Doll, N.M., Royek, S., Fujita, S., Okuda, S., Chamot, S., Stintzi, A., Widiez, T., Hothorn, M., Schaller, A., Geldner, N., Ingram, G.
Science (2020) Vol. 367, pp 431-435
F1000Prime Recommendation: very good, 04 Feb 2020; 10.3410/f.737255121.793570439
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https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6476/431
DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz4131
In a plant seed, the embryo lies dormant surrounded by nutritive endosperm while awaiting suitable conditions to germinate. A hydrophobic cuticle around the embryo protects it from catastrophic water loss during the early days of growth. Doll et al. identified a back-and-forth signaling pathway that ensures an intact cuticle. The precursor of a signaling peptide is made in the embryo and transferred to the endosperm, where it is processed into its active form by the subtilisin-like protease ALE1. The activated peptide diffuses back into the embryo to activate receptor-like kinases that drive cuticle development. Serve and return continues until all leaks in the cuticle are filled in and the peptide can no longer cross the barrier.