A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves

Abstract Trichome patterning in Arabidopsis serves as a model system for de novo pattern formation in plants. It is thought to typify the theoretical activator–inhibitor mechanism, although this hypothesis has never been challenged by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. By integrating...

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Main Authors: Simona Digiuni, Swen Schellmann, Florian Geier, Bettina Greese, Martina Pesch, Katja Wester, Burcu Dartan, Valerie Mach, Bhylahalli Purushottam Srinivas, Jens Timmer, Christian Fleck, Martin Hulskamp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2008-09-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.54
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author Simona Digiuni
Swen Schellmann
Florian Geier
Bettina Greese
Martina Pesch
Katja Wester
Burcu Dartan
Valerie Mach
Bhylahalli Purushottam Srinivas
Jens Timmer
Christian Fleck
Martin Hulskamp
author_facet Simona Digiuni
Swen Schellmann
Florian Geier
Bettina Greese
Martina Pesch
Katja Wester
Burcu Dartan
Valerie Mach
Bhylahalli Purushottam Srinivas
Jens Timmer
Christian Fleck
Martin Hulskamp
author_sort Simona Digiuni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Trichome patterning in Arabidopsis serves as a model system for de novo pattern formation in plants. It is thought to typify the theoretical activator–inhibitor mechanism, although this hypothesis has never been challenged by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. By integrating the key genetic and molecular data of the trichome patterning system, we developed a new theoretical model that allows the direct testing of the effect of experimental interventions and in the prediction of patterning phenotypes. We show experimentally that the trichome inhibitor TRIPTYCHON is transcriptionally activated by the known positive regulators GLABRA1 and GLABRA3. Further, we demonstrate by particle bombardment of protein fusions with GFP that TRIPTYCHON and CAPRICE but not GLABRA1 and GLABRA3 can move between cells. Finally, theoretical considerations suggest promoter swapping and basal overexpression experiments by means of which we are able to discriminate three biologically meaningful variants of the trichome patterning model. Our study demonstrates that the mutual interplay between theory and experiment can reveal a new level of understanding of how biochemical mechanisms can drive biological patterning processes.
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spelling doaj-art-dc0f6179975a4a13bf9c1cfa3a3349cf2025-08-24T12:01:30ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922008-09-014111110.1038/msb.2008.54A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leavesSimona Digiuni0Swen Schellmann1Florian Geier2Bettina Greese3Martina Pesch4Katja Wester5Burcu Dartan6Valerie Mach7Bhylahalli Purushottam Srinivas8Jens Timmer9Christian Fleck10Martin Hulskamp11Department of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Mathematics and Physics, University of FreiburgDepartment of Mathematics and Physics, University of FreiburgDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneDepartment of Mathematics and Physics, University of FreiburgDepartment of Mathematics and Physics, University of FreiburgDepartment of Botany III, Botanical Institute, University of CologneAbstract Trichome patterning in Arabidopsis serves as a model system for de novo pattern formation in plants. It is thought to typify the theoretical activator–inhibitor mechanism, although this hypothesis has never been challenged by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. By integrating the key genetic and molecular data of the trichome patterning system, we developed a new theoretical model that allows the direct testing of the effect of experimental interventions and in the prediction of patterning phenotypes. We show experimentally that the trichome inhibitor TRIPTYCHON is transcriptionally activated by the known positive regulators GLABRA1 and GLABRA3. Further, we demonstrate by particle bombardment of protein fusions with GFP that TRIPTYCHON and CAPRICE but not GLABRA1 and GLABRA3 can move between cells. Finally, theoretical considerations suggest promoter swapping and basal overexpression experiments by means of which we are able to discriminate three biologically meaningful variants of the trichome patterning model. Our study demonstrates that the mutual interplay between theory and experiment can reveal a new level of understanding of how biochemical mechanisms can drive biological patterning processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.54
spellingShingle Simona Digiuni
Swen Schellmann
Florian Geier
Bettina Greese
Martina Pesch
Katja Wester
Burcu Dartan
Valerie Mach
Bhylahalli Purushottam Srinivas
Jens Timmer
Christian Fleck
Martin Hulskamp
A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
Molecular Systems Biology
title A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
title_full A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
title_fullStr A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
title_full_unstemmed A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
title_short A competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on Arabidopsis leaves
title_sort competitive complex formation mechanism underlies trichome patterning on arabidopsis leaves
url https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2008.54
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