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Science 29 February 2008:
Vol. 319. no. 5867, pp. 1241 - 1244
DOI: 10.1126/science.1152505
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Reports

Local Positive Feedback Regulation Determines Cell Shape in Root Hair Cells

Seiji Takeda,1 Catherine Gapper,1 Hidetaka Kaya,2,3 Elizabeth Bell,1 Kazuyuki Kuchitsu,2,3 Liam Dolan1*

The specification and maintenance of growth sites are tightly regulated during cell morphogenesis in all organisms. ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE 2 reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (RHD2 NADPH) oxidase–derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulate a Ca2+ influx into the cytoplasm that is required for root hair growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that Ca2+, in turn, activated the RHD2 NADPH oxidase to produce ROS at the growing point in the root hair. Together, these components could establish a means of positive feedback regulation that maintains an active growth site in expanding root hair cells. Because the location and stability of growth sites predict the ultimate form of a plant cell, our findings demonstrate how a positive feedback mechanism involving RHD2, ROS, and Ca2+ can determine cell shape.

1 Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
2 Genome and Drug Research Center, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
3 Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: liam.dolan{at}bbsrc.ac.uk

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)