TLDR Researchers found 19 genes important for root hair growth in a plant called Arabidopsis.
In the 2009 study, researchers identified 19 root hair-specific genes in Arabidopsis thaliana through a combination of in silico and experimental methods. They initially screened for genes with a root hair-specific cis-element in their promoters, then narrowed down the list by excluding non-root-specific genes and those not expressed in root hair-defective plant lines. The final list included many protein kinases and cell wall-related genes previously uncharacterized for their role in root hair development. Functional analysis using loss-of-function mutants and overexpressing transformants showed that these genes are involved in hair growth and morphogenesis, highlighting the importance of a specific cis-element in identifying cell type-specific genes.
512 citations
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February 2008 in “Science” Reactive oxygen species and calcium create a feedback loop that shapes root hair cells.
612 citations
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February 2004 in “Nature” OXI1 kinase is essential for plant defense and root hair growth in Arabidopsis.
66 citations
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May 2002 in “The Plant Journal” The IRE gene is important for normal root hair growth in Arabidopsis plants.
33 citations
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February 2016 in “Journal of Experimental Botany” ROOT HAIR SPECIFIC 10 (RHS10) reduces the length of root hairs in Arabidopsis plants.
January 2024 in “Frontiers in plant science” The zinc finger protein 3 in Arabidopsis thaliana reduces plant growth and root hair development.
March 2017 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Plant root hair growth is controlled by the hormone auxin, which affects the production of certain oxygen-related molecules through a specific process.
8 citations
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July 2022 in “Frontiers in plant science” pH changes are crucial for root hair growth because they affect enzymes and proteins that control the cell wall and growth.
December 2017 in “International Journal of Current Research in Biosciences and Plant Biology” Nutrients and hormones affect root hair growth, but more research is needed to understand the genetic mechanisms.
