ABSTRACT
The size of seeds is the result of cell proliferation and growth in the three seed compartments: the embryo, endosperm and integuments. Targeting expression of the D-type cyclin CYCD7;1 to the central cell and early endosperm (FWA:CYCD7;1) triggered nuclear divisions and partial ovule abortion, reducing seed number in each silique and leading to increased seed size. A similar effect on seed size was observed with other segregating embryo lethal mutations, suggesting caution is needed in interpreting apparent seed size phenotypes. Here, we show that the positive effect of FWA:CYCD7;1 on Arabidopsis seed size is modulated by the architecture of the mother plant. Larger seeds were produced in FWA:CYCD7;1 lines with unmodified inflorescences, and also upon removal of side branches and axillary stems. This phenotype was absent from inflorescences with increased axillary floral stems produced by pruning of the main stem. Given this apparent confounding influence of resource allocation on transgenes effect, we conclude that plant architecture is a further important factor to consider in appraising seed phenotypes.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism , Arabidopsis/metabolism , Seeds/metabolism , Arabidopsis/genetics , Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Cycle/physiology , Endosperm/embryology , Endosperm/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology , Ovule/embryology , Ovule/metabolism , Seeds/embryologyABSTRACT
The development of multicellular organisms relies on the coordinated control of cell divisions leading to proper patterning and growth. The molecular mechanisms underlying pattern formation, particularly the regulation of formative cell divisions, remain poorly understood. In Arabidopsis, formative divisions generating the root ground tissue are controlled by SHORTROOT (SHR) and SCARECROW (SCR). Here we show, using cell-type-specific transcriptional effects of SHR and SCR combined with data from chromatin immunoprecipitation-based microarray experiments, that SHR regulates the spatiotemporal activation of specific genes involved in cell division. Coincident with the onset of a specific formative division, SHR and SCR directly activate a D-type cyclin; furthermore, altering the expression of this cyclin resulted in formative division defects. Our results indicate that proper pattern formation is achieved through transcriptional regulation of specific cell-cycle genes in a cell-type- and developmental-stage-specific context. Taken together, we provide evidence for a direct link between developmental regulators, specific components of the cell-cycle machinery and organ patterning.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism , Arabidopsis/growth & development , Arabidopsis/genetics , Body Patterning/genetics , Body Patterning/physiology , Genes, cdc/physiology , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Arabidopsis/cytology , Arabidopsis/embryology , Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Cycle/physiology , Cell Division/genetics , Cyclin D/genetics , Cyclin D/metabolism , Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant , Organogenesis/genetics , Organogenesis/physiology , Plant Roots/cytology , Plant Roots/embryology , Plant Roots/genetics , Plant Roots/growth & development , Time Factors , Transcription Factors/geneticsABSTRACT
Transgenic tobacco lines expressing Arath-CYCD2 or Arath-CYCD3 genes under a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter are modified in the timing of their development, but not in the phenotype of their vegetative organs. They display an increased rate of leaf initiation, which is shown to be associated with distinct changes in the structural organization of their shoot apical meristem (SAM). Constitutive expression of Arath-CYCD2 leads to a progressive modification of the SAM structural organization with predominant periclinal divisions in the L3 layer and to the loss of the classical cytophysiological zonation, the central zone being reduced to the central cells of the L1 and L2 layers. These changes reveal a particular sensitivity of the corpus cells (L3) to Arath-CYCD2 over-expression and suggest a role for CYCD2 in controlling the planes of cell division in these cells. The SAM structural modifications in the Arath-CYCD3 over-expressing lines are less drastic; only an increased cell number together with a reduced cell size, particularly in the L1 layer, characterizes the peripheral zones. This could be related to the shortening of the G1-phase duration that renders cell growth incomplete between successive mitoses. Cell proliferation continues beyond the SAM in the developing internodes and confers a delayed senescence to Arath-CYCD3 over-expressing juvenile tissues. In addition, the ploidy levels of mature stem tissues in both types of transgenic lines are unaffected, suggesting that the studied G1 to S cell-cycle genes have no effect on the extent of endoreduplication in tobacco stem tissues.
