Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Inducible, Cell Type-Specific Expression in Arabidopsis thaliana Through LhGR-Mediated Trans-Activation
Published on: April 19, 2019
A mobile miR160-triggered transcriptional axis controls root stem cell niche maintenance and regeneration in
Xixi Cai1, Hang Zhang1, Changqing Mu1
1State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
Abstract:
In multicellular organisms, communication between cells is vital for their fate determination. In plants, the quiescent center (QC) signals to adjacent stem cells to maintain them undifferentiated. However, how surrounding stem cells instruct the QC remains poorly understood. Here, we show that in the Arabidopsis root, microRNA160 (miR160) moves from stele stem cells (SSCs) to the QC, where it degrades the mRNAs of two auxin response factors, ARF10 and ARF17. This degradation relieves BRAVO from direct transcriptional repression, maintaining QC quiescence. We further identify that blocking miR160 movement due to DNA damage-induced SSC death and restricted symplastic transport reduces BRAVO and WOX5 expression, leading to QC division to replenish damaged stem cells during root regeneration. Together, our results demonstrate that a transcriptional axis initiated by mobile miR160 regulates the QC and stem cell behavior, advancing our understanding of the communication between stem cells and their surrounding cellular environment.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Signaling in Plants
Transcription
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Stem Cell Niche
Transgenic Plants
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
Meristems and Plant Growth

