Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Local Positive Feedback Regulation Determines Cell Shape in Root Hair Cells
TLDR Local positive feedback helps shape root hair cells by stabilizing growth sites.
The study by Takeda et al. provided significant insights into the mechanisms of polarized cell growth in plant root hair cells. It demonstrated that the initial localization of ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE 2 (RHD2) at one end of the cell initiates a positive feedback loop crucial for tip growth. The research showed that RHD2-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate calcium channels, leading to increased intracellular calcium levels. This, in turn, enhances RHD2 activity through its EF-hand motif and activates calcium-dependent kinase activity. The study highlighted the regulatory loop between cytosolic calcium gradients and NADPH oxidase activity, essential for controlling cell shape. The findings emphasized the importance of Ca2+ sensitivity in NADPH oxidase regulation and its localization to the growing root hair part, suggesting a feedback mechanism for spatial regulation of cell expansion necessary for root hair morphogenesis.
