Recent advances in Arabidopsis CLE peptide signaling

Authors: Fletcher, Jennifer

Submitted to: Trends in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2020
Publication Date: 5/10/2020
Citation: Fletcher, J.C. 2020. Recent advances in Arabidopsis CLE peptide signaling. Trends in Plant Science. 25(10):1005-1016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2020.04.014.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2020.04.014

Interpretive Summary: The CLE gene family is one of the largest families of small mobile signal proteins described in plants, with 32 members in the model plant Arabidopsis. The CLE proteins communicate information between plant cells to coordinate their behavior during growth and development. Here I describe recent studies that show CLE proteins are important for many aspects of plant biology, including stem cell maintenance, vascular development, root development, and gas exchange in leaves. Because CLE proteins are highly conserved, information about CLE protein function in model plants can potentially be translated to improve the growth and development of many different crop species.

Technical Abstract: Like communities of people, communities of cells must continuously communicate in order to thrive. Polypeptide signaling molecules that act as mobile ligands are widely used by eukaryotic organisms to transmit information between cells in order to coordinate developmental processes and responses to environmental stimuli. In plants, the CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) genes encode a large family of extracellular signaling peptides that stimulate receptor-mediated signal transduction cascades to modulate diverse Arabidopsis developmental and physiological processes. This review highlights recent studies that describe roles for CLE peptide signaling pathways in shoot stem cell homeostasis, vascular cambium activity, stomatal formation and closure, root xylem development and root protophloem cell differentiation.