The secret to life is being different: asymmetric divisions in plant development

Asymmetric cell divisions (ACDs) are used to create organismal form and cellular diversity during plant development. In several embryonic and postembryonic contexts, genes that specify cell fates and networks that provide positional information have been identified. The cellular mechanisms that translate this information into a physically ACD, however, are still obscure. In this review we examine the cell polarization events that precede asymmetric divisions in plants. Using principles derived from studies of other organisms and from postmitotic polarity generation in plants, we endeavor to provide a framework of what is known, what is on the horizon and what is critically needed to develop a rigorous mechanistic understanding of ACDs in plants.

Research highlights▶ Asymmetric cell divisions are an essential mechanism for generating plant form and specialization during development. ▶ There is a significant gap in our molecular understanding of how asymmetric divisions are executed. ▶ Paradigms from postmitotic polarization may prove useful for understanding asymmetric cell divisions, even if the molecules used for the process are unique.