Oral Presentation International Plant Molecular Biology Conference 2024

Deciphering Cellular Reprogramming for Surface Barrier Restoration in Arabidopsis (#508)

Minsoo Han 1 , Jinsu Lee 1 , Woo-Taek Jeon 1 , Yuree Lee 1
  1. Seoul National University, Seoul, NA, South Korea

Cuticular wax envelops the outermost layer of plant leaves, providing effective protection against various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, this protective barrier can be compromised by mechanical stress or herbivore attacks, and in some instances, it is deliberately breached during programmed organ shedding processes. While the signaling pathways involved in mechanical wounds and abscission have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms underlying the restoration of a damaged surface barrier remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to unravel the cellular reprogramming events that occur within internal tissues during the regeneration of the cuticle layer after abscission. To achieve this, we employed a combination of pharmacological approaches and forward and reverse genetic screenings. Through these methods, we successfully identified critical molecular regulators, including phytohormones and transcriptional networks, which play essential roles in the formation of the protective cuticle layer. We are currently engaged in characterizing the detailed pathway associated with these regulators. Additionally, to better understand the differences in the restoration process between programmed and accidental occurrences, we examined the healing process following a mechanical wound. These comparative analyses will provide a broader understanding of surface barrier restoration mechanisms.

  1. Lee J, Chen H, Lee G, Emonet A, Kim S-G, Shim D, Lee Y (2022). MSD2-mediated ROS metabolism fine-tunes the timing of floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis. New Phytol 235(6):2466-2480.
  2. Lee Y (2019) More than cell wall hydrolysis: orchestration of cellular dynamics for organ separation. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 51: 37-43.
  3. Lee Y, Yoon TH, Lee J, Jeon SY, Lee JH, Lee MK, Chen H, Yun j, Oh SY, Wen X, Cho HK, Mang H and Kwak JM (2018) A lignin molecular brace controls precision processing of cell walls critical for surface integrity in Arabidopsis. Cell, 173:1468-1480.