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The ins and outs of the plant cell cycle

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 8, pages 655–665 (2007)Cite this article

Key Points

  • In contrast to animals, plants continuously generate new organs throughout their lifespan. This developmental plasticity requires a strict temporal and spatial control of the cell cycle.

  • Cell-cycle activation in quiescent cells is correlated with a change in chromatin structure and requires the activation of the retinoblastoma (RB)–E2F pathway.

  • The gain of a new cell fate is characterized by the occurrence of asymmetric divisions. The phytohormone auxin is a key regulator of asymmetric divisions in the root.

  • Cell-cycle exit is correlated with a decrease in cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. The molecular mechanisms by which differentiation and CDK activity interconnect are poorly understood.

  • Cells exit their cell cycle in response to environmental cues. Recently, a novel class of CDK inhibitory proteins has been described that putatively links the cell cycle and stress responses.

  • Cells arrest their cell cycle upon DNA damage through the activation of the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase pathways. In plants, transcriptional activation of the WEE1 gene (which encodes the CDC25-counteracting WEE1 kinase) represents the prevailing pathway that arrests the cell cycle under conditions that cause single- or double-stranded DNA breaks.

Abstract

Plant growth and development are driven by the continuous generation of new cells. Whereas much has been learned at a molecular level about the mechanisms that orchestrate progression through the different cell-cycle phases, little is known about how the cell-cycle machinery operates in the context of an entire plant and contributes to growth, cell differentiation and the formation of new tissues and organs. Here, we discuss how intrinsic developmental signals and environmental cues affect cell-cycle entry and exit.

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Figure 1: The possible role of chromatin remodelling in switching from the quiescent to dividing state.
Figure 2: Auxin-induced asymmetric division during lateral root initiation.
Figure 3: Model for control of cell differentiation by CDK activity.
Figure 4: Inhibition of entry into mitosis by DNA damage in mammals versus plants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. De Cock and K. Spruyt for help with preparing the manuscript and the artwork, respectively. This work was supported by a grant from the University Poles of Attraction Programme–Belgian Science Policy and the European Union Marie Curie Research Training Networks. L.D.V. is a postdoctoral researcher of the Research Foundation–Flanders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, Gent, 9052, Belgium

    Lieven De Veylder, Tom Beeckman & Dirk Inzé

  2. Department of Molecular Genetics, Ghent University, Gent, 9052, Belgium

    Lieven De Veylder, Tom Beeckman & Dirk Inzé

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  1. Lieven De Veylder
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  2. Tom Beeckman
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Correspondence to Dirk Inzé.

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DATABASES

TAIR

CYCA3;2

CYCA2;4

ICK1

ICK2

CYCB1;1

CYCD3;1

CYCD3;2

Glossary

Stomatal guard cell

One of a pair of kidney-shaped cells that control the opening and closing of stomata.

Histone acetyltransferase

An enzyme that acetylates core histones, resulting in important regulatory effects on chromatin structure and assembly and on gene transcription.

Stomata

A specialized epidermal structure that is found on stems and leaves and permits gas exchange with the inner plant tissues.

Auxin

One of several hormones found in plants that control the growth and division of cells.

AP2 domain

A plant-specific protein domain that was originally identified in the floral homeotic protein APETALA2 and is involved in DNA binding.

Pericycle

A layer of cells located between the endodermis and the central stele from which lateral roots originate.

Protoxylem

Meristematic cells that give rise to xylem — the tissue that is specialized for the transport of water and minerals upwards through the plant.

Endoreduplication

Replication of DNA during the S phase of the cell cycle without the subsequent completion of mitosis and/or cytokinesis.

Pavement cell

A plant epidermal cell that is not part of a stomatal complex or trichome.

Phytohormone

A plant hormone.

Antiphosphatase

A non-functional protein phosphatase that is still able to bind its substrates without causing their dephosphorylation.

Expansin

A putative cell-wall-loosening enzyme that enables cell expansion.

Dicotyledonous plant

A flowering plant, the seed of which typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons.

Water stress

A situation when the demand for water exceeds the available amount.

Medicago truncatula

(Barrel medic). A small forage legume that was chosen as the model organism for legume biology.

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De Veylder, L., Beeckman, T. & Inzé, D. The ins and outs of the plant cell cycle. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 8, 655–665 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2227

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