Molecular mechanisms regulating shape acquisition in plants

As the most external tissue layer, the plant epidermis is a key component of the interface with the environment and plays a major role in adjusting morphogenesis, for which a tight control of cell shape acquisition is needed.

The presence of the cell wall complexifies cell shape acquisition but it provides support and protection to the cell and thus has to be fairly rigid but also flexible to allow growth.

The phytohormone auxin is one of the factors stimulating cell growth by inducing wall loosening and modifying specific gene expression.Using jigsaw puzzle-shaped leaf epidermal pavement cells of Arabidopsis as a remarkably synchronous model of cell shape development, we previously demonstrated that cell shape determination requires heterogeneous mechano-chemical cell wall properties and the establishment of a dynamic auxin gradient.

We will now reveal new molecular players that are indispensable for proper pavement cell shape determination via cutting edge approaches such as cell-type-specific transcriptomics, genetics and microscopy.

In parallel, we will assess the interactions and feed-back between cell wall mechanical and chemical properties, the auxin signaling pathway and these novel molecular players in depth.It is essential that we broaden our understanding of cell shape acquisition and overall morphogenesis in plants in order to meet increasing demands for sustainable material such as food, animal feed and forestry products.