PSK-alpha promotes root growth in Arabidopsis

Phytosulfokine-alpha (PSK-alpha) is a disulfated pentapeptide described to act as a growth factor in suspension cells. In this study, the involvement of PSK signaling through the PSK receptor gene AtPSKR1 in Arabidopsis root growth was assessed. Expression studies of PSK precursor genes and of AtPSKR1 were performed in roots with RT-PCR and P:GUS analyses. Root elongation, lateral root formation, cell production and root cell elongation were analyzed in wild-type (wt) and in the receptor knockout mutant Atpskr1-T treated with or without synthetic PSK-alpha. Phytosulfokine and AtPSKR1 genes are differentially expressed in roots. PSK-alpha induced root growth in a dose-dependent manner without affecting lateral root density. Kinematic analysis established that enhancement of root growth by PSK-alpha was mainly caused by an increase in cell size. In Atpskr1-T, the primary roots were shorter as a result of reduced mature cell size and a smaller root apical meristem composed of fewer cells than in wt. The results indicate that PSK-alpha signaling through AtPSKR1 affects root elongation primarily via control of mature cell size. Root organogenesis, on the other hand, is not controlled by PSK-alpha. New Phytologist (2009) 181: 820-831doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02710.x.