Molecular control and function of endoreplication in development and physiology

Polyploidy: an evolutionary and ecological force in stressful times

Polyploidy has been hypothesized to be both an evolutionary dead-end and a source for evolutionary innovation and species diversification. Although polyploid organisms, especially plants, abound, the apparent nonrandom long-term establishment of genome duplications suggests a link with environmental conditions. Whole-genome duplications seem to correlate with periods of extinction or global change, while polyploids often thrive in harsh or disturbed environments. Evidence is also accumulating that biotic interactions, for instance, with pathogens or mutualists, affect polyploids differently than nonpolyploids. Here, we review recent findings and insights on the effect of both abiotic and biotic stress on polyploids versus nonpolyploids and propose that stress response in general is an important and even determining factor in the establishment and success of polyploidy.

Host-produced ethylene is required for marked cell expansion and endoreduplication in dodder search hyphae

The genus Cuscuta comprises stem holoparasitic plant species with wide geographic distribution. Cuscuta spp. obtain water, nutrients, proteins, and mRNA from their host plants via a parasitic organ called the haustorium. As the haustorium penetrates into the host tissue, search hyphae elongate within the host tissue and finally connect with the host's vascular system. Invasion by Cuscuta spp. evokes various reactions within the host plant's tissues. Here, we show that, when Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is invaded by Cuscuta campestris, ethylene biosynthesis by the host plant promotes elongation of the parasite's search hyphae. The expression of genes encoding 1-aminocylclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthases, ACC SYNTHASE2 (AtACS2) and ACC SYNTHASE6 (AtACS6), was activated in the stem of Arabidopsis plants upon invasion by C. campestris. When the ethylene-deficient Arabidopsis acs octuple mutant was invaded by C. campestris, cell elongation and endoreduplication of the search hyphae were significantly reduced, and the inhibition of search hyphae growth was complemented by exogenous application of ACC. In contrast, in the C. campestris-infected Arabidopsis ethylene-insensitive mutant etr1-3, no growth inhibition of search hyphae was observed, indicating that ETHYLENE RESPONSE1-mediated ethylene signaling in the host plant is not essential for parasitism by C. campestris. Overall, our results suggest that C. campestris recognizes host-produced ethylene as a stimulatory signal for successful invasion.

Signaling from Plastid Genome Stability Modulates Endoreplication and Cell Cycle during Plant Development

Plastid-nucleus genome coordination is crucial for plastid activity, but the mechanisms remain unclear. By treating Arabidopsis plants with the organellar genome-damaging agent ciprofloxacin, we found that plastid genome instability can alter endoreplication and the cell cycle. Similar results are observed in the plastid genome instability mutants of reca1why1why3. Cell division and embryo development are disturbed in the reca1why1why3 mutant. Notably, SMR5 and SMR7 genes, which encode cell-cycle kinase inhibitors, are upregulated in plastid genome instability plants, and the mutation of SMR7 can restore the endoreplication and growth phenotype of reca1why1why3 plants. Furthermore, we establish that the DNA damage response transcription factor SOG1 mediates the alteration of endoreplication and cell cycle triggered by plastid genome instability. Finally, we demonstrate that reactive oxygen species produced in plastids are important for plastid-nucleus genome coordination. Our findings uncover a molecular mechanism for the coordination of plastid and nuclear genomes during plant growth and development.

The genetic control of succulent leaf development

Succulent leaves have long intrigued biologists; much research has been done to define succulence, understand the evolutionary trajectory and implications of leaf succulence, and contextualize the ecological importance of water storage for plants inhabiting dry habitats, particularly those using CAM photosynthesis. Surprisingly little is understood about the molecular regulation of leaf succulence, despite advances in our understanding of the molecular foundation of leaf architecture in model systems. Moreover, leaf succulence is a drought avoidance trait, one that has yet to be fully used for crop improvement. Here, connections between disparate literatures are highlighted: research on the regulation of cell size, the determination of vascular patterning, and water transport between cells have direct implications for our understanding of leaf succulence. Connecting functional genomics of leaf patterning with knowledge of the evolution and ecology of succulent species will guide future research on the determination and maintenance of leaf succulence.

Arabidopsis sepals: A model system for the emergent process of morphogenesis

During development, Arabidopsis thaliana sepal primordium cells grow, divide and interact with their neighbours, giving rise to a sepal with the correct size, shape and form. Arabidopsis sepals have proven to be a good system for elucidating the emergent processes driving morphogenesis due to their simplicity, their accessibility for imaging and manipulation, and their reproducible development. Sepals undergo a basipetal gradient of growth, with cessation of cell division, slow growth and maturation starting at the tip of the sepal and progressing to the base. In this review, I discuss five recent examples of processes during sepal morphogenesis that yield emergent properties: robust size, tapered tip shape, laminar shape, scattered giant cells and complex gene expression patterns. In each case, experiments examining the dynamics of sepal development led to the hypotheses of local rules. In each example, a computational model was used to demonstrate that these local rules are sufficient to give rise to the emergent properties of morphogenesis.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Endopolyploidy in Mosses

Somatic polyploidy or endopolyploidy is common in the plant kingdom; it ensures growth and allows adaptation to the environment. It is present in the majority of plant groups, including mosses. Endopolyploidy had only been previously studied in about 65 moss species, which represents less than 1% of known mosses. We analyzed 11 selected moss species to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of endopolyploidy using flow cytometry to identify patterns in ploidy levels among gametophytes and sporophytes. All of the studied mosses possessed cells with various ploidy levels in gametophytes, and four of six species investigated in sporophytic stage had endopolyploid sporophytes. The proportion of endopolyploid cells varied among organs, parts of gametophytes and sporophytes, and ontogenetic stages. Higher ploidy levels were seen in basal parts of gametophytes and sporophytes than in apical parts. Slight changes in ploidy levels were observed during ontogenesis in cultivated mosses; the youngest (apical) parts of thalli tend to have lower levels of endopolyploidy. Differences between parts of cauloid and phylloids of Plagiomnium ellipticum and Polytrichum formosum were also documented; proximal parts had higher levels of endopolyploidy than distal parts. Endopolyploidy is spatially and temporally differentiated in the gametophytes of endopolyploid mosses and follows a pattern similar to that seen in angiosperms.

DNA synthesis increases during the first hours post-emergence in Anopheles albimanus mosquito midgut

In hematophagous insects, the midgut is a fundamental barrier against infections and limits the development and transmission of pathogens. However, in mosquitoes, cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell cycle process in the midgut have not been characterized. Here we provide evidence of how cell cycle progression occurs in the newly emerged Anopheles albimanus mosquito midgut and describing cyclins expression as mediators of the cell cycle. The cell cycle at different post-emergence times was evaluated in disaggregated cells from midgut tissue using flow cytometry. Also, cyclins A, B, and E were identified by bioinformatics tools. These cyclins were used to analyze cell cycle progression. Flow cytometry data and the expression-pattern of the cyclins by qRT-PCR supported a polyploidy process, besides mitosis marker was marginally detected and only in newly emerged mosquitoes. Our results suggest that DNA increment in midguts occurs by polyploidy during the first hours post-emergence.

Glutathione: A key player in metal chelation, nutrient homeostasis, cell cycle regulation and the DNA damage response in cadmium-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana

Glutathione (GSH) is an important player in plant responses to cadmium (Cd) through its dual function as an antioxidant and precursor for metal-chelating phytochelatins (PCs). In addition, it was shown to be involved in cell cycle regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana roots, but its involvement in this process in leaves is largely unknown and has never been evaluated in Cd-exposed plants. This study aimed to elucidate the role of GSH in leaf growth and development, metal chelation, nutrient homeostasis and cell cycle regulation in A. thaliana plants upon prolonged Cd exposure. Responses were compared between wild-type (WT) plants and three GSH-deficient mutants. Our results indicate that PC production remains important in plants exposed to Cd for an extended duration. Furthermore, an important role for GSH in regulating nutrient homeostasis in Cd-exposed plants was revealed. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that negative effects of Cd exposure on cell division and endoreplication were more pronounced in leaves of the GSH-deficient cadmium-sensitive 2-1 (cad2-1) mutant in comparison to the WT, indicating the involvement of GSH in cell cycle regulation. Finally, a crucial role for GSH in transcriptional activation of the Cd-induced DNA damage response (DDR) was revealed, as the Cd-induced upregulation of DDR-related genes was either less pronounced or completely abolished in leaves of the GSH-deficient mutants.

CCS52 and DEL1 function in root-knot nematode giant cell development in Xinjiang wild myrobalan plum (Prunus sogdiana Vassilcz)

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are highly invasive plant parasites that establish permanent feeding sites within the roots of the host plant. Successful establishment of the feeding site is essential for the survival of RKN. The formation and development of the feeding cell, also called giant cell, involve both cell division and endoreduplication. Here, we examined giant cell development and endoreduplication in Prunus sogdiana infected with the RKN. We found that feeding sites were established 3-5 days post inoculation (dpi) and matured at 21-28 dpi. The giant cells began to form 5 dpi and continued to increase in size from 7 to 21 dpi. The large numbers of dividing nuclei were observed in giant cells from 7 to 14 dpi. However, nuclear division was rarely observed after 28 days. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses revealed that PsoCCS52A was abundantly expressed at 7-21 dpi and the PsoCCS52A signal observed in giant cell nucleus at 7-14 dpi. The PsoCCS52B is highly expressed at 14 dpi, and the hybridization signal was mainly in the cytoplasm of giant cells. The PsoDEL1 expression was lowest 7-21 dip, with negligible transcript detected in the giant cells. This indicates that the PsoCCS52A plays a role in the process of cell division, while the CCS52B plays a role in the development of giant cells. The PsoDEL1 plays a negative regulatory role in megakaryocyte nuclear replication. These data suggest that an increased expression of PsoCCS52A promotes nuclear division and produces a large number of polyploid nuclei, the area of giant cells and feeding sites increase, ultimately leading to the formation of galls in Prunus sogdiana.

DREAM complex suppresses DNA methylation maintenance genes and precludes DNA hypermethylation

The DNA methyltransferases MET1 and CMT3 are known to be responsible for maintenance of DNA methylation at symmetric CG and CHG sites, respectively, in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is unknown how the expression of methyltransferase genes is regulated in different cell states and whether change in expression affects DNA methylation at the whole-genome level. Using a reverse genetic screen, we identified TCX5, a tesmin/TSO1-like CXC domain-containing protein, and demonstrated that it is a transcriptional repressor of genes required for maintenance of DNA methylation, which include MET1, CMT3, DDM1, KYP and VIMs. TCX5 functions redundantly with its paralogue TCX6 in repressing the expression of these genes. In the tcx5 tcx6 double mutant, expression of these genes is markedly increased, thereby leading to markedly increased DNA methylation at CHG sites and, to a lesser extent, at CG sites at the whole-genome level. Furthermore, our whole-genome DNA methylation analysis indicated that the CG and CHG methylation level is lower in differentiated quiescent cells than in dividing cells in the wild type but is comparable in the tcx5/6 mutant, suggesting that TCX5/6 are required for maintenance of the difference in DNA methylation between the two cell types. We identified TCX5/6-containing multi-subunit complexes, which are known as DREAM in other eukaryotes, and demonstrated that the Arabidopsis DREAM components function as a whole to preclude DNA hypermethylation. Given that the DREAM complexes are conserved from plants to animals, the preclusion of DNA hypermethylation by DREAM complexes may represent a conserved mechanism in eukaryotes.

Squamous differentiation requires G2/mitosis slippage to avoid apoptosis

The cellular mechanisms controlling cell fate in self-renewal tissues remain unclear. Cell cycle failure often leads to an apoptosis anti-oncogenic response. We have inactivated Cdk1 or Polo-like-1 kinases, essential targets of the mitotic checkpoints, in the epithelia of skin and oral mucosa. Here, we show that inactivation of the mitotic kinases leading to polyploidy in vivo, produces a fully differentiated epithelium. Cells within the basal layer aberrantly differentiate and contain large or various nuclei. Freshly isolated KO cells were also differentiated and polyploid. However, sustained metaphase arrest downstream of the spindle anaphase checkpoint (SAC) due to abrogation of CDC20 (essential cofactor of anaphase-promoting complex), impaired squamous differentiation and resulted in apoptosis. Therefore, upon prolonged arrest keratinocytes need to slip beyond G2 or mitosis in order to initiate differentiation. The results altogether demonstrate that mitotic checkpoints drive squamous cell fate towards differentiation or apoptosis in response to genetic damage.

Molecular networks regulating cell division during Arabidopsis leaf growth

Leaves are the primary organs for photosynthesis, and as such have a pivotal role for plant growth and development. Leaf development is a multifactorial and dynamic process involving many genes that regulate size, shape, and differentiation. The processes that mainly drive leaf development are cell proliferation and cell expansion, and numerous genes have been identified that, when ectopically expressed or down-regulated, increase cell number and/or cell size during leaf growth. Many of the genes regulating cell proliferation are functionally interconnected and can be grouped into regulatory modules. Here, we review our current understanding of six important gene regulatory modules affecting cell proliferation during Arabidopsis leaf growth: ubiquitin receptor DA1-ENHANCER OF DA1 (EOD1), GROWTH REGULATING FACTOR (GRF)-GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF), SWITCH/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING (SWI/SNF), gibberellin (GA)-DELLA, KLU, and PEAPOD (PPD). Furthermore, we discuss how post-mitotic cell expansion and these six modules regulating cell proliferation make up the final leaf size.

Suppressor of Gamma Response 1 Modulates the DNA Damage Response and Oxidative Stress Response in Leaves of Cadmium-Exposed Arabidopsis thaliana

Cadmium (Cd) exposure causes an oxidative challenge and inhibits cell cycle progression, ultimately impacting plant growth. Stress-induced effects on the cell cycle are often a consequence of activation of the DNA damage response (DDR). The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of the transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 (SOG1) and three downstream cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors of the SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) family in the Cd-induced DDR and oxidative challenge in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Effects of Cd on plant growth, cell cycle regulation and the expression of DDR genes were highly similar between the wildtype and smr4/5/7 mutant. In contrast, sog1-7 mutant leaves displayed a much lower Cd sensitivity within the experimental time-frame and significantly less pronounced upregulations of DDR-related genes, indicating the involvement of SOG1 in the Cd-induced DDR. Cadmium-induced responses related to the oxidative challenge were disturbed in the sog1-7 mutant, as indicated by delayed Cd-induced increases of hydrogen peroxide and glutathione concentrations and lower upregulations of oxidative stress-related genes. In conclusion, our results attribute a novel role to SOG1 in regulating the oxidative stress response and connect oxidative stress to the DDR in Cd-exposed plants.

Endoreplication - a means to an end in cell growth and stress response

Endoreplication, also called endoreduplication or endopolyploidization, is a cell cycle variant in which the genome is re-replicated in the absence of mitosis causing cellular polyploidization. Despite the common occurrence of endoreplication in plants and the tremendous extent in specific tissues and cell types such as the endosperm, the underlying molecular regulation and the physiological consequences have only now started to be understood. Endoreplication is often associated with cell differentiation and withdrawal from mitotic cycles. Recent studies have underlined the importance of endoreplication as a stress response and we summarize here this progress with particular focus on future perspectives offered by the recent advances in genomics and biotechnology.

Genome size and endopolyploidy evolution across the moss phylogeny

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Compared with other plant lineages, bryophytes have very small genomes with little variation across species, and high levels of endopolyploid nuclei. This study is the first analysis of moss genome evolution over a broad taxonomic sampling using phylogenetic comparative methods. We aim to determine whether genome size evolution is unidirectional as well as examine whether genome size and endopolyploidy are correlated in mosses.

METHODS

Genome size and endoreduplication index (EI) estimates were newly generated using flow cytometry from moss samples collected in Canada. Phylogenetic relationships between moss species were reconstructed using GenBank sequence data and maximum likelihood methods. Additional 1C-values were compiled from the literature and genome size and EI were mapped onto the phylogeny to reconstruct ancestral character states, test for phylogenetic signal and perform phylogenetic independent contrasts.

KEY RESULTS

Genome size and EI were obtained for over 50 moss taxa. New genome size estimates are reported for 33 moss species and new EIs are reported for 20 species. In combination with data from the literature, genome sizes were mapped onto a phylogeny for 173 moss species with this analysis, indicating that genome size evolution in mosses does not appear to be unidirectional. Significant phylogenetic signal was detected for genome size when evaluated across the phylogeny, whereas phylogenetic signal was not detected for EI. Genome size and EI were not found to be significantly correlated when using phylogenetically corrected values.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant phylogenetic signal indicates closely related mosses have more similar genome sizes and EI values. This study supports that DNA content in mosses is defined by small genomes that are highly endopolyploid, suggesting strong selective pressure to maintain these features. Further research is needed to understand the functional significance of DNA content evolution in mosses.

Cellular perspectives for improving mesophyll conductance

After entering the leaf, CO2 faces an intricate pathway to the site of photosynthetic fixation embedded within the chloroplasts. The efficiency of CO2 flux is hindered by a number of structural and biochemical barriers which, together, define the ease of flow of the gas within the leaf, termed mesophyll conductance. Previous authors have identified the key elements of this pathway, raising the prospect of engineering the system to improve CO2 flux and, thus, to increase leaf photosynthetic efficiency. In this review, we provide a perspective on the potential for improving the individual elements that contribute to this complex parameter. We lay particular emphasis on generation of the cellular architecture of the leaf which sets the initial boundaries of a number of mesophyll conductance parameters, incorporating an overview of the molecular transport processes which have been proposed as major facilitators of CO2 flux across structural boundaries along the pathway. The review highlights the research areas where future effort might be invested to increase our fundamental understanding of mesophyll conductance and leaf function and, consequently, to enable translation of these findings to improve the efficiency of crop photosynthesis.

Time-Series Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data Reveal Auxin Fluctuation during Endocycle

Appropriate cell cycle regulation is crucial for achieving coordinated development and cell differentiation in multicellular organisms. In Arabidopsis, endoreduplication is often observed in terminally differentiated cells and several reports have shown its molecular mechanisms. Auxin is a key factor for the mode transition from mitotic cell cycle to endocycle; however, it remains unclear if and how auxin maintains the endocycle mode. In this study, we reanalyzed root single-cell transcriptome data and reconstructed cell cycle trajectories of the mitotic cell cycle and endocycle. With progression of the endocycle, genes involved in auxin synthesis, influx and efflux were induced at the specific cell phase, suggesting that auxin concentration fluctuated dynamically. Such induction of auxin-related genes was not observed in the mitotic cell cycle, suggesting that the auxin fluctuation plays some roles in maintaining the endocycle stage. In addition, the expression level of CYCB1;1, which is required for cell division in the M phase, coincided with the expected amount of auxin and cell division. Our analysis also provided a set of genes expressed in specific phases of the cell cycle. Taking these findings together, reconstruction of single-cell transcriptome data enables us to identify properties of the cell cycle more accurately.

Host-Associated Quantitative Abundance Profiling Reveals the Microbial Load Variation of Root Microbiome

Plant-associated microbes are critical for plant growth and survival under natural environmental conditions. To date, most plant microbiome studies involving high-throughput amplicon sequencing have focused on the relative abundance of microbial taxa. However, this technique does not assess the total microbial load and the abundance of individual microbes relative to the amount of host plant tissues. Here, we report the development of a host-associated quantitative abundance profiling (HA-QAP) method that can accurately examine total microbial load and colonization of individual root microbiome members relative to host plants by the copy-number ratio of microbial marker gene to plant genome. We validate the HA-QAP method using mock experiments, perturbation experiments, and metagenomic sequencing. The HA-QAP method eliminates the generation of spurious outputs in the classical method based on microbial relative abundance, and reveals the load of root microbiome to host plants. Using the HA-QAP method, we found that the copy-number ratios of microbial marker genes to plant genome range from 1.07 to 6.61 for bacterial 16S rRNA genes and from 0.40 to 2.26 for fungal internal transcribed spacers in the root microbiome samples from healthy rice and wheat. Furthermore, using HA-QAP we found that an increase in total microbial load represents a key feature of changes in root microbiome of rice plants exposed to drought stress and of wheat plants with root rot disease, which significantly influences patterns of differential taxa and species interaction networks. Given its accuracy and technical feasibility, HA-QAP would facilitate our understanding of genuine interactions between root microbiome and plants.

Alternative Splicing and DNA Damage Response in Plants

Plants are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses that may result in DNA damage. Endogenous processes - such as DNA replication, DNA recombination, respiration, or photosynthesis - are also a threat to DNA integrity. It is therefore essential to understand the strategies plants have developed for DNA damage detection, signaling, and repair. Alternative splicing (AS) is a key post-transcriptional process with a role in regulation of gene expression. Recent studies demonstrate that the majority of intron-containing genes in plants are alternatively spliced, highlighting the importance of AS in plant development and stress response. Not only does AS ensure a versatile proteome and influence the abundance and availability of proteins greatly, it has also emerged as an important player in the DNA damage response (DDR) in animals. Despite extensive studies of DDR carried out in plants, its regulation at the level of AS has not been comprehensively addressed. Here, we provide some insights into the interplay between AS and DDR in plants.

ORESARA15 Acts Synergistically with ANGUSTIFOLIA3 and Separately from AINTEGUMENTA to Promote Cell Proliferation during Leaf Growth

Developing leaves undergo sequential coordinated cell proliferation and cell expansion to determine their final size and shape. Although several important regulators of cell proliferation have been reported, the gene network regulating leaf developmental processes remains unclear. Previously, we showed that ORESARA15 (ORE15) positively regulates the rate and duration of cell proliferation by promoting the expression of direct targets, GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) transcription factors, during leaf growth. In the current study, we examined the spatiotemporal patterns of ORE15 expression and determined that ORE15 expression partially overlapped with AN3/GIF1 and ANT expression along the midvein in the proximal region of the leaf blade in young leaves. Genetic analysis revealed that ORE15 may function synergistically with AN3 to control leaf growth as a positive regulator of cell proliferation. Our molecular and genetic studies are the first to suggest the importance of functional redundancies between ORE15 and AN3, and between AN3 and ANT in cell proliferation regulatory pathway during leaf growth.

Organ-wide and ploidy-dependent regulation both contribute to cell-size determination: evidence from a computational model of tomato fruit

The development of a new organ is the result of coordinated events of cell division and expansion, in strong interaction with each other. This study presents a dynamic model of tomato fruit development that includes cell division, endoreduplication, and expansion processes. The model is used to investigate the potential interactions among these developmental processes within the context of the neo-cellular theory. In particular, different control schemes (either cell-autonomous or organ-controlled) are tested and compared to experimental data from two contrasting genotypes. The model shows that a pure cell-autonomous control fails to reproduce the observed cell-size distribution, and that an organ-wide control is required in order to get realistic cell-size variations. The model also supports the role of endoreduplication as an important determinant of the final cell size and suggests that a direct effect of endoreduplication on cell expansion is needed in order to obtain a significant correlation between size and ploidy, as observed in real data.

Comparative sensitivity to gamma radiation at the organismal, cell and DNA level in young plants of Norway spruce, Scots pine and Arabidopsis thaliana

Persistent DNA damage in gamma-exposed Norway spruce, Scots pine and Arabidopsis thaliana, but persistent adverse effects at the organismal and cellular level in the conifers only. Gamma radiation emitted from natural and anthropogenic sources may have strong negative impact on plants, especially at high dose rates. Although previous studies implied different sensitivity among species, information from comparative studies under standardized conditions is scarce. In this study, sensitivity to gamma radiation was compared in young seedlings of the conifers Scots pine and Norway spruce and the herbaceous Arabidopsis thaliana by exposure to ⁶⁰Co gamma dose rates of 1-540 mGy h^-1 for 144 h, as well as 360 h for A. thaliana. Consistent with slightly less prominent shoot apical meristem, in the conifers growth was significantly inhibited with increasing dose rate ≥ 40 mGy h^-1. Post-irradiation, the conifers showed dose-rate-dependent inhibition of needle and root development consistent with increasingly disorganized apical meristems with increasing dose rate, visible damage and mortality after exposure to ≥ 40 mGy h^-1. Regardless of gamma duration, A. thaliana showed no visible or histological damage or mortality, only delayed lateral root development after ≥ 100 mGy h^-1 and slightly, but transiently delayed post-irradiation reproductive development after ≥ 400 mGy h^-1. In all species dose-rate-dependent DNA damage occurred following ≥ 1-10 mGy h^-1 and was still at a similar level at day 44 post-irradiation. In conclusion, the persistent DNA damage (possible genomic instability) following gamma exposure in all species may suggest that DNA repair is not necessarily mobilized more extensively in A. thaliana than in Norway spruce and Scots pine, and the far higher sensitivity at the organismal and cellular level in the conifers indicates lower tolerance to DNA damage than in A. thaliana.

Endoreplication as a potential driver of cell wall modifications

Endoreplication represents a variant of the mitotic cell cycle during which cells replicate their DNA without mitosis and/or cytokinesis, resulting in an increase in the cells' ploidy level. This process is especially prominent in higher plants, where it has been correlated with cell differentiation, metabolic output and rapid cell growth. However, different reports argue against a ploidy-dependent contribution to cell growth. Here, we review accumulating data suggesting that endocycle onset might exert an effect on cell growth through transcriptional control of cell wall-modifying genes to drive cell wall changes required to accommodate turgor-driven rapid cell expansion, consistent with the idea that vacuolar expansion rather than a ploidy-driven increase in cellular volume represents the major force driving cell growth.

Genius Architect or Clever Thief-How Plasmodiophora brassicae Reprograms Host Development to Establish a Pathogen-Oriented Physiological Sink

When plants are infected by Plasmodiophora brassicae, their developmental programs are subjected to extensive changes and the resultant clubroot disease is associated with formation of large galls on underground tissue. The pathogen's need to build an efficient feeding site as the disease progresses drives these changes, ensuring successful production of resting spores. This developmental reprogramming is an outcome of interactions between the pathogen and the infected host. During disease progression, we can observe alteration of growth regulator dynamics, patterns of cell proliferation and differentiation, increased cell expansion, and eventual cell wall degradation as well as the redirection of nutrients toward the pathogen. Recently, detailed studies of anatomical changes occurring during infection and studies profiling transcriptional responses have come together to provide a clearer understanding of the sequence of events and processes underlying clubroot disease. Additionally, genome sequencing projects have revealed P. brassicae's potential for the production of signaling molecules and effectors as well as its requirements and capacities with respect to taking up host nutrients. Integration of these new findings together with physiological studies can significantly advance our understanding of how P. brassicae brings about reprogramming of host development. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge on cellular changes induced by P. brassicae infection and aims to explain their impact and importance for both the host and the pathogen.

The cotton endocycle-involved protein SPO11-3 functions in salt stress via integrating leaf stomatal response, ROS scavenging and root growth

The SPORULATION 11 (SPO11) proteins are among eukaryotic the topoisomerase VIA (Topo VIA) homologs involved in modulating various important biological processes, such as growth, development and stress response via endoreduplication in plants, but the underlying mechanism response to stress remains largely unknown under salt treatment. Here, we attempted to characterize a homolog of TOP VIA in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), designated as GhSPO11-3. The silencing of GhSPO11-3 in cotton plants resulted in a dwarf phenotype with a failure of cell endoreduplication and a phase shift in the ploidy levels. The GhSPO11-3-silenced plants also showed substantial changes including accumulated malondialdehyde, significantly reduced chlorophyll and proline contents and decreased antioxidative enzyme activity after salt treatment. In addition, transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing GhSPO11-3 accelerated both leaf and root growth with cell expansion and endopolyploidy. Both leaf stomatal density and aperture were markedly decreased, and the transgenic Arabidopsis lines were more tolerant with expression of stress-responsive genes under salinity stress. Furthermore, consistent with the reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), the expression of ROS scavenging-related genes was largely reinforced, and antioxidant enzyme activities were accordingly significantly enhanced in transgenic Arabidopsis lines under salt stress. In general, these results indicated that GhSPO11-3 likely respond to salt stress by positively regulating root growth, stomatal response, ROS production and the expression of stress-related genes to cope with adverse conditions in plants.

Identification of TCP13 as an Upstream Regulator of ATHB12 during Leaf Development

Leaves grow by distinct phases controlled by gene regulatory networks including many transcription factors. Arabidopsis thaliana homeobox 12 (ATHB12) promotes leaf growth especially during the cell expansion phase. In this study, we identify TCP13, a member of the TCP transcription factor family, as an upstream inhibitor of ATHB12. Yeast one-hybrid screening using a 1.2-kb upstream region of ATHB12 resulted in the isolation of TCP13 as well as other transcription factors. Transgenic plants constitutively expressing TCP13 displays a significant reduction in leaf cell size especially during the cell expansion period, while repression of TCP13 and its paralogs (TCP5 and TCP17) result in enlarged leaf cells, indicating that TCP13 and its paralogs inhibit leaf development, mainly at the cell expansion phase. Its expression pattern during leaf expansion phase is opposite to ATHB12 expression. Consistently, the expression of ATHB12 and its downstream genes decreases when TCP13 was overexpressed, and increases when the expression of TCP13 and its paralogs is repressed. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using TCP13-GFP plants, a fragment of the ATHB12 upstream region that contains the consensus sequence for TCP binding is strongly enriched. Taken together, these findings indicate that TCP13 and its paralogs inhibit leaf growth by repressing ATHB12 expression.

Cadmium and Plant Development: An Agony from Seed to Seed

Anthropogenic pollution of agricultural soils with cadmium (Cd) should receive adequate attention as Cd accumulation in crops endangers human health. When Cd is present in the soil, plants are exposed to it throughout their entire life cycle. As it is a non-essential element, no specific Cd uptake mechanisms are present. Therefore, Cd enters the plant through transporters for essential elements and consequently disturbs plant growth and development. In this review, we will focus on the effects of Cd on the most important events of a plant's life cycle covering seed germination, the vegetative phase and the reproduction phase. Within the vegetative phase, the disturbance of the cell cycle by Cd is highlighted with special emphasis on endoreduplication, DNA damage and its relation to cell death. Furthermore, we will discuss the cell wall as an important structure in retaining Cd and the ability of plants to actively modify the cell wall to increase Cd tolerance. As Cd is known to affect concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phytohormones, special emphasis is put on the involvement of these compounds in plant developmental processes. Lastly, possible future research areas are put forward and a general conclusion is drawn, revealing that Cd is agonizing for all stages of plant development.

Increasing DNA content for cost-effective oil production in Parachlorella kessleri

The aim of this work was to study salt stress effects on DNA content and oil production processes integrating harvesting, lipid accumulation and oil extraction. Salt-induced enlargement of Parachlorella kessleri cells, with increasing content of DNA and neutral lipid were found. The 34.77% neutral lipid content and biomass concentration of 0.83 g L^-1 were obtained after 7 days of salt treatment, compared with that of 13.57% and 0.89 g L^-1 cultivated under normal condition. Sedimentation efficiency increased markedly from 15% to 90% due to the cell enlargement. Disruption fraction and the recovery rate of total lipids of wet cells under salt stress were significantly higher than that of normal conditions (100% and 82.4% for salt stress vs.76.8% and 51.1% for normal conditions). This work demonstrated that salt-induced increase in cell size and DNA content was an effective strategy for the enhancement of oil production, microalgae harvesting and oil extraction.

Local endoreduplication as a feature of intracellular fungal accommodation in arbuscular mycorrhizas

The intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is a paradigmatic feature of this plant symbiosis that depends on the activation of a dedicated signaling pathway and the extensive reprogramming of host cells, including striking changes in nuclear size and transcriptional activity. By combining targeted sampling of early root colonization sites, detailed confocal imaging, flow cytometry and gene expression analyses, we demonstrate that local, recursive events of endoreduplication are triggered in the Medicago truncatula root cortex during AM colonization. AM colonization induces an increase in ploidy levels and the activation of endocycle specific markers. This response anticipates the progression of fungal colonization and is limited to arbusculated and neighboring cells in the cortical tissue. Furthermore, endoreduplication is not induced in M. truncatula mutants for symbiotic signaling pathway genes. On this basis, we propose endoreduplication as part of the host cell prepenetration responses that anticipate AM fungal accommodation in the root cortex.

Irrigation affects characteristics of narrow-leaved lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seeds

While plant irrigation usually increases yield, irrigation also affects seed characteristics with respect to endoreplication level, chemical composition, number of carbonyl bands, and cuticular wax profiles. Seeds of sweet varieties of the narrow-leaved lupin have good nutritional properties; however, these plants are sensitive to water deficit. Irrigation improves lupin yield, but can affect seed characteristics. The purpose of the study was to evaluate irrigation influence on lupin seed features and their chemical composition. Morphological analyses showed worse quality of seeds from the irrigated plants, with regard to their size and weight. This was confirmed by cytophotometric analyses which revealed a lower DNA content in the nuclei of cells from the apical and basal regions of the irrigated seeds. The lower degree of polyploidy of the nuclei entails lower cell sizes and limited space for storage components. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that protein and cuticular wax profiles of the irrigated seeds were different from the control. The electrophoretic analyses indicated differences in protein profiles including changes in the proportion of lupin storage proteins. Among the various studied elements, only the nitrogen content decreased in the embryo axis of irrigated plants. Although germination dynamics of the irrigated seeds was higher, the seedlings' development rate was slightly lower than in the control. The hydrogen peroxide level in root meristem cells was higher during germination in the control suggesting its regulatory role in seed metabolism/signaling. Our study indicated that irrigation of lupin plant affected seed features and composition.

Size matters: three methods for estimating nuclear size in mycorrhizal roots of Medicago truncatula by image analysis

BACKGROUND

The intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi involves a profound molecular reprogramming of the host cell architecture and metabolism, based on the activation of a symbiotic signaling pathway. In analogy with other plant biotrophs, AM fungi are reported to trigger cell cycle reactivation in their host tissues, possibly in support of the enhanced metabolic demand required for the symbiosis.

RESULTS

We here compare the efficiency of three Fiji/ImageJ image analysis plugins in localizing and quantifying the increase in nuclear size - a hallmark of recursive events of endoreduplication - in M. truncatula roots colonized by the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita. All three approaches proved to be versatile and upgradeable, allowing the investigation of nuclear changes in a complex tissue; 3D Object Counter provided more detailed information than both TrackMate and Round Surface Detector plugins. On this base we challenged 3D Object Counter with two case studies: verifying the lack of endoreduplication-triggering responses in Medicago truncatula mutants with a known non-symbiotic phenotype; and analysing the correlation in space and time between the induction of cortical cell division and endoreduplication upon AM colonization. Both case studies revealed important biological aspects. Mutant phenotype analyses have demonstrated that the knock-out mutation of different key genes in the symbiotic signaling pathway block AM-associated endoreduplication. Furthermore, our data show that cell divisions occur during initial stages of root colonization and are followed by recursive activation of the endocycle in preparation for arbuscule accommodation.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our results indicate 3D Object Counter as the best performing Fiji/ImageJ image analysis script in plant root thick sections and its application highlighted endoreduplication as a major feature of the AM pre-penetration response in root cortical cells.

Size matters: three methods for estimating nuclear size in mycorrhizal roots of Medicago truncatula by image analysis

BACKGROUND

The intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi involves a profound molecular reprogramming of the host cell architecture and metabolism, based on the activation of a symbiotic signaling pathway. In analogy with other plant biotrophs, AM fungi are reported to trigger cell cycle reactivation in their host tissues, possibly in support of the enhanced metabolic demand required for the symbiosis.

RESULTS

We here compare the efficiency of three Fiji/ImageJ image analysis plugins in localizing and quantifying the increase in nuclear size - a hallmark of recursive events of endoreduplication - in M. truncatula roots colonized by the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita. All three approaches proved to be versatile and upgradeable, allowing the investigation of nuclear changes in a complex tissue; 3D Object Counter provided more detailed information than both TrackMate and Round Surface Detector plugins. On this base we challenged 3D Object Counter with two case studies: verifying the lack of endoreduplication-triggering responses in Medicago truncatula mutants with a known non-symbiotic phenotype; and analysing the correlation in space and time between the induction of cortical cell division and endoreduplication upon AM colonization. Both case studies revealed important biological aspects. Mutant phenotype analyses have demonstrated that the knock-out mutation of different key genes in the symbiotic signaling pathway block AM-associated endoreduplication. Furthermore, our data show that cell divisions occur during initial stages of root colonization and are followed by recursive activation of the endocycle in preparation for arbuscule accommodation.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our results indicate 3D Object Counter as the best performing Fiji/ImageJ image analysis script in plant root thick sections and its application highlighted endoreduplication as a major feature of the AM pre-penetration response in root cortical cells.

A regulatory module controlling stress-induced cell cycle arrest in Arabidopsis

Cell cycle arrest is an active response to stresses that enables organisms to survive under fluctuating environmental conditions. While signalling pathways that inhibit cell cycle progression have been elucidated, the putative core module orchestrating cell cycle arrest in response to various stresses is still elusive. Here we report that in Arabidopsis, the NAC-type transcription factors ANAC044 and ANAC085 are required for DNA damage-induced G2 arrest. Under genotoxic stress conditions, ANAC044 and ANAC085 enhance protein accumulation of the R1R2R3-type Myb transcription factor (Rep-MYB), which represses G2/M-specific genes. ANAC044/ANAC085-dependent accumulation of Rep-MYB and cell cycle arrest are also observed in the response to heat stress that causes G2 arrest, but not to osmotic stress that retards G1 progression. These results suggest that plants deploy the ANAC044/ANAC085-mediated signalling module as a hub which perceives distinct stress signals and leads to G2 arrest.

During environmental stresses, such as high light or a drought, plants do not have the opportunity to up and leave. Instead, they need to buy time and energy by pausing their growth, which means stopping their cells from dividing. In this case, the cell cycle, a series of stages during which a cell prepares itself for division, must be halted.

If the genetic information in cells is damaged, often under the influence of the environment, plants stop their cell cycle in the step just before division. However, it is still unclear how this process takes place, and which proteins participate in it. Researchers also do not know whether environmental stresses can directly trigger this mechanism.

To investigate, Takahashi et al. conducted a series of genetic experiments on a common plant known as Arabidopsis thaliana, and they identified two proteins, ANAC044 and ANAC085, which could stop the cell cycle when the genetic information is damaged. In particular, ANAC044 and ANAC085 worked by stabilizing other proteins that turn off certain genes that the cell needed to divide. Additional experiments showed that other types of stresses, such as heat, halted the cell cycle using the ANAC044 and ANAC085 pathway. This suggests that this mechanism may be a central ‘hub’ that responds to various stress signals from the environment to prevent cells from dividing.

In the field, environmental stresses stop plants from growing, which reduces crop yields; ultimately, manipulating ANAC044 or ANAC085 might help to boost plant productivity even when external conditions fluctuate.

Role of a cotton endoreduplication-related gene, GaTOP6B, in response to drought stress

Cotton GaTOP6B is involved in cellular endoreduplication and a positive response to drought stress via promoting plant leaf and root growth. Drought is deemed as one of adverse conditions that could cause substantial reductions in crop yields worldwide. Since cotton exhibits a moderate-tolerant phenotype under water-deficit conditions, the plant could therefore be used to characterize potential new genes regulating drought tolerance in crop plants. In this work, GaTOP6B, encoding DNA topoisomerase VI subunit B, was identified in Asian cotton (Gossypium arboreum). Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and overexpression (OE) were used to investigate the biological function of GaTOP6B in G. arboreum and Arabidopsis thaliana under drought stress. The GaTOP6B-silencing plants showed a reduced ploidy level, and displayed a compromised tolerance phenotype including lowered relative water content (RWC), decreased proline content and antioxidative enzyme activity, and an increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content under drought stress. GaTOP6B-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines, however, had increased ploidy levels, and were more tolerant to drought treatment, associated with improved RWC maintenance, higher proline accumulation, and reduced stomatal aperture under drought stress. Transcriptome analysis showed that genes involved in the processes like cell cycle, transcription and signal transduction, were substantially up-regulated in GaTOP6B-overexpressing Arabidopsis, promoting plant growth and development. More specifically, under drought stress, the genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as phenylpropanoid, starch and sucrose were selectively enhanced to improve tolerance in plants. Taken together, the results demonstrated that GaTOP6B could coordinately regulate plant leaf and root growth via cellular endoreduplication, and positively respond to drought stress. Thus, GaTOP6B could be a competent candidate gene for improvement of drought tolerance in crop species.

Multifaceted activity of cytokinin in leaf development shapes its size and structure in Arabidopsis

The phytohormone cytokinin has been shown to affect many aspects of plant development ranging from the regulation of the shoot apical meristem to leaf senescence. However, some studies have reported contradictory effects of cytokinin on leaf physiology. Therefore cytokinin treatments cause both chlorosis and increased greening and both lead to decrease or increase in cell size. To elucidate this multifaceted role of cytokinin in leaf development, we have employed a system of temporal controls over the cytokinin pool and investigated the consequences of modulated cytokinin levels in the third leaf of Arabidopsis. We show that, at the cell proliferation phase, cytokinin is needed to maintain cell proliferation by blocking the transition to cell expansion and the onset of photosynthesis. Transcriptome profiling revealed regulation by cytokinin of a gene suite previously shown to affect cell proliferation and expansion and thereby a molecular mechanism by which cytokinin modulates a molecular network underlying the cellular responses. During the cell expansion phase, cytokinin stimulates cell expansion and differentiation. Consequently, a cytokinin excess at the cell expansion phase results in an increased leaf and rosette size fueled by higher cell expansion rate, yielding higher shoot biomass. Proteome profiling revealed the stimulation of primary metabolism by cytokinin, in line with an increased sugar content that is expected to increase turgor pressure, representing the driving force of cell expansion. Therefore, the developmental timing of cytokinin content fluctuations, together with a tight control of primary metabolism, is a key factor mediating transitions from cell proliferation to cell expansion in leaves.

A TOR-YAK1 signaling axis controls cell cycle, meristem activity and plant growth in Arabidopsis

TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) is a conserved eukaryotic phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-related kinase that plays a major role in regulating growth and metabolism in response to environment in plants. We performed a genetic screen for Arabidopsis ethylmethane sulfonate mutants resistant to the ATP-competitive TOR inhibitor AZD-8055 to identify new components of the plant TOR pathway. We found that loss-of-function mutants of the DYRK (dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase)/YAK1 kinase are resistant to AZD-8055 and, reciprocally, that YAK1 overexpressors are hypersensitive to AZD-8055. Significantly, these phenotypes were conditional on TOR inhibition, positioning YAK1 activity downstream of TOR. We further show that the ATP-competitive DYRK1A inhibitor pINDY phenocopies YAK1 loss of function. Microscopy analysis revealed that YAK1 functions to repress meristem size and induce differentiation. We show that YAK1 represses cyclin expression in the different zones of the root meristem and that YAK1 is essential for TOR-dependent transcriptional regulation of the plant-specific SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in both meristematic and differentiating root cells. Thus, YAK1 is a major regulator of meristem activity and cell differentiation downstream of TOR.

Are compound leaves more complex than simple ones? A multi-scale analysis

Background and Aims

The question of which cellular mechanisms determine the variation in leaf size has been addressed mainly in plants with simple leaves. It is addressed here in tomato taking into consideration the expected complexity added by the several lateral appendages making up the compound leaf, the leaflets.

Methods

Leaf and leaflet areas, epidermal cell number and areas, and endoreduplication (co-) variations were analysed in Solanum lycopersicum considering heteroblastic series in a wild type (Wva106) and an antisense mutant, the Pro35S:Slccs52AAS line, and upon drought treatments. All plants were grown in an automated phenotyping platform, PHENOPSIS, adapted to host plants grown in 7 L pots.

Key Results

Leaf area, leaflet area and cell number increased with leaf rank until reaching a plateau. In contrast, cell area slightly decreased and endoreduplication did not follow any trend. In the transgenic line, leaf area, leaflet areas and cell number of basal leaves were lower than in the wild type, but higher in upper leaves. Reciprocally, cell area was higher in basal leaves and lower in upper leaves. When scaled up at the whole sympodial unit, all these traits did not differ significantly between the transgenic line and the wild type. In response to drought, leaf area was reduced, with a clear dose effect that was also reported for all size-related traits, including endoreduplication.

Conclusions

These results provide evidence that all leaflets have the same cellular phenotypes as the leaf they belong to. Consistent with results reported for simple leaves, they show that cell number rather than cell size determines the final leaf areas and that endoreduplication can be uncoupled from leaf and cell sizes. Finally, they re-question a whole-plant control of cell division and expansion in leaves when the Wva106 and the Pro35S:Slccs52AAS lines are compared.

Juvenile hormone promotes locust fat body cell polyploidization and vitellogenesis by activating the transcription of Cdk6 and E2f1

Juvenile hormone (JH) is known to promote cell polyploidization for insect vitellogenesis and egg production, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using the migratory locust Locusta migratoria as a model system, we report here that the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6) and adenovirus E2 factor-1 (E2f1), the core mediators in cell cycle progression is regulated by JH and its receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met). JH acts through its receptor complex comprised of Met and Taiman to directly activate the transcription of Cdk6 and E2f1. Depletion of Cdk6 or E2f1 results in significantly decreased ploidy, precocious mitotic entry and increased cell numbers in the fat body, accompanied by substantial reduction of Vitellogenin gene expression, blocked ovarian growth and arrested oocyte maturation. These findings indicate a crucial role of Cdk6 and E2f1 in JH-regulated polyploidization and vitellogenesis as well as a novel regulatory machinery for endocycling in insects.

Polyploidy in tissue homeostasis and regeneration

Polyploid cells, which contain multiple copies of the typically diploid genome, are widespread in plants and animals. Polyploidization can be developmentally programmed or stress induced, and arises from either cell-cell fusion or a process known as endoreplication, in which cells replicate their DNA but either fail to complete cytokinesis or to progress through M phase entirely. Polyploidization offers cells several potential fitness benefits, including the ability to increase cell size and biomass production without disrupting cell and tissue structure, and allowing improved cell longevity through higher tolerance to genomic stress and apoptotic signals. Accordingly, recent studies have uncovered crucial roles for polyploidization in compensatory cell growth during tissue regeneration in the heart, liver, epidermis and intestine. Here, we review current knowledge of the molecular pathways that generate polyploidy and discuss how polyploidization is used in tissue repair and regeneration.

A Tale of Two Cycles

Two of the fundamental rhythms of eukaryotic life are the circadian clock and the cell division cycle. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Fung-Uceda and colleagues (2018) have elucidated a molecular mechanism linking the circadian clock to the cell cycle in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

Signalling requirements for Erwinia amylovora-induced disease resistance, callose deposition and cell growth in the non-host Arabidopsis thaliana

Erwinia amylovora is the causal agent of the fire blight disease in some plants of the Rosaceae family. The non-host plant Arabidopsis serves as a powerful system for the dissection of mechanisms of resistance to E. amylovora. Although not yet known to mount gene-for-gene resistance to E. amylovora, we found that Arabidopsis activated strong defence signalling mediated by salicylic acid (SA), with kinetics and amplitude similar to that induced by the recognition of the bacterial effector avrRpm1 by the resistance protein RPM1. Genetic analysis further revealed that SA signalling, but not signalling mediated by ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA), is required for E. amylovora resistance. Erwinia amylovora induces massive callose deposition on infected leaves, which is independent of SA, ET and JA signalling and is necessary for E. amylovora resistance in Arabidopsis. We also observed tumour-like growths on E. amylovora-infected Arabidopsis leaves, which contain enlarged mesophyll cells with increased DNA content and are probably a result of endoreplication. The formation of such growths is largely independent of SA signalling and some E. amylovora effectors. Together, our data reveal signalling requirements for E. amylovora-induced disease resistance, callose deposition and cell fate change in the non-host plant Arabidopsis. Knowledge from this study could facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms of host defence against E. amylovora and eventually improve host resistance to the pathogen.

Heterogeneity and Robustness in Plant Morphogenesis: From Cells to Organs

Development is remarkably reproducible, producing organs with the same size, shape, and function repeatedly from individual to individual. For example, every flower on the Antirrhinum stalk has the same snapping dragon mouth. This reproducibility has allowed taxonomists to classify plants and animals according to their morphology. Yet these reproducible organs are composed of highly variable cells. For example, neighboring cells grow at different rates in Arabidopsis leaves, sepals, and shoot apical meristems. This cellular variability occurs in normal, wild-type organisms, indicating that cellular heterogeneity (or diversity in a characteristic such as growth rate) is either actively maintained or, at a minimum, not entirely suppressed. In fact, cellular heterogeneity can contribute to producing invariant organs. Here, we focus on how plant organs are reproducibly created during development from these highly variable cells.

Mammalian endoreplication emerges to reveal a potential developmental timer

Among the most intriguing and relevant questions in physiology is how developing tissues correctly coordinate proliferation with differentiation. Endoreplication, in a broad sense, is a consequence of a cell division block in the presence of an active cell cycle, and it typically occurs as cells differentiate terminally to fulfill a specialised function. Until recently, endoreplication was thought to be a rare variation of the cell cycle in mammals, more common in invertebrates and plants. However, in the last years, endoreplication has been uncovered in various tissues in mammalian organisms, including human. A recent report showing that cells in the mammary gland become binucleate at lactation sheds new insight into the importance of mammalian polyploidisation. We here propose that endoreplication is a widespread phenomenon in mammalian developing tissues that results from an automatic, robust and simple self-limiting mechanism coordinating cell multiplication with differentiation. This mechanism might act as a developmental timer. The model has implications for homeostasis control and carcinogenesis.

The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint in Arabidopsis Is Rapidly Shut Off during Severe Stress

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) in animals and yeast assures equal segregation of chromosomes during cell division. The prevalent occurrence of polyploidy in flowering plants together with the observation that many plants can be readily forced to double their genomes by application of microtubule drugs raises the question of whether plants have a proper SAC. Here, we provide a functional framework of the core SAC proteins in Arabidopsis. We reveal that Arabidopsis will delay mitosis in a SAC-dependent manner if the spindle is perturbed. However, we also show that the molecular architecture of the SAC is unique in plants. Moreover, the SAC is short-lived and cannot stay active for more than 2 hr, after which the cell cycle is reset. This resetting opens the possibility for genome duplications and raises the hypothesis that a rapid termination of a SAC-induced mitotic arrest provides an adaptive advantage for plants impacting plant genome evolution.

Arabidopsis R1R2R3-Myb proteins are essential for inhibiting cell division in response to DNA damage

Inhibition of cell division is an active response to DNA damage that enables cells to maintain genome integrity. However, how DNA damage arrests the plant cell cycle is largely unknown. Here, we show that the repressor-type R1R2R3-Myb transcription factors (Rep-MYBs), which suppress G2/M-specific genes, are required to inhibit cell division in response to DNA damage. Knockout mutants are resistant to agents that cause DNA double-strand breaks and replication stress. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) can phosphorylate Rep-MYBs in vitro and are involved in their proteasomal degradation. DNA damage reduces CDK activities and causes accumulation of Rep-MYBs and cytological changes consistent with cell cycle arrest. Our results suggest that CDK suppressors such as CDK inhibitors are not sufficient to arrest the cell cycle in response to DNA damage but that Rep-MYB-dependent repression of G2/M-specific genes is crucial, indicating an essential function for Rep-MYBs in the DNA damage response.

Inhibition of cell division maintains genome integrity in response to DNA damage. Here Chen et al. propose that DNA damage causes cell cycle arrest in the Arabidopsis root via Rep-MYB transcription factor-mediated repression of G2/M-specific gene expression in response to reduced cyclin-dependent kinase activity.

Fruit weight is controlled by Cell Size Regulator encoding a novel protein that is expressed in maturing tomato fruits

Increases in fruit weight of cultivated vegetables and fruits accompanied the domestication of these crops. Here we report on the positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling fruit weight in tomato. The derived allele of Cell Size Regulator (CSR-D) increases fruit weight predominantly through enlargement of the pericarp areas. The expanded pericarp tissues result from increased mesocarp cell size and not from increased number of cell layers. The effect of CSR on fruit weight and cell size is found across different genetic backgrounds implying a consistent impact of the locus on the trait. In fruits, CSR expression is undetectable early in development from floral meristems to the rapid cell proliferation stage after anthesis. Expression is low but detectable in growing fruit tissues and in or around vascular bundles coinciding with the cell enlargement stage of the fruit maturation process. CSR encodes an uncharacterized protein whose clade has expanded in the Solanaceae family. The mutant allele is predicted to encode a shorter protein due to a 1.4 kb deletion resulting in a 194 amino-acid truncation. Co-expression analyses and GO term enrichment analyses suggest association of CSR with cell differentiation in fruit tissues and vascular bundles. The derived allele arose in Solanum lycopersicum var cerasiforme and appears completely fixed in many cultivated tomato’s market classes. This finding suggests that the selection of this allele was critical to the full domestication of tomato from its intermediate ancestors.

Starting about 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period, human societies began the transformation from a hunting and gathering-dependent lifestyle to an agrarian lifestyle. This transformation was accompanied by plant and animal domestication. Tomato shows a huge increase in fruit weight that has arisen as a consequence of its domestication. We identified a gene that encodes a poorly characterized protein that controls fruit weight in tomato. The mutation that led to the increase in fruit weight arose early during the cultivation of tomato and is now incorporated in all large tomato varieties. The gene regulates cell size in the fruit and is called Cell Size Regulator. The increases in cell size are proposed to relate to cellular maturation that accompanies fruit growth.

Adapted Biotroph Manipulation of Plant Cell Ploidy

Diverse plant biotrophs that establish a sustained site of nutrient acquisition induce localized host endoreduplication. Endoreduplication is a process by which cells successively replicate their genomes without mitosis, resulting in an increase in nuclear DNA ploidy. Elevated ploidy is associated with enhanced cell size, metabolic capacity, and the capacity to differentiate. Localized host endoreduplication induced by adapted plant biotrophs promotes biotroph colonization, development, and/or proliferation. When induced host endoreduplication is limited, biotroph growth and/or development are compromised. Herein, we examine a diverse set of plant-biotroph interactions to identify (a) common host components manipulated to promote induced host endoreduplication and (b) biotroph effectors that facilitate this induced host process. Shared mechanisms to promote host endoreduplication and development of nutrient exchange/feeding sites include manipulation centered on endocycle entry at the G2-M transition as well as yet undefined roles for differentiation regulators (e.g., CLE peptides) and pectin/cell wall modification.