Auxin Controls Megaspore Mother Cell (MMC) Initiation or Proliferation During Ovule Development
Mentor 1
Dazhong Zhao
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
28-4-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
28-4-2017 4:00 PM
Description
In most flowering plants, a hypodermal cell at the tip of the nucellus differentiates to an archesporial cell then later forms megaspore mother cell (MMC) that accomplishes the transition from a somatic cell fate to a germline fate. However, how the MMC is formed and how the plant keeps only one MMC are still unclear. Our research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which auxin controls megaspore mother cell (MMC) initiation or proliferation during ovule development via employing molecular genetics and cell biological techniques. Recently we found that application of auxin transport inhibitor and manipulation of auxin signaling that lead to disrupt the polarized auxin response and cause more MMCs. Thus, we hypothesize that the auxin maximum in the apical cells of nucellus provides a positional cue to restrict the somatic cells entering into the reproductive meiocyte. Moreover, activation of auxin signaling inside the nucellus will promote the MMC initiation or proliferation.
Auxin Controls Megaspore Mother Cell (MMC) Initiation or Proliferation During Ovule Development
Union Wisconsin Room
In most flowering plants, a hypodermal cell at the tip of the nucellus differentiates to an archesporial cell then later forms megaspore mother cell (MMC) that accomplishes the transition from a somatic cell fate to a germline fate. However, how the MMC is formed and how the plant keeps only one MMC are still unclear. Our research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which auxin controls megaspore mother cell (MMC) initiation or proliferation during ovule development via employing molecular genetics and cell biological techniques. Recently we found that application of auxin transport inhibitor and manipulation of auxin signaling that lead to disrupt the polarized auxin response and cause more MMCs. Thus, we hypothesize that the auxin maximum in the apical cells of nucellus provides a positional cue to restrict the somatic cells entering into the reproductive meiocyte. Moreover, activation of auxin signaling inside the nucellus will promote the MMC initiation or proliferation.
