Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Local Positive Feedback Regulation Determines Cell Shape in Root Hair Cells

    March 2008 in “ Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ”
    Simon Gilroy
    TLDR Local positive feedback helps shape root hair cells by stabilizing growth sites.
    The study investigated the role of local positive feedback regulation in determining cell shape in root hair cells of Arabidopsis thaliana. It was found that the RHD2 NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulated a Ca2+ influx necessary for root hair growth. In turn, Ca2+ activated the RHD2 NADPH oxidase to produce more ROS at the growing point, establishing a positive feedback loop that maintained active growth sites. This mechanism involving RHD2, ROS, and Ca2+ was shown to be crucial in predicting the ultimate form of plant cells by stabilizing growth sites.
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