CLAUSA Is a MYB Transcription Factor That Promotes Leaf Differentiation by Attenuating Cytokinin Signaling

• Published in: The Plant cell 2016-07, Vol.28 (7), p.1602-1615
• Main Authors: Bar, Maya, Israeli, Alon, Levy, Matan, Gera, Hadas Ben, Jiménez-Gómez, José M., Kouril, Stepan, Tarkowski, Petr, Ori, Naomi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cytokinins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - physiology; Life Sciences; Lycopersicon esculentum; Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics; Lycopersicon esculentum - metabolism; Mutation - genetics; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - physiology; Solanum; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 1040-4651; 1532-298X
• DOI: 10.1105/tpc.16.00211

Leaf morphogenesis and differentiation are highly flexible processes, resulting in a large diversity of leaf forms. The development of compound leaves involves an extended morphogenesis stage compared with that of simple leaves, and the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant clausa (clau) exposes a potential for extended morphogenesis in tomato leaves. Here, we report that the CLAU gene encodes a MYB transcription factor that has evolved a unique role in compound-leaf species to promote an exit from the morphogenetic phase of tomato leaf development. We show that CLAU attenuates cytokinin signaling, and that clau plants have increased cytokinin sensitivity. The results suggest that flexible leaf patterning involves a coordinated interplay between transcription factors and hormones.