The Root Cap Cuticle: A Cell Wall Structure for Seedling Establishment and Lateral Root Formation

• Published in: Cell Vol. 176; no. 6; pp. 1367 - 1378.e8
• Main Authors: Berhin, Alice, de Bellis, Damien, Franke, Rochus B., Buono, Rafael A., Nowack, Moritz K., Nawrath, Christiane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 07.03.2019
• Subjects: abiotic stress; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; biosynthesis; cell wall; Cell Wall - metabolism; cell walls; cutin; deformation; diffusion barrier; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - genetics; genes; hypersensitivity; lateral root; lateral root emergence; Membrane Lipids - biosynthesis; Membrane Lipids - metabolism; Meristem - metabolism; Mutation; plant cuticle; plant establishment; plant organs; Plant Root Cap - metabolism; Plant Root Cap - physiology; Plant Roots - cytology; primary root; root cap; root development; root primordia; seedling; Seedlings - genetics; Seedlings - growth & development; stem cells; ultrastructure; root cap; lateral root emergence; root development; diffusion barrier; Arabidopsis; plant cuticle; cell wall; lateral root; primary root; seedling

The root cap surrounding the tip of plant roots is thought to protect the delicate stem cells in the root meristem. We discovered that the first layer of root cap cells is covered by an electron-opaque cell wall modification resembling a plant cuticle. Cuticles are polyester-based protective structu...