654 / 2019-04-29 21:56:25

Transcriptomic data analysis and Functional studies of transcription factors specifically expressed in the quiescent center in the Arabidopsis Root

quiescent center; root stem cell; transcription factor; Arabidopsis thaliana

Growth and Development > Growth and Development

Root stem cells are a group of self-renewal and proliferative cells located at the root tip, including the meristem and the quiescent center (QC). Although several factors with a role in stem cell renewal have been reported, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating QC maintenance is still incomplete. Through analysis of a previously published transcriptomic dataset from individual cell types of the Arabidopsis root, we identified a number of genes specifically expressed in QC, whose functions have not been reported previously. To elucidate the mechanism underlying QC maintenance, we have focused on three groups of transcription factors (TFs) for functional characterization of this study. We first examined and confirmed the expression patterns of these TFs by GUS staining with promoter::GUS transgenic plants that we generated. For functional studies, we obtained T-DNA insertion mutants for these genes and are currently characterizing their phenotypes under normal growth conditions or with hormone and stress treatments. We are also generating multiple knockout mutants because most single mutants do not show obvious QC defects. Finally, we are constructing gene regulatory networks to determine how these factors interact in maintaining QC function.