Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
The APETALA2-like transcription factor, Marchantia polymorpha AINTEGUMENTA (MpANT), is vital for meristem development in plants. This study reveals the conserved role of the euANT pathway in meristem evolution and organ formation.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Meristems are essential for plant organ formation.
- The molecular evolution of meristems is not well understood.
- APETALA2-like transcription factors play roles in plant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of AINTEGUMENTA (MpANT) in meristem development in the nonvascular plant Marchantia polymorpha.
- To explore the evolutionary conservation of the euANT pathway in meristem development.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis of MpANT in Marchantia polymorpha.
- Analysis of Mpant mutants and MpANT overexpressers.
- Investigating the regulatory relationship between MpANT and MpGRAS9.
- Comparative analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana euANT-branch genes (AtPLTs, AtANT) and SHR-branch genes.
Main Results:
- MpANT is expressed in the Marchantia polymorpha thallus meristem.
- Mpant mutants exhibit defects in meristem identity maintenance and duplication.
- MpANT overexpression leads to ectopic thallus growth.
- MpANT directly upregulates MpGRAS9, a member of the GRAS family.
- Conserved DNA-binding motifs and homologous gene targets were identified between Marchantia polymorpha and Arabidopsis thaliana euANTs and SHR-branch genes.
Conclusions:
- MpANT is essential for meristem development in Marchantia polymorpha.
- The euANT pathway plays a conserved role in meristem development across vascular and nonvascular plants.
- This pathway is crucial for organ formation and meristem maintenance through conserved molecular mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Meristems and Plant Growth
Morphogenesis
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

