A Plant Peptide Encoded by CLV3 Identified by in Situ MALDI-TOF MS Analysis

Abstract

The Arabidopsis CLAVATA3 (CLV3) gene encodes a stem cell-specific protein presumed to be a precursor of a secreted peptide hormone. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) applied to in situ Arabidopsis tissues determined the structure of a modified 12-amino acid peptide (MCLV3), which was derived from a conserved motif in the CLV3 sequence. Synthetic MCLV3 induced shoot and root meristem consumption as cells differentiated into other organs, displaying the typical phenotype of transgenic plants overexpressing CLV3. These results suggest that the functional peptide of CLV3 is MCLV3.

Structural basis for recognition of an endogenous peptide by the plant receptor kinase PEPR1

“…Therefore, a better explanation to reconcile these findings would be that in vivo AtPep2,4,5 need proteolytic processing at their C-terminal sides for maturation. Maturation of plant signaling peptides through proteolytic cleavage of both N-and C-terminal sides has been demonstrated in the CLE family of peptides [38]. Currently, little is known about the dynamics of PROPEP maturation, but it is possible that this might be a rapid process.…”

RGF1 INSENSITIVE 1 to 5, a group of LRR receptor-like kinases, are essential for the perception of root meristem growth factor 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…Biological functions of several CLE peptides have been revealed. For example, CLV3 and CLE40 are responsible for shoot and root apical meristem maintenance, respectively [9,11,12]. CLV3 is perceived by three different receptors or putative receptors, CLAVA-TA1 (CLV1), CLAVATA 2 (CLV2)-CORYNE (CRN), and RPK2/TOAD2, to limit stem cell size by restricting the expression of a homeodomain transcription factor, WUSCHEL (WUS), via a negative feedback loop [13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Mystery in genetics: PUB4 gives a clue to the complex mechanism of CLV signaling pathway in the shoot apical meristem

“…PUB4 functions in the SAM MCLV3 was able to mimic the CLV3 over-expression phenotype when treated to wild type plants and induces SAM termination 9 . On the other hand, pub4 mutants were able to maintain SAM activity and to induce bolting on the media containing MCLV3 ( Fig.…”

“…[6][7][8]15 Previously, we have shown that a synthetic CLV3 peptide, MCLV3 could be a useful tool for investigating downstream components of the CLV signaling pathway. 7,9 Here we report the defects of SAM in a recently identified MCLV3 resistant mutant, pub4, 10 and discuss the possible relationship of its causal gene with the CLV signaling pathway.…”