ERF115 Controls Root Quiescent Center Cell Division and Stem Cell Replenishment

The quiescent center (QC) plays an essential role during root development by creating a microenvironment that preserves the stem cell fate of its surrounding cells. Despite being surrounded by highly mitotic active cells, QC cells self-renew at a low proliferation rate. Here, we identified the ERF115 transcription factor as a rate-limiting factor of QC cell division, acting as a transcriptional activator of the phytosulfokine PSK5 peptide hormone. ERF115 marks QC cell division but is restrained through proteolysis by the APC/CCCS52A2 ubiquitin ligase, whereas QC proliferation is driven by brassinosteroid-dependent ERF115 expression. Together, these two antagonistic mechanisms delimit ERF115 activity, which is called upon when surrounding stem cells are damaged, revealing a cell cycle regulatory mechanism accounting for stem cell niche longevity.

Heyman, J., Cools, T., Vandenbussche, M., Heyndrickx, KS., Van Leene, J., Vercauteren, I., Vanderauwera, S., Vandepoele, K., De Jaeger, G., Van Der Straeten, D., De Veylder, L. (2013) ERF115 Controls Root Quiescent Center Cell Division and Stem Cell Replenishment. Science 342(6160):860-3.

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