Pause-and-stop: The effects of osmotic stress on cell proliferation during early leaf development in Arabidopsis and a role for ethylene signaling in cell cycle arrest

Aleksandra Skirycz, Hannes Claeys, Stefanie de Bodt, Akira Oikawa, Shoko Shinoda, Megan Andriankaja, Katrien Maleux, Nubia Barbosa Eloy, Frederik Coppens, Sang Dong Yoo, Kazuki Saito, Dirk Inzé

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    214 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Despite its relevance for agricultural production, environmental stress-induced growth inhibition, which is responsible for-significant yield reductions, is only poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying cell-cycle inhibition in young proliferating leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana when subjected to mild osmotic stress. A detailed cellular analysis demonstrated that as soon as osmotic stress is sensed, cell cycle progression rapidly arrests,-but cells are kept in a latent ambivalent state allowing a quick recovery (pause). Remarkably, cell cycle arrest coincides with-an increase in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate levels and the activation of ethylene signaling. Our work showed that-ethylene acts on cell cycle progression via inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase A activity independently of EIN3 transcriptional-control. When the stress persists, cells exit the mitotic cell cycle and initiate the differentiation process (stop).-This stop is reflected by early endore duplication onset, in a process independent of ethylene. Nonetheless, the potential to-partially recover the decreased cell numbers remains due to the activity of meristemoids. Together, these data present a-conceptual framework to understand how environmental stress reduces plant growth.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1876-1888
    Number of pages13
    JournalPlant Cell
    Volume23
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011 May

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Plant Science

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