Negative Feedback Regulation of Auxin Signaling by ATHB8/ACL5-BUD2 Transcription Module

The role of auxin as main regulator of vascular differentiation is well established, and a direct correlation between the rate of xylem differentiation and the amount of auxin reaching the （pro）cambial cells has been proposed. It has been suggested that thermospermine produced by ACAULIS5 （ACL5） and BUSHY AND DWARF2 （BUD2） is one of the factors downstream to auxin contributing to the regulation of this process in Arabidopsis. Here, we provide an in-depth characterization of the mechanism through which ACL5 modulates xylem differentiation. We show that an increased level of ACL5 slows down xylem differentiation by negatively affecting the expression of homeodomain-leucine zipper （HD- ZIP） III and key auxin signaling genes. This mechanism involves the positive regulation of thermospermine biosynthesis by the HD-ZIP III protein ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX8 tightly controlling the expression of ACL5 and BUD2. In addition, we show that the HD-ZIP III protein REVOLUTA contributes to the increased leaf vascularization and long hypocotyl phenotype of acl5 likely by a direct regulation of auxin signaling genes such as LIKE AUXIN RESISTANT2 （LAX2） and LAX3. We propose that proper formation and differentiation of xylem depend on a balance between positive and negative feedback loops operating through HD-ZIP III genes.     

ROX1, a gene induced by rolB, is involved in procambial cell proliferation and xylem differentiation in tobacco stamen

The Agrobacterium rhizogenes oncogene rolB mimics the effects of auxin in that it increases the sensitivity of transformed cells to this hormone. Here we isolated a tobacco gene, ROX1, acting downstream of rolB. We show that plants with reduced levels of ROX1 mRNA, due to the expression of a 35S-driven ROX1-antisense construct, have flowers with stamens and pistils longer than normal because of an increased number of cells. Localized expression of rolB in anthers results in overexpression of ROX1 and reduced growth of stamens, due to a reduced number of cells. In addition, the longer stamens of antisense plants show a delayed xylem differentiation in the lateral bundles, primarily of the junction region between anther and filament, while the shorter stamens of ROX1-overexpressing plants show a precocious differentiation of xylem cells in the same tissues. Expression of ROX1 in stamens peaks at early stages of stamen growth, and ROX1 mRNA is localized mostly in anther procambial cells. The sequence of ROX1 shares a conserved element with a number of plant genes, including TED3, which is involved in xylem differentiation. These results point to a role of ROX1 in the balance between proliferation of procambial cells and xylem differentiation during stamen development.     

Signaling and gene regulatory programs in plant vascular stem cells

A key question about the development of multicellular organisms is how they precisely control the complex pattern formation during their growth. For plants to grow for many years, a tight balance between pluripotent dividing cells and cells undergoing differentiation should be maintained within stem cell populations. In this process, cell-cell communication plays a central role by creating positional information for proper cell type patterning. Cell-type specific gene regulatory networks govern differentiation of cells into particular cell types. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging key signaling and regulatory programs in the stem cell population that direct morphogenesis of plant vascular tissues.     

Anlage und Differenzierung des Prokambiums im Sproßscheitel vonClematis vitalba (Ranunculaceae)

The development of the shoot apex is studied in regard to relationships between morphogenesis and histogenesis. Differentiation of procambium starts only some distance from the shoot apex at the basis of leaf initials and continues from the node into leaf and axis. Lateral strands appear parallel with the first ternation in the leaf. The development of procambium strands is correlated with the differentiation in the axis and there seems to be a mutual stimulation between leaf initial and procambium.

Teil einer Dissertation an der Fakultät für Biologie der Universität Heidelberg. 1. Beitrag einer Serie über Die Sproßentwicklung vonClematis vitalba (Ranunculaceae).     

喜树原形成层到形成层转化的研究

观察了枣树茎中原形成层到形成层的转化过程。距茎端0．5mm处,节间开始伸长之前,横切面上4—5个原形成束及束间的分生组织组成原形成层环。径向切面观,原形成层环呈现出较均一的结构。随着节间开始伸长,由于原形成层细胞发生假横向分裂,出现了长短两类细胞,长细胞多数端壁倾斜,短细胞多数端壁平截。以后,长细胞发育为纺缍状原始细胞,短细胞发育为射线原始细胞,部分射线原始细胞可以伸长井侵入生长而转化为纺缍状原始细胞。在节间伸长将停止时,此种转化基本完成。喜树为非叠生形成层,纺缍状原始细胞和射线原始细胞都有多核现象发生。