Abstract
Temporal induction of gene expression is an important technique to examine intercellular communication. Recently, Kamei et al. reported a new method of gene induction in a single cell of living C. elegans using an infrared laser-evoked gene operator (IR-LEGO) system ( Nat. Methods 2009); thereafter, we reported on the application of IR-LEGO to Arabidopsis. (Dev. Growth Differ. 2009), and showed that IR-irradiated cells can divide and differentiate after treatment. Our results indicate that IR-LEGO does not induce cell damage.
In Arabidopsis, the stem cell of the shoot is controlled by the WUSCHEL and CLAVATA genes. The peptide CLV3 expressed in the stem cell restrict WUS expression. WUS signals from the organizing center control stem cell fate at the meristem but it is unknown how WUS regulates CLV3.
Here, we present from shoot formation on Arabidopsis root to better understand the feedback mechanism at meristem. We induced WUS gene expression in a single cell of the root by IR-LEGO. We observed CLV3 expression after WUS induction.
