The transcription factor ESR2/DRNL/BOL differentially regulates de novo organogenesis, regeneration, and lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana
- 1Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Irapuato Unit
Abstract
Plant regeneration requires coordinated transcriptional and hormonal regulation to re-establish organ identity. The AP2/ERF transcription factor ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION 2 /DORNROESCHEN-LIKE / BOLITA (ESR2/DRNL/BOL) expressed in aerial organ founder cells promotes shoot formation, but its broader role across organogenic contexts remains unclear. Here, using loss-of-function and inducible overexpression lines of Arabidopsis thaliana, we demonstrate that ESR2 exerts context-dependent and antagonistic effects on shoot and root development. ESR2 activation promotes shoot and aerial-like tissue formation and enhances callus proliferation, particularly under cytokinin-rich conditions. Conversely, ESR2 suppresses or delays multiple de novo root formation programs, including adventitious, basal, and regenerated roots, while its loss enhances root initiation and growth. Expression analyses reveal that ESR2 promoter activity is found at de novo formed basal and adventitious root primordia and emerged root apical meristems, suggesting a role in conferring regenerative competence while restricting their developmental progression. Moreover, it is expressed in newly established quiescent centers of lateral roots in intact plants and the loss of ESR2 function strongly and negatively affects lateral root initiation, revealing an unanticipated developmental role of ESR2 and its requirement for lateral root formation. Together, these findings identify ESR2 as a shared molecular regulator governing early organogenesis in intact plants and plant explants; it establishes an aerial organ fate bias while maintaining the competence for -and limiting the progression of- de novo root development in explants.
Related
- Indirect Adventitious Shoot Organogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Solanum nigrum L.
- Temporal TOC1-CLV3-WUS cascade controls organogenesis and rhythmic stem development
- A network of bZIP transcription factors and inhibitors enforces differentially proliferative and cytotoxic states in T cells
- ROP GTPases are required for YUC transcription and auxin-mediated root hair growth in Arabidopsis
- Environmental, developmental, and genetic factors differentially affect rapid ethylene growth response kinetics in dark-grown Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls
BibTeX
@misc{guerrerolargo2026transcription,
title = {{The transcription factor ESR2/DRNL/BOL differentially regulates de novo organogenesis, regeneration, and lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana}},
author = {H. Guerrero-Largo and B. Ruiz-Cortes and M. I. C. Elizarraraz-Anaya and C. M. Martinez-Perez and H. Jimenez-Jimenez and J. G. Dubrovsky and N. Marsch-Martinez},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.08.744716},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.744716v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The transcription factor ESR2/DRNL/BOL differentially regulates de novo organogenesis, regeneration, and lateral root development in Arabidopsis thaliana
AU - H. Guerrero-Largo
AU - B. Ruiz-Cortes
AU - M. I. C. Elizarraraz-Anaya
AU - C. M. Martinez-Perez
AU - H. Jimenez-Jimenez
AU - J. G. Dubrovsky
AU - N. Marsch-Martinez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.08.744716
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.744716v1
AB - Plant regeneration requires coordinated transcriptional and hormonal regulation to re-establish organ identity. The AP2/ERF transcription factor ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION 2 /DORNROESCHEN-LIKE / BOLITA (ESR2/DRNL/BOL) expressed in aerial organ founder cells promotes shoot formation, but its broader role across organogenic contexts remains unclear. Here, using loss-of-function and inducible overexpression lines of Arabidopsis thaliana, we demonstrate that ESR2 exerts context-dependent and antagonistic effects on shoot and root development. ESR2 activation promotes shoot and aerial-like tissue formation and enhances callus proliferation, particularly under cytokinin-rich conditions. Conversely, ESR2 suppresses or delays multiple de novo root formation programs, including adventitious, basal, and regenerated roots, while its loss enhances root initiation and growth. Expression analyses reveal that ESR2 promoter activity is found at de novo formed basal and adventitious root primordia and emerged root apical meristems, suggesting a role in conferring regenerative competence while restricting their developmental progression. Moreover, it is expressed in newly established quiescent centers of lateral roots in intact plants and the loss of ESR2 function strongly and negatively affects lateral root initiation, revealing an unanticipated developmental role of ESR2 and its requirement for lateral root formation. Together, these findings identify ESR2 as a shared molecular regulator governing early organogenesis in intact plants and plant explants; it establishes an aerial organ fate bias while maintaining the competence for -and limiting the progression of- de novo root development in explants.
ER -