An intracellular partitioning-based framework for tissue cell polarity in plants and animals

Katie Abley1, Pierre Barbier de Reuille1,2,3, David Strutt4, Andrew Bangham2, Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz3, Anthanasius F. M. Marée1, Veronica Grieneisen1, and Enrico Coen1
1John Innes Centre 2University of East Anglia 3University of Calgary 4University of Sheffield

Summary

Tissue cell polarity plays a major role in plant and animal development. We propose that a fundamental building block for tissue cell polarity is the process of intracellular partitioning, which can establish individual cell polarity in the absence of asymmetric cues. Coordination of polarities may then arise through cell-cell coupling, which can operate directly, through membrane-spanning complexes, or indirectly, through diffusible molecules. Polarity is anchored to tissues through organisers located at boundaries. We show how this intracellular partitioning-based framework can be applied to both plant and animal systems, allowing different processes to be placed in a common evolutionary and mechanistic context.

Reference

Katie Abley, Pierre Barbier de Reuille, David Strutt, Andrew Bangham, Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz, Anthanasius F. M. Marée, Veronica Grieneisen, and Enrico Coen. An intracellular partitioning-based framework for tissue cell polarity in plants and animals. Development 140:2061-2074, 2013.

Download PDF directly from the publisher's site.