Emerging concepts in chromatin-level regulation of plant cell differentiation: timing, counting, sensing and maintaining

Ana Karina Morao (1, 2, 3) , Daniel Bouyer (1, 2, 3) , François Roudier (4, 1, 2, 3)

1 IBENS - Institut de biologie de l'ENS Paris
2 INSERM - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
3 ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris
4 RDP - Reproduction et développement des plantes

Plants are characterized by a remarkable phenotypic plasticity that meets the constraints of a sessile lifestyle and the need to adjust constantly to the environment. Recent studies have begun to reveal how chromatin dynamics participate in coordinating cell proliferation and differentiation in response to developmental cues as well as environmental fluctuations. In this review, we discuss the pivotal function of chromatin-based mechanisms in cell fate acquisition and maintenance, within as well as outside meristems. In particular, we highlight the emerging role of specific epigenomic factors and chromatin pathways in timing the activity of stem cells, counting cell divisions and positioning cell fate transitions by sensing phytohormone gradients.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Ana Karina Morao, Daniel Bouyer, François Roudier. Emerging concepts in chromatin-level regulation of plant cell differentiation: timing, counting, sensing and maintaining. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 2016, 34, pp.27-34. ⟨10.1016/j.pbi.2016.07.010⟩. ⟨hal-01602506⟩