Abstract
Core signaling pathways function in multiple programs during multicellular development. The mechanisms that compartmentalize pathway function or confer process specificity, however, remain largely unknown. In Arabidopsis thaliana, ERECTA (ER) family receptors have major roles in many growth and cell fate decisions. The ER family acts with receptor TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) and several ligands of the EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR LIKE (EPFL) family, which play distinct yet overlapping roles in patterning of epidermal stomata. Here, our examination of EPFL genes EPFL6/CHALLAH (CHAL), EPFL5/CHALLAH-LIKE1, and EPFL4/CHALLAH-LIKE2 (CLL2) reveals that this family may mediate additional ER-dependent processes. chal cll2 mutants display growth phenotypes characteristic of er mutants, and genetic interactions are consistent with CHAL family molecules acting as ER family ligands. We propose that different classes of EPFL genes regulate different aspects of ER family function and introduce a TMM-based discriminatory mechanism that permits simultaneous, yet compartmentalized and distinct, function of the ER family receptors in growth and epidermal patterning.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Arabidopsis / genetics
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Arabidopsis / growth & development*
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Arabidopsis / metabolism
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Arabidopsis / ultrastructure
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Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
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Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
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Body Patterning
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Cell Differentiation
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Hypocotyl / genetics
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Hypocotyl / growth & development
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Hypocotyl / metabolism
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Hypocotyl / ultrastructure
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Ligands
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Meristem / genetics
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Meristem / growth & development
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Meristem / metabolism
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Meristem / ultrastructure
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Models, Biological
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation
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Phenotype
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Plant Epidermis / genetics
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Plant Epidermis / growth & development
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Plant Epidermis / metabolism
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Plant Epidermis / ultrastructure
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Plant Stomata / growth & development*
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Plant Stomata / ultrastructure
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
Substances
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Arabidopsis Proteins
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CHALLAH protein, Arabidopsis
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EPFL4 protein, Arabidopsis
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EPFL5 protein, Arabidopsis
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Ligands
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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too many mouths protein, Arabidopsis
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ER protein, Arabidopsis
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases