Institute of Transformative
Bio-Molecules(ITbM)
Group of Plant Pattern Formation
- Visiting ProfessorKeiko Torii
- Probing and Manipulating Cell-Cell Signaling in Plant Pattern Formation
- Designated Lecturer Akie Shimotohno
- ▶Laboratory HP
- ▶Japanese
Plants, like animals, make use of both long-distance and
local cell-cell signals to integrate their developmental
patterning. Unlike animal cells, however, the plant cells
are encapsulated by the rigid cell walls, as such
developmental patterning in plants manifests in the
absence of cell migration. We aim to unravel how plant
cells interpret complex positional cues, interact with
each other, and make cell-fate decisions to generate
beautiful, orderly patterns.
Plants form a critical base of our ecosystem. As such, the
importance of plants for our life and sustenance of our
civilization could never be understated. We strive to
unravel the dynamic nature of plant pattern formation, and
hope that our research will make innovative new directions
in basic plant biology as well as a means for potential
translation to agricultural sciences.
As a member laboratory in the WPI Institute of Transformative Biomolecules (ITbM), we are actively collaborating with synthetic chemists and theoretical structural biologists to design new chemical compounds for probing, visualizing, and manipulating pattern formation. We also provide the international training opportunity for those students interested in research experience abroad.
Probing and Manipulating Peptide Signaling in Plant Development
We have deciphered the conserved logic of peptide signal transduction pathways regulating multiple developmental processes in plants: EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF)-family peptides perceived by the same receptor, ERECTA, enforce proper stomatal development, promote stem growth, specify leaf shape and vascular patterning. To understand signal specificity, discrimination and buffering, we are categorizing the bioactivity of EPF/EPF-LIKE genes in vivo by taking advantage of their well-described roles in stomatal patterning and stem growth. We plan to collaborate with ITbM’s peptide synthesis group.
Searching for novel compounds influencing stem cell divisions and differentiation in plants
Proper stomatal patterning and density influence plant productivity and survival. As such, identifying small chemicals that influence stem cell activities within stomatal cell lineages could be potentially useful for both basic cell and developmental biology and applied crop science. With the ITbM’s new Molecular Structure Center, we plan to initiate chemical screening.
Reverse-engineering plant receptors for manipulating growth and development
Plants use small chemicals to regulate development and environmental response. As collaboration with the ITbM’s chemists, structural biologists, and physiologists, we plan to reverse-engineer hormone receptors for plethora of synthetic analogs with interesting properties, produced at the ITbM.
Exploring novel mechanisms contributing to cell-cell communication
We expect that number of molecules and mechanisms regulating cell-cell communication in plant development are yet to be discovered. Therefore we always welcome any creative idea, hypothesis, or trial to explore novel mechanisms for cell-cell communication.
References
- Hirakawa Y. et al. (2017) Cryptic bioactivity capacitated by synthetic hybrid plant peptides. Nature Commun., 8, 14318 (7 pages).
- Ikematsu S. et al. (2017) ERECTA-family receptor kinase genes redundantly prevent premature progression of secondary growth in the Arabidopsis hypocotyl. New Phytol., 213, 1697-1709.
- Tameshige T. et al. (2017) Stem development through vascular tissues: EPFL-ERECTA family signaling that bounces in and out of phloem. J. Exp. Bot., 68, 45-53.
- Nemhauser. et al. (2016) Plant synthetic biology for molecular engineering of signalling and development. Nature Plants, 2, 16010.
- Tameshige T. et al. (2016) A secreted peptide and its receptors shape the auxin response pattern and leaf margin morphogenesis. Curr. Biol., 26, 2478-2485.
- Lee J.S. et al. (2015) Competitive binding of antagonistic peptides fine-tunes stomatal patterning. Nature, 522, 439-443.
- Tameshige T. et al. (2015) Cell walls as a stage for intercellular communication regulating shoot meristem development. Front. Plant Sci.,6,324 (10 pages).
- Bemis S.M. et al. (2013) Regulation of floral patterning and organ identity by Arabidopsis ERECTA-family receptor kinase genes. J Exp Bot. 64:5323-33.
- Uchida N. et al. Regulation of plant vascular stem cells by endodermis-derived EPFL-family peptide hormones and phloem-expressed ERECTA-family receptor kinases. (2013) J Exp Bot. 64:5335-43
- Peterson, K.M. et al. (2013) Arabidopsis homeodomain-leucine zipper IV proteins promote stomatal development and ectopically induce stomata beyond the epidermis. Development 140: 1924-1935
- Uchida, N. et al. (2012) Regulation of inflorescence architecture by inter-tissue-layer ligand-receptor communication between the endodermis and phloem. PNAS 109: 6337-6342
- Lee, J.S. et al. (2012) Direct interaction of ligand-receptor pairs specifying stomatal Patterning. Genes & Development 26: 126-136
- Pillitteri L.J. et al. (2007) Termination of asymmetric cell division and differentiation of stomata. Nature 445: 501-505
- Shpak E.D. et al. (2005) Stomatal patterning and differentiation by synergistic interactions of receptor kinases. Science 309: 290-293