Fluctuations of the transcription factor ATML1 generate the pattern of giant cells in the Arabidopsis sepal

Multicellular development produces patterns of specialized cell types. Yet, it is often unclear how individual cells within a field of identical cells initiate the patterning process. Using live imaging, quantitative image analyses and modeling, we show that during Arabidopsis thaliana sepal development, fluctuations in the concentration of the transcription factor ATML1 pattern a field of identical epidermal cells to differentiate into giant cells interspersed between smaller cells. We find that ATML1 is expressed in all epidermal cells. However, its level fluctuates in each of these cells. If ATML1 levels surpass a threshold during the G2 phase of the cell cycle, the cell will likely enter a state of endoreduplication and become giant. Otherwise, the cell divides. Our results demonstrate a fluctuation-driven patterning mechanism for how cell fate decisions can be initiated through a random yet tightly regulated process.

Teles, JoséUniversity of Cambridge(Swepub:lu)thep-jot (author)
Formosa-Jordan, PauUniversity of Cambridge (author)
Refahi, YassinUniversity of Cambridge (author)
San-Bento, RitaReproduction et Développement des Plantes (author)
Ingram, GwynethReproduction et Développement des Plantes (author)
Jönsson, HenrikLund University,Lunds universitet,Beräkningsbiologi och biologisk fysik - Genomgår omorganisation,Institutionen för astronomi och teoretisk fysik - Genomgår omorganisation,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Computational Biology and Biological Physics - Undergoing reorganization,Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics - Undergoing reorganization,Faculty of Science,University of Cambridge(Swepub:lu)thep-hjo (author)
Locke, James C.W.University of Cambridge (author)
Roeder, Adrienne H KCornell University (author)
Cornell UniversityUniversity of Cambridge (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Meyer, Heather M; Teles, José; Formosa-Jordan, ...; Refahi, Yassin; San-Bento, Rita; Ingram, Gwyneth; show more...; Jönsson, Henrik; Locke, James C.W ...; Roeder, Adrienne ...; show less...

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NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Other Physics To ...

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