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Fluctuations of the transcription factor ATML1 generate the pattern of giant cells in the Arabidopsis sepal

Meyer, Heather M ; Teles, José LU ; Formosa-Jordan, Pau ; Refahi, Yassin ; San-Bento, Rita ; Ingram, Gwyneth ; Jönsson, Henrik LU ; Locke, James C.W. and Roeder, Adrienne H K (2017) In eLife
Abstract
Multicellular development produces patterns of specialized cell types. Yet, it is often unclear how individual cells within a field of identical cells initiate the patterning process. Using live imaging, quantitative image analyses and modeling, we show that during Arabidopsis thaliana sepal development, fluctuations in the concentration of the transcription factor ATML1 pattern a field of identical epidermal cells to differentiate into giant cells interspersed between smaller cells. We find that ATML1 is expressed in all epidermal cells. However, its level fluctuates in each of these cells. If ATML1 levels surpass a threshold during the G2 phase of the cell cycle, the cell will likely enter a state of endoreduplication and become giant.... (More)
Multicellular development produces patterns of specialized cell types. Yet, it is often unclear how individual cells within a field of identical cells initiate the patterning process. Using live imaging, quantitative image analyses and modeling, we show that during Arabidopsis thaliana sepal development, fluctuations in the concentration of the transcription factor ATML1 pattern a field of identical epidermal cells to differentiate into giant cells interspersed between smaller cells. We find that ATML1 is expressed in all epidermal cells. However, its level fluctuates in each of these cells. If ATML1 levels surpass a threshold during the G2 phase of the cell cycle, the cell will likely enter a state of endoreduplication and become giant. Otherwise, the cell divides. Our results demonstrate a fluctuation-driven patterning mechanism for how cell fate decisions can be initiated through a random yet tightly regulated process. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
eLife
publisher
eLife Sciences Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85014615875
ISSN
2050-084X
DOI
10.7554/eLife.19131.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9576acab-ebc5-46a5-a989-604d22b34fe0
date added to LUP
2019-07-31 16:45:25
date last changed
2024-04-16 18:06:05
@article{9576acab-ebc5-46a5-a989-604d22b34fe0,
  abstract     = {{Multicellular development produces patterns of specialized cell types. Yet, it is often unclear how individual cells within a field of identical cells initiate the patterning process. Using live imaging, quantitative image analyses and modeling, we show that during Arabidopsis thaliana sepal development, fluctuations in the concentration of the transcription factor ATML1 pattern a field of identical epidermal cells to differentiate into giant cells interspersed between smaller cells. We find that ATML1 is expressed in all epidermal cells. However, its level fluctuates in each of these cells. If ATML1 levels surpass a threshold during the G2 phase of the cell cycle, the cell will likely enter a state of endoreduplication and become giant. Otherwise, the cell divides. Our results demonstrate a fluctuation-driven patterning mechanism for how cell fate decisions can be initiated through a random yet tightly regulated process.}},
  author       = {{Meyer, Heather M and Teles, José and Formosa-Jordan, Pau and Refahi, Yassin and San-Bento, Rita and Ingram, Gwyneth and Jönsson, Henrik and Locke, James C.W. and Roeder, Adrienne H K}},
  issn         = {{2050-084X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{eLife Sciences Publications}},
  series       = {{eLife}},
  title        = {{Fluctuations of the transcription factor ATML1 generate the pattern of giant cells in the Arabidopsis sepal}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19131.001}},
  doi          = {{10.7554/eLife.19131.001}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}