| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2045942 | Current Opinion in Plant Biology | 2012 | 7 Pages |
Epidermal hairs of Arabidopsis thaliana emerge in regular spacing patterns providing excellent model systems for studies of biological pattern formation. A number of root-hair and leaf-trichome patterning mutants and tools for cell-specific and tissue-specific manipulation of patterning protein activities have been combined in cycles of experimentation and mathematical modelling. These approaches have provided insight into molecular mechanisms of epidermal patterning. During the last two years, endoreplication has, unexpectedly, been found to control cell-fate maintenance during trichome patterning. New genetic interactions between a downstream, positive transcriptional regulator and lateral inhibitors of trichome or non-root-hair fate specification have been uncovered. A lateral inhibitor and a new positive regulator have been identified as major loci affecting trichome patterning in natural Arabidopsis populations. Finally, factors that modify root-hair patterning from the underlying cell layer have been discovered.
► A role for endoreplication in controlling trichome cell-fate maintenance. ► New genetic interactions between lateral inhibitors and the GLABRA2 fate regulator. ► Novel molecular insights from analysis of trichome patterning in natural populations. ► Discovery of molecules acting on trichome patterning from the underlying cell layer.
