Biology subjects

Oskam, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Oskam, L..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Local and distal signals drive cell-type-specific leaf responses during shade avoidance

Plants reposition and grow their leaves towards optimal light conditions in a canopy. To achieve both horizontal and vertical displacement, plants need to simultaneously elongate their cells unidirectionally and maintain an elongation rate differential between the abaxial and adaxial side of the organ to bend. Exposure to Far-Red (FR) light enrichment can induce both responses, depending on where FR is sensed. Here we studied how plants maintain both growth responses simultaneously within the same organ. To deduce the regulatory mechanisms governing the simultaneous regulation of differential and unidirectional elongation, we performed both organ specific and single cell RNA sequencing experiments on plants exposed to local or whole plant FR enrichment. Single cell transcriptomics resolved that FR light signalling occurs through all cell types, but core components of the shade avoidance pathway are expressed cell type-specifically and require signalling across tissues to control growth plasticity. The upstream photoreceptor targets, including auxin biosynthesis-associated genes, in the leaf lamina are expressed in the epidermis, whilst auxin response gene expression in the petiole occurs also in the deeper tissues layers. We thus identified the remotely triggered differential growth transcriptome acting in the abaxial cortex and show that this is complemented by locally induced second transcriptome signature that is associated with unidirectional petiole elongation. The latter is induced across all cell types. We propose that this spatial distinction of transcriptional regulation of gene clusters could represent how differential and unidirectional growth can occur simultaneously in the same organ under FR light enrichment.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Shoot-to-root mobile CEPD proteins regulate TGA transcription factors to allow nitrate root-to-shoot transport in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis thaliana, nitrogen (N) starvation leads to increased synthesis of CEPD (C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE DOWNSTREAM) proteins in the shoot. CEPDs travel to the roots, where they activate expression of genes required for high affinity nitrate transport. CEPDs belong to a plant-specific class of glutaredoxin-like proteins that interact with TGACG-binding transcription factors (TGAs). Here we identified the redundant clade-I TGAs TGA1 and TGA4 as the link between CEPDs and target promoters. In the absence of CEPDs, TGA1/4 have a strong negative effect on N starvation-induced gene expression leading to reduced translocation of N from the root to the shoot and to reduced shoot fresh weight. Basal levels of CEPDs were sufficient to completely release TGA1/4-mediated repression of nitrate acquisition. The antagonism between CEPDs and TGA1/4 was also detected in shoots, where CEPDs dampened the activating function of TGA1/4 on hyponasty and defense. CEPDs encode the conserved putative active site motif CxxC/S that was suggested to mediate redox regulation of target proteins. Complementation of the tga1 tga4 mutant with a TGA1 variant containing amino acid substitutions of all four potentially redox-active cysteines showed that CEPDs do not regulate TGA1/4 by modulating their redox state.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

A low-cost and open-source imaging platform reveals spatiotemporal insight into Arabidopsis leaf elongation and movement

Plant organs move throughout the diurnal cycle, changing leaf and petiole positions to balance light capture, leaf temperature and water loss under dynamic environmental conditions. Upward movement of the petiole, called hyponasty, is one of several traits of the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). SAS traits are elicited upon perception of vegetation shade signals such as far-red light (FR) and improve light capture in dense vegetation. Monitoring plant movement at a high temporal resolution allows studying functionality, as well as molecular regulation of hyponasty. However, high temporal resolution imaging solutions are often very expensive, making this unavailable to many researchers. Here, we present a modular and low-cost imaging set-up, based on small Raspberry Pi computers, that can track leaf movements and elongation growth with high temporal resolution. We also developed an open-source, semi-automated image analysis pipeline. Using this setup we followed responses to FR enrichment, light intensity and their interactions. Tracking both elongation and angle of petiole, lamina and entire leaf revealed insight into R:FR sensitivities of leaf growth and movement dynamics, and its interactions with background light intensity. We also identified spatial separation in hyponastic response regulation for the petiole and the lamina of the leaf, depending on the light conditions.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Local light signalling at the leaf tip drives remote differential petiole growth through auxin-gibberellin dynamics

Although plants are immobile, many of their organs are flexible to move in response to environmental cues. In dense vegetation plants detect neighbours through far-red light perception with their leaf tip. They respond remotely, with asymmetrical growth between the abaxial and adaxial sides of the leafstalk, the petiole. This results in upward movement that brings the leaf blades into better lit zones of the canopy. The plant hormone auxin is required for this response, but it is not understood how non-differential leaf tip-derived auxin can remotely regulate movement. Here we show that remote light signalling promotes auxin accumulation in the abaxial petiole by reinforcing an intrinsic auxin transport directionality. In the petiole, auxin elicits a response of both auxin as well as a second growth promoter; gibberellin. We show that this dual regulation is necessary for hyponastic leaf movement in response to light. Our results reveal how plants can spatially relay information about neighbour proximity from their sensory leaf tips to the petiole base, thus driving adaptive growth.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Mechanodetection of neighbor plants elicits adaptive leaf movements through calcium dynamics

Plants detect their neighbors via various cues, including reflected light and touching of leaf tips, which elicit in upward leaf movement (hyponasty). It is currently unknown how touch is sensed and how the signal is transferred from the leaf tip to the petiole base that drives hyponasty. Here, we show that touch-induced hyponasty involves a signal transduction pathway that is distinct from light-mediated hyponasty. We found that mechanostimulation of the leaf tip upon touching causes cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt induction in leaf tip trichomes that spreads towards the petiole. Both perturbation of the calcium response and the absence of trichomes inhibit touch-induced hyponasty. Finally, using plant competition assays, we show that touch-induced hyponasty is adaptive in dense stands of Arabidopsis. We thus establish a novel, adaptive mechanism regulating hyponastic leaf movement in response to mechanostimulation by neighbors in dense vegetation.

plant biology↗