PHB3 Maintains Root Stem Cell Niche Identity through ROS-Responsive AP2/ERF Transcription Factors in Arabidopsis

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 1350 - 1363
• Main Authors: Kong, Xiangpei, Tian, Huiyu, Yu, Qianqian, Zhang, Feng, Wang, Rong, Gao, Shan, Xu, Wenhong, Liu, Jiajia, Shani, Eilon, Fu, Chunxiang, Zhou, Gongke, Zhang, Liangran, Zhang, Xiansheng, Ding, Zhaojun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 30.01.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; ERF; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - physiology; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Meristem - growth & development; Meristem - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; prohibitin 3; PSK; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; root; ROS; Stem Cell Niche; Transcription Factors - metabolism; ERF; PSK; stem cell niche; prohibitin 3; root; ROS
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.12.105

The root stem cell niche, which is composed of four mitotically inactive quiescent center (QC) cells and the surrounding actively divided stem cells in Arabidopsis, is critical for growth and root development. Here, we demonstrate that the Arabidopsis prohibitin protein PHB3 is required for the maintenance of root stem cell niche identity by both inhibiting proliferative processes in the QC and stimulating cell division in the proximal meristem (PM). PHB3 coordinates cell division and differentiation in the root apical meristem by restricting the spatial expression of ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factors 115, 114, and 109. ERF115, ERF114, and ERF109 mediate ROS signaling, in a PLT-independent manner, to control root stem cell niche maintenance and root growth through phytosulfokine (PSK) peptide hormones in Arabidopsis. [Display omitted] •Prohibitin proteins act as common stem cell regulators in mammals and plants•ERF115, ERF114, and ERF109 are ROS-responsive factors that maintain root SCN identity•PHB3 restricts the spatial expression patterns of ERF115, ERF114, and ERF109 in roots Prohibitins (PHBs) have been identified as negative regulators of the cell cycle. Here, Kong et al. demonstrate that Arabidopsis PHB3 is essential to maintain QC and DSC identity, and it controls root meristem activity by restricting the spatial expression of the ROS-responsive factors ERF115, 114, and 109 in root.