The Microtubule-Associated Protein CLASP Sustains Cell Proliferation through a Brassinosteroid Signaling Negative Feedback Loop

Abstract

The capacity for sustained cell division within the plant meristem is a critical determinant of organ structure and performance. This capacity is diminished in mutants lacking the microtubule-associated protein CLASP and when brassinosteroid signaling is increased. Here, we discovered that CLASP is both targeted by and promotes activity of the brassinosteroid pathway in Arabidopsis root apical meristems. We show that enhanced brassinosteroid signaling reduces CLASP transcript and protein levels, dramatically shifts microtubule organization, and reduces the number of cells in the meristem. In turn, CLASP, which tethers sorting nexin 1 vesicles to microtubules, sustains brassinosteroid signaling by fostering retrieval of endocytosed BRI1 receptors to the plasma membrane. clasp-1 null mutants have dampened brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated transcriptional activity and responses. Global transcript profiling confirmed the collapse of cell-cycle activity in clasp-1 and identified CLASP-mediated hormone crosstalk. Together, these findings reveal an unprecedented form of negative feedback supporting meristem homeostasis.