Arabidopsis Phyllotaxis Is Controlled by the Methyl-Esterification Status of Cell-Wall Pectins

Plant organs are produced from meristems in a characteristic pattern. This pattern, referred to as phyllotaxis, is thought to be generated by local gradients of an information molecule, auxin [1–6]. Some studies propose a key role for the mechanical properties of the cell walls in the control of org...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current biology 2008-12, Vol.18 (24), p.1943-1948
Main Authors: Peaucelle, Alexis, Louvet, Romain, Johansen, Jorunn N., Höfte, Herman, Laufs, Patrick, Pelloux, Jérome, Mouille, Grégory
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arabidopsis - genetics
Arabidopsis - growth & development
Arabidopsis - metabolism
Body Patterning - physiology
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - genetics
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - metabolism
Cell Wall - metabolism
CELLBIO
DEVBIO
Esterification
Genes, Plant
Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism
Life Sciences
Meristem - growth & development
Meristem - metabolism
Models, Biological
Multigene Family
Mutation
Pectins - chemistry
Pectins - metabolism
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Summary:Plant organs are produced from meristems in a characteristic pattern. This pattern, referred to as phyllotaxis, is thought to be generated by local gradients of an information molecule, auxin [1–6]. Some studies propose a key role for the mechanical properties of the cell walls in the control of organ outgrowth [7–12]. A major cell-wall component is the linear α-1-4-linked D-GalAp pectic polysaccharide homogalacturonan (HG), which plays a key role in cell-to-cell cohesion [13, 14]. HG is deposited in the cell wall in a highly (70%–80%) methyl-esterified form and is subsequently de-methyl-esterified by pectin methyl-esterases (PME, EC 3.1.1.11). PME activity is itself regulated by endogenous PME inhibitor (PMEI) proteins [15]. PME action modulates cell-wall-matrix properties and plays a role in the control of cell growth [16–18]. Here, we show that the formation of flower primordia in the Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem is accompanied by the de-methyl-esterification of pectic polysaccharides in the cell walls. In addition, experimental perturbation of the methyl-esterification status of pectins within the meristem dramatically alters the phyllotactic pattern. These results demonstrate that regulated de-methyl-esterification of pectins is a key event in the outgrowth of primordia and possibly also in phyllotactic patterning.
ISSN:0960-9822
1879-0445
DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.065