比利时根特大学Bert De Rybel等研究人员合作发现，SPL13通过触发定向细胞分裂控制根尖分生组织的阶段变化。这一研究成果于2024年11月15日发表在国际学术期刊《科学》上。

研究人员鉴定了一种小分子，该小分子激活根尖分生组织（RAM）中SQUAMOSA启动子结合蛋白样13（SPL13）的表达。SPL13是已知参与芽体由幼态向成熟态转变的关键因子。这一表达通过SHORT ROOT（SHR）和细胞周期调节因子在RAM中引发定向细胞分裂。

研究人员进一步展示了RAM具有不同的幼态和成熟态阶段，这些阶段可通过形态学和分子特征进行区分，并且SPL因子在拟南芥和水稻（Oryza sativa）中对于这一转变至关重要。

总之，研究人员提供了分子层面的见解，并揭示了根尖分生组织在阶段变化过程中发生的与年龄相关的形态学变化。

研究人员表示，定向细胞分裂对决定植物的整体形态和大小至关重要，但控制这一过程的开始和持续时间的因素在很大程度上仍然未知。

附：英文原文

Title: SPL13 controls a root apical meristem phase change by triggering oriented cell divisions

Author: Baojun Yang, Yanbiao Sun, Max Minne, Yanhua Ge, Qianru Yue, Vera Goossens, Eliana Mor, Brenda Callebaut, Kevin Bevernaege, Johan M. Winne, Dominique Audenaert, Bert De Rybel

Issue&Volume: 2024-11-15

Abstract: Oriented cell divisions are crucial for determining the overall morphology and size of plants, but what controls the onset and duration of this process remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a small molecule that activates root apical meristem (RAM) expression of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE13 (SPL13) a known player in the shoot’s juvenile-to-adult transition. This expression leads to oriented cell divisions in the RAM through SHORT ROOT (SHR) and cell cycle regulators. We further show that the RAM has distinct juvenile and adult phases typed by morphological and molecular characteristics and that SPL factors are crucially required for this transition in Arabidopsis and rice (Oryza sativa). In summary, we provide molecular insights into the age-dependent morphological changes occurring in the RAM during phase change.

DOI: ado4298

Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado4298