Abstract
Leaves of higher plants are determinate structures derived from a population of organogenic cells at the flanks of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Current evidence suggests that repression of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors is central to the acquisition of leaf identity in a wide spectrum of plant species. In plants with simple leaves, transcripts for KNOX genes are expressed within the SAM but excluded from developing leaf primordia. Ectopic expression of KNOX genes results in aberrant leaf development. Recent work in both monocot plants (such as maize) and eudicot plants (snapdragon and Arabidopsis) has uncovered a genetic pathway required for repression of KNOX genes in leaves. This pathway is defined by the ROUGH SHEATH2/ PHANTASTICA/ASYMETRIC LEAVES1 proteins. A recent paper [ 1. Scanlon M.J. Henderson D.C. Bernstein B. SEMAPHORE1 functions during the regulation of ancestrally duplicated knox genes and polar auxin transport in maize. Development. 2002; 129: 2663-2673 PubMed Google Scholar ] by Mike Scanlon's group suggests that at least one more such pathway may exist in leaves of monocot plants.
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