ERF115 controls root quiescent center cell division and stem cell replenishment.

Heyman, Jefri; Cools, Toon; Vandenbussche, Filip; Heyndrickx, Ken S; Van Leene, Jelle; Vercauteren, Ilse; Vanderauwera, Sandy; Vandepoele, Klaas et al. · Science · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The quiescent center (QC) plays an essential role during root development by creating a microenvironment that preserves the stem cell fate of its surrounding cells. Despite being surrounded by highly mitotic active cells, QC cells self-renew at a low proliferation rate. Here, we identified the ERF115 transcription factor as a rate-limiting factor of QC cell division, acting as a transcriptional activator of the phytosulfokine PSK5 peptide hormone. ERF115 marks QC cell division but is restrained through proteolysis by the APC/C(CCS52A2) ubiquitin ligase, whereas QC proliferation is driven by brassinosteroid-dependent ERF115 expression. Together, these two antagonistic mechanisms delimit ERF115 activity, which is called upon when surrounding stem cells are damaged, revealing a cell cycle regulatory mechanism accounting for stem cell niche longevity.

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