Work

KATANIN promotes cell elongation and division to generate proper cell numbers in maize organs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Microtubule severing is essential for proper eukaryotic cell elongation and division. Here we show that the microtubule severing protein, KATANIN p60, is encoded by two genes in Zea mays L. (maize) called Discordia3a (Dcd3a) and Dcd3b. A semi-dominant mutant with short stature, poor fertility, and a clumped tassel was identified in Dcd3b called Clumped tassel1 (Clt1). Genetic enhancers that further reduced stature and fertility were identified in inbred lines and mapped to the Dcd3a locus, identifying several dcd3a alleles. Loss-of-function p60 allele combinations reduce microtubule severing, fertility, and cell elongation. Cell elongation defects, in turn, contribute to G1 delay. KATANIN p60 is important for preprophase band (PPB) formation and positioning, and nuclear positioning in symmetric cell divisions. Misoriented PPBs lead to offset nuclei and rare misoriented symmetric divisions in mutants. A combination of these defects contributes to generating small mutant plants with fewer cells.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71200-w

Authors: Stephanie E. Martinez, Kin H. Lau, Lindy A. Allsman, Cassandra Irahola, Cassetty Habib, Isabel Y. Diaz, Ian Ceballos, Emmanuel Panteris, Peter Bommert, Amanda Wright, Clifford Weil, Carolyn G. Rasmussen

Institutions: University of California, Riverside, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Van Andel Institute, Purdue University West Lafayette, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Potsdam, HMU Health and Medical University, University of North Texas

Language: English

Topic: Microtubule and mitosis dynamics

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Purdue University, University of Missouri, Purdue Research Foundation, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Awards: CAREER: Mechanisms of division plane orientation in plant cells, Understanding how TAN1 and AIR9 mediate division plane positioning in Arabidopsis, Mutant-assisted exploration of natural variation underlying R gene-mediated immunity in maize, NRT: Plants-3D (Discover, Design and Deploy): Training Diverse Graduate Student Cohorts in Plant Synthetic Biology, G6671297155, REU Site: Next generation plant biology and plant-microbe interactions, CAREER: genetic approach to identifying proteins necessary for division plane orientation during plant development, REU Site: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Next-generation Cell Biology of Plants and Plant Pathogens

OpenAlex ID: W7141318303

FWCI: 12.11

Cites: 102

Cited by: 4

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