Abstract

Stomata are small valves on the plant epidermis balancing gas exchange and water loss. Stomata are formed according to positional cues. In Arabidopsis, two EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF) peptides, EPF1 and EPF2, are secreted from stomatal precursors enforcing proper stomatal patterning. Here, I review recent studies revealing the ligand-receptor pairs and revising the previously predicted relations between receptors specifying stomatal patterning: ERECTA-family and TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM). Furthermore, EPF-LIKE9 (EPFL9/Stomagen) promotes stomatal differentiation from internal tissues. Two EPFL peptides specify inflorescence architecture, a process beyond stomatal development, as ligands for ERECTA. Thus, broadly expressed receptor kinases may regulate multiple developmental processes through perceiving different peptide ligands, each with a specialized expression pattern. TMM in the epidermis may fine-tune multiple EPF/EPFL signals to prevent signal interference.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Torii KU

Institution

Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. ktorii@u.washington.edu

Source

Trends in plant science 17:12 2012 Dec pg 711-9

MeSH

Arabidopsis
Arabidopsis Proteins
Cell Differentiation
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Genes, Plant
Genetic Variation
Ligands
Plant Epidermis
Plant Stomata
Protein Kinases
Signal Transduction

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22819466