Life SciencesPlant BiologyPlant SciencesCell ProliferationPlant Developmental BiologyStem Cell BiologyFlower DevelopmentMeristem DevelopmentMeristematic TissueApical Meristem DevelopmentApical Meristem RegulationMeristem Cell DifferentiationMeristem Maintenance MechanismsMeristematic ActivityMeristematic GrowthWuschel-clavata Signaling
The shoot apical meristem requires an optimal number of stem cells; too few impede growth and too many cause unchecked proliferation, prompting investigation into the mechanisms controlling stem cell proliferation. HAIRY MERISTEM proteins restrict WUSCHEL activity to a domain, allowing WUS to promote stem cell proliferation only beyond that domain. Zhou et al.
Enough but not too many stem cells In the shoot apical meristem of plants, just the right number of stem cells generates a steady supply of cells with which to build differentiated tissues. Too few stem cells, and the plant cannot grow. Too many, and growth runs amok. Zhou et al. analyzed the controls on stem cell proliferation. They found that the HAIRY MERISTEM proteins define a domain within which WUSCHEL (WUS) cannot work, but beyond which WUS is left free to promote stem cell proliferation. Science , this issue p. 502
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