Cheng, Xin, Lindner, Heike, Hoffmann, Lidia, Pereira Gomes Filho, Antonio Aristides, Ruiz Duarte, Paola, Boxall, Susanna F 
ORCID: 0000-0002-8753-101X, Berkay Gundogmus, Yigit, Pritchard, Jessica H, Haldenby, Sam, Gemmell, Matthew et al (show 4 more authors)
(2026)
MUTE drives asymmetric divisions to form stomatal subsidiary cells in Crassulaceae succulents
SCIENCE ADVANCES, 12 (13).
eaeb8145-.
ISSN 2375-2548, 2375-2548
Abstract
Among the evolutionary innovations of many succulents is a photosynthetic lifestyle, where stomatal gas exchange is decoupled from light-dependent carbon fixation. Many Crassulaceae leaf succulents form a stomatal morphotype consisting of kidney-shaped guard cells surrounded by three anisocytic subsidiary cells (SCs), whose function and development remained unknown. Here, we established Kalanchoë laxiflora as a developmental model. Potassium staining suggested SCs to shuttle osmolytes and support turgor-driven stomatal movements. Gene editing, reporter lines, protein overexpression, and RNA sequencing implicated the stomatal transcription factor MUTE in facilitating the additional rounds of asymmetric divisions required to form SCs in succulents. This is opposite to the role of MUTE in Arabidopsis thaliana, where it stops rather than induces asymmetric divisions but reminiscent of MUTE’s subsidiary cell–related function in grasses. Our work firmly establishes K. laxiflora as a model for succulent development and deciphers an intricate genetic mechanism that generates innovative stomatal morphology in Crassulaceae succulents.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Arabidopsis, Plant Proteins, Photosynthesis, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Plant Stomata, Asymmetric Cell Division |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Infection Biology & Microbiomes Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > SMIB Professional Services Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Tech, Infrastructure & Env Directorate Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Tech, Infrastructure & Env Directorate > Liverpool Shared Research Facilities Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2026 08:27 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 05:08 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/sciadv.aeb8145 |
| Open Access URL: | https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.ae... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3198801 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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