The actin cytoskeleton is required to maintain plant cell division orientation against cellular geometry.
Goldy C, Moulin S, Shimizu Y, Cerutti G, Bayle V
Summary
7.2/10Plant cells use their internal actin skeleton to maintain proper division orientation, even when cell shape and mechanical stress in tissues suggest otherwise. This research clarifies how plants coordinate structural forces to ensure tissue development follows the right pattern.
Key Findings
Actin cytoskeleton is essential for maintaining cell division plane orientation independent of cellular geometry
Cell divisions typically follow the shortest volume-enclosing path but can deviate perpendicular to growth axis in response to mechanical cues
Tissue-scale mechanical stress guides division orientation, but integration mechanisms require further investigation
Original Abstract
In multicellular organisms, cell division shapes tissue architecture, cell identity, and function. In walled organisms like plants, division plane orientation irreversibly defines tissue topology and is tightly regulated. While divisions often follow the shortest path enclosing cell volume, certain cells deviate, dividing perpendicular to the growth axis. Tissue-scale mechanical stress has been proposed to guide such orientation, but how these cues are integrated remains unclear. Here, we reexamine the role of the actin cytoskeleton in orienting cell division in