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Transient cell states encode positional information to direct asymmetric growth.
Travis A Lee1,2, Kamonkan Gamnerdsiri1, Natanella Illouz-Eliaz1
1Plant Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Transient cell states in plants encode positional information, guiding asymmetric tissue growth. A key regulator, GATA TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 2 (GATA2), integrates cues to control cell elongation and organ shape.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Plant biology
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Understanding how tissues achieve asymmetric growth from localized signals is a key challenge.
- Plants utilize spatial and temporal cues for development, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of transient cell states in plant asymmetric growth.
- To identify molecular regulators of growth divergence in plant organs.
Main Methods:
- Spatial single-cell transcriptomics and multi-omics analysis.
- Gene regulatory network analysis.
- Functional perturbation studies.
Main Results:
- Identified a complex landscape of transient cell states in the plant apical hook.
- Discovered a novel cell population in the apical hypocotyl integrating developmental and hormonal signals.
- Established GATA TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 2 (GATA2) as a key regulator promoting cell elongation via gibberellin signaling.
Conclusions:
- Transient cell states act as regulatory hubs, converting positional information into divergent growth programs.
- Dynamic cellular states are crucial for shaping plant organ morphology.
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