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Auxin flows from margin inwards to create leaf veins. BERLETH/CSH

Leaf veins, just like roots and shoots, use flows of the plant hormone auxin to drive their patterning, say Enrico Scarpella (University of Alberta, Canada), Thomas Berleth (University of Toronto, Canada), and colleagues.

Models for leaf vein patterning have been based on either auxin flows or reaction–diffusion systems. The flow models had a hard time explaining how loops would arise. But "all the modeling so far has been based on the final pattern," says Berleth. "Now flow can be reconciled with closed networks, although other types of cellular interactions may also play a role."

His team used the auxin efflux protein AtPIN1 as an early marker of vein formation. Expression was found at a series of "convergence points" at the leaf margin, from where it led down paths that foreshadowed first the leaf's main central vein and then other major veins connected to the main vein.

Auxin is presumed to flow from leaf margin to the interior, consistent with AtPIN1's polarization to the parts of the cells closest to the main vein. Loops could also form, however, because certain cells had bipolar AtPIN1, allowing auxin flow to the main vein via two alternate routes. Auxin turns on AtPIN1 expression, thus refining and reinforcing the pattern.

Interfering with auxin flow disturbs vein formation and spacing. Vein placement seems to depend on the positions of convergence points, but those may be defined both by auxin's positive feedback on its own flow and on undefined genetic circuits.

Reference:

Scarpella, E., et al. 2006. Genes Dev. 20:1015–1027.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

William A. Wells

wellsw{at}rockefeller.edu

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This Article PDF (Full Text) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wells, W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wells, W. A. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?