Transcription factor networks regulating the cell specific gene expression required for C4 photosynthesis

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In many organisms distinct cell types carry out defined functions. One excellent example of this is found in plants that use the so-called C4 photosynthetic pathway. In these species the fundamental photosynthetic process takes place in two cell types known as mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. How genes encoding photosynthesis proteins are regulated such that part of pathway is restricted to mesophyll cells, and others are expressed only in the bundle sheath has been studied for decades. Using the C3 model Arabidopsis that also has these cells we have recently identified a transcription factor module that is able to pattern genes to bundle sheath cells.We can detect the hallmarks of this module in C4 photosynthesis genes and we now wish to determine if this mechanism is used to compartment these genes into the C4 bundle sheath. Furthermore, we also wish to understand how the transcription factors that we have identified as being necessary and sufficient for expression in the bundle sheath generate this output, and also how they themselves are regulated. The work will provide fundamental insight into the spatial regulation of gene expression in multicellular organisms, and in particular provide key insights into how C4 gene expression is brought about.