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

Heather M Meyer, José Teles, Pau Formosa-Jordan, Yassin Refahi, Rita San-Bento, Gwyneth Ingram, Henrik Jönsson, James C.W. Locke, Adrienne H K Roeder

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    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.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournaleLife
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017 Feb 1

    Subject classification (UKÄ)

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