WALLFLOWER, a RLK, simultaneously localizes to opposite sides of root hair cells & functions to position hairs

Abstract

Polarized cells are frequently partitioned into subdomains with unique features or functions. As plant cells are surrounded by walls, polarized cell shape and protein polarity in the plasma membrane are particularly important for normal physiology and development. We have identified WALLFLOWER (WFL), a transmembrane receptor kinase that is asymmetrically distributed at the inner face of epidermal cells and this localization is maintained independent of cell type. In epidermal hair (H) cells in the elongation and differentiation zones, WFL exhibits a dual polar localization, accumulating at the inner domain as well as at the root hair initiation domain (RHID). Furthermore, overexpression of WFL leads to a downward shift in root hair (RH) position suggesting WFL operates in a signaling pathway that functions across H cells to inform RH position. WFL asymmetric distribution and function is affected by deletion of the intracellular domains resulting in its mislocalization to the outer polar domain of H cells and exclusion from RHIDs and bulges. Thus, our results demonstrate that in epidermal H cells the WFL intracellular domains are required to direct its dual polar localization and influence RH position. ONE SENTENCE SUMMARYA receptor kinase with dual polar localization, to the inner polar domain and root hair initiation domain, in root epidermal cells, requires its intracellular domain for localization and function.