Cell wall patterning regulates plant stem cell dynamics
The plant cell wall regulates development through spatiotemporal modulation of its chemical and mechanical properties. Pectin methylesterification is recognized as a rheological switch controlling wall stiffness. Here, we reveal a bimodal methylesterification pattern in the shoot meristem: Mature walls exhibit high methylesterification, whereas demethylesterified pectins are deposited at new cross walls. This spatial heterogeneity is established through nuclear sequestration of <i>PECTIN METHYLESTERASE5</i> (<i>PME5</i>) mRNA. MYB3R4-driven transcription, combined with RZ-1B/1C-mediated retention, creates a mitotically associated <i>PME5</i> mRNA reservoir in the nucleus. Nuclear envelope disassembly synchronizes <i>PME5</i> messenger RNA (mRNA) release with cell plate formation, enabling precise demethylesterification at division planes. Perturbation of this spatial control compromises stem cell maintenance or breaks division patterning. Our study uncovers an mRNA compartmentalization mechanism that couples stem cell dynamics with pectin modification.
Authors
- Han Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4180-3232)
- Yimin Gu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4637-9936)
- Wenjuan Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1911-1330)
- Mingjun Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2616-915X)
- Yimin Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7569-2158)
- Raymond Wightman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1295-4875)
- Weibing Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2379-5729)
- Miao Lan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1342-6321)
- Yiliang Ding (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4161-6365)
- Yangxuan Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-3098)
- Yihao Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6479-6417)
- Xianmiao Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5167-6611)
- Guanghua Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0054-8895)
- Xing Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8945-8723)
Institutions
- John Innes Centre (GB)
- Nanjing Forestry University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Fudan University (CN)
- Norwich Research Park (GB)
- Sainsbury Laboratory (GB)
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-12-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady4102
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.25