431 / 2019-01-28 16:52:46

Endogenous Stress Related Signal in the Niche Directs Stem Cell Fate

stem cell,niche,endogenous stress related signal,ethylene,EIN3

全体主题 > Development

Stem cell populations in all multi-cellular organisms are situated in a niche, which is a special microenvironment that defines stem cell fate. The interplay between stem cells and their niches is crucial for stem-cell maintenance. Here we show that an endogenous stress related signal (ESS) is overrepresented in the plant stem-cell niche under natural growth conditions, and the vast majority of known stem cell- and niche-specific genes responded to stress signals. Interference with the ESS signal in stem-cell niche by blocking ethylene signaling caused severe defects in stem-cell maintenance. Ethylene-insensitive 3 (EIN3), the key transcription factor in ethylene signaling, directly actives expressions of stress hub transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE 22 (AGL22) in stem-cell niche, and relays ESS signals to the WUS/CLV network. Our results provide a mechanistic framework for ESS signaling control of the stem-cell niche and demonstrate that plant stem cells are maintained by a native stress microenvironment in vivo.