Oscillating gene expression determines competence for periodic Arabidopsis root branching.
Journal Article (Academic article)
Plants and animals produce modular developmental units in a periodic fashion. In plants, lateral roots form as repeating units along the root primary axis; however, the developmental mechanism regulating this process is unknown. We found that cyclic expression pulses of a reporter gene mark the position of future lateral roots by establishing prebranch sites and that prebranch site production and root bending are periodic. Microarray and promoter-luciferase studies revealed two sets of genes oscillating in opposite phases at the root tip. Genetic studies show that some oscillating transcriptional regulators are required for periodicity in one or both developmental processes. This molecular mechanism has characteristics that resemble molecular clock-driven activities in animal species.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Moreno Risueno, MA; Van Norman, JM; Moreno, A; Zhang, J; Ahnert, SE; Benfey, PN
Published Date
- September 2010
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 329 / 5997
Start / End Page
- 1306 - 1311
PubMed ID
- 20829477
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2976612
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1095-9203
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1126/science.1191937
Language
- English