‘Open minded’ cells: how cells can change fate

Salt stress-induced cell reprogramming, cell fate switch and adaptive plasticity during root hair development in Arabidopsis

“…It is proposed that this regulatory mechanism of cell fate decision may be the molecular basis for cellular plasticity of root epidermis. [13][14][15] Our research examined the developmental plasticity of Arabidopsis root epidermis induced by salt stress. 16 We have shown that salt stress markedly influence root epidermis development and subsequent root hair development.…”

“…[9][10][11][12] Recent findings also revealed that root epidermal cell division, patterning and differentiation are also modulated through regulation of root epidermis patterning gene expression by histone modification and chromatin reorganization. [13][14][15] Chromatin restructuring at GL2 locus appears to be essential for position-dependent cell fate specification and root epidermal development. Importantly, GL2 expression and cell fate determination are reset in each cell cycle.…”

Reprogramming adult cells during organ regeneration in forest species

“…16 Cell fate switches are commonly regarded as being associated with the re-entry of cells into the cell cycle. 17 However, from the data obtained it seems that the capacity to re-enter cell division alone is not sufficient to reset the previous cellular state in non-competent cells. Because rooting competent and non-competent cells respond similarly during the earliest stages of root induction, it was concluded that cambial cells peripheral to the resin canals might retain an intrinsic competence to form adventitious roots in response to auxin, and perhaps maintain or regain their pluripotency/multipotency before cell division or during the initial cycles of division.…”

“…29 Changes in cellular plasticity in plants may occur both with and without cell division, in the same way as in animals. 17 Localized changes of GRAS gene expression in competent cells during the earliest stages of adventitious root formation, when cell reorganization occurs but before the resumption of cell division, indicates differential cellular responses between competent and non-competent tissues before cellular division. This suggests that these cells have the capacity to reset their expression pattern, at least for specific genes, and, perhaps, to make developmental decisions, before cell division.…”

Expression of seed storage product genes (CRA1 and OLEO4) in embryogenic cultures of somatic tissues of Arabidopsis

“…Since not all somatic cells have capacity for totipotency, and therefore in order to regenerate plants in vitro, it is challenging to identify the internal and external factors which determine developmental plasticity of vegetative cells, and especially their embryogenic transition (Costa and Shaw 2006). Among the various factors that influence the induction of somatic embryogenesis (SE), such as plant growth regulators and other media components, and physical culture conditions, or the donor genotype, the choice of explant type is considered to be crucial for the establishment of embryogenic culture, including in Arabidopsis (Gaj 2004).…”