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This article, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, explores the activation of dormant stem cell division in response to DNA damage in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. The study found that DNA damage leads to the activation of a signaling module that awakens dormant stem cells to replace those lost through DNA damage. The researchers identified the involvement of the ATM kinase and the SOG1 transcription factor in this process. Additionally, the study revealed that brassinosteroid signaling plays a role in activating stem cell division in response to DNA damage. However, there are still unanswered questions regarding the role of other hormones and the specific triggers for stem cell division. [Extracted from the article]

Plants show an unparalleled regenerative capacity, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack, and harsh weather conditions. This potential not only replenishes tissues and restores damaged organs but can also give rise to whole plant bodies. Despite the intertwined nature of development and regeneration, common upstream cues and signaling mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in addition to being activators of regeneration, ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 114 (ERF114) and ERF115 govern developmental growth in the absence of wounding or injury. Increased ERF114 and ERF115 activity enhances auxin sensitivity, which is correlated with enhanced xylem maturation and lateral root formation, whereas their knockout results in a decrease in lateral roots. Moreover, we provide evidence that mechanical cues contribute to ERF114 and ERF115 expression in correlation with BZR1-mediated brassinosteroid signaling under both regenerative and developmental conditions. Antagonistically, cell wall integrity surveillance via mechanosensory FERONIA signaling suppresses their expression under both conditions. Taken together, our data suggest a molecular framework in which cell wall signals and mechanical strains regulate organ development and regenerative responses via ERF114- and ERF115-mediated auxin signaling. The regeneration-driving transcription factors ERF114 and ERF115 were identified as positive regulators of lateral root formation. Expression of ERF114 and ERF115 is responsive to mechanical cues under both developmental and regenerative conditions, whereas the cell wall integrity sensor FERONIA suppresses their transcription. The data support a molecular framework in which cell wall signals and mechanical strains regulate organ development and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]