Faculty Profile

Fields of Study

Plant Development, Molecular Genetics

Areas of Focus

Biochemistry
Development
Plant Molecular Biology

Research Interest

Studying the role of a receptor signaling system in regulating stem cell specification and organogenesis in Arabidopsis.

About Steven Clark

Nearly all plant development occurs post-embryonically. The above-ground portion of the plant is derived from the shoot meristem, which is established in the embryo and contains a small population of stem cells. As these undifferentiated stem cells divide, progeny cells on the flanks of the meristem make a developmental switch toward a differentiated fate and become competent to form organ primordia. We have taken a combined genetic, molecular and biochemical approach to identify the genes that regulate meristem development, and to understand the mechanisms by which their gene products function. Phenotypic analysis suggests that these genes regulate the switch from the undifferentiated fate to the more differentiated fate of organ primordia. Molecular efforts have revealed that several of these genes encode components of a receptor-mediated signal transduction pathway. As very little is known about signaling transduction in plants, we want to exploit this system to provide a paradigm for receptor-mediated signaling.

Dr. Clark received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1991, where he was a Searle Fellow.

Publications

Song SK, Hofhuis H, Lee MM, Clark SE (2008). " Key divisions in the early Arabidopsis embryo require POL and PLL1 phosphatases to establish the root stem cell organizer and vascular axis." Developmental Cell 15, 98-109. Read Publication.

Brody J. DeYoung and Steven E. Clark (2008). " BAM receptors regulate stem cell specification and organ development through complex interactions with CLAVATA signaling." Genetics 180, 895-904.

Grethe-Elisabeth Stenvik, Nora M. Tandstad, Yongfeng Guo, Chun-Lin Shi, Wenche Kristiansen, Asbjorn Holmgren, Steven E. Clark, Reidunn B. Aalen, and Melinka A. Butenko (2008). " The EPIP motif of INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) and IDA-LIKE proteins induces abscission in Arabidopsis and is dependent on the receptor like kinases HAESA and HAESA-LIKE 2." Plant Cell 20, 1805-1817.

Sang-Kee Song, Myeong M. Lee and Steven E. Clark (2006). " POL and PLL1 phosphatases are CLAVATA1 signaling intermediates required for Arabidopsis shoot and floral stem cells." Development 133, 4691-4698.

Carey L.H. Hord, Changbin Chen, Brody J. DeYoung, Steven E. Clark, and Hong Ma (2006). " The BAM1/BAM2 receptor-like kinases are important regulators of Arabidopsis early anther development." Plant Cell 18, 1667-1680.

Anne Diévart, Matthew J. Hymes, Jianming Li and Steven E. Clark (2006). " Brassinosteroid-independent function of BRI/CLV1 chimeric receptors." Functional Plant Biology 33, 1-8.

Michael J. Prigge and Steven E. Clark (2006). " Evolution of the class III HD-zip gene family in land plants." Evolution and Development 8, 350-361.

Jun Ni and Steven E. Clark (2006). " Evidence for functional conservation, sufficiency and proteolytic processing of the CLAVATA3 CLE domain." Plant Physiology 140, 1-8.

Brody J. DeYoung, Kristen L. Bickle, Katherine J. Schrage, Paul Muskett, Kanu Patel, and Steven E. Clark (2006). " The CLAVATA1-related BAM1, BAM2, and BAM3 receptor kinase-like proteins are required for meristem function in Arabidopsis." Plant Journal 45, 1-16.

Jeong, Sangho and Clark, Steven E (2005). "Photoperiod regulates flower meristem development in Arabidopsis thaliana." Genetics 169, 907-915.

Prigge, Michael J., Otsuga, Denichiro., Alonso, Jose M., Ecker, Joseph R., Drews, Gary N., and Clark, Steven E (2005). "Class III homeodomain-leucine zipper gene family members have overlapping, antagonistic, and distinct roles in Arabidopsis development." Plant Cell 17, 61-76.

Green, Kirsten A., Prigge, Michael J., Katzman, Rebecca B., and Clark, Steven E (2005). "CORONA, a member of the class III homeodomain leucine zipper gene family in Arabidopsis, regulates stem cell specification and organogenesis." Plant Cell 17, 691-704.

A. Diévart and S. E. Clark (2004). "LRR-containing receptors regulating plant development and defense." Development 131: 251-261.

A. Diévart and S. E. Clark (2003). "Using mutant alleles to determine the structure and function of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases." Current Opinion in Plant Biology 6: 507-16.

A. Diévart, M. Dalal, F. E. Tax, A. D. Lacey, A. Huttly, J. Li, S. E. Clark (2003). "CLAVATA1 dominant-negative alleles reveal functional overlap between multiple receptor kinases that regulate meristem and organ development." Plant Cell 15: 1198-1211.

Yu, L.P., A.K. Miller and S.E. Clark (2003). "POLTERGEIST encodes a protein phosphatase 2C that regulates CLAVATA pathways controlling stem cell identity at Arabidopsis shoot and flower meristems." Current Biology 13: 179-188.

DeYoung, B.J. and S.E. Clark (2001). "Signaling through the CLAVATA1 receptor complex." Plant Molecular Biology 46: 505-513.

Clark, S.E (2001). "Meristems: start your signaling." Current Opinion in Plant Biology 4:505-513.

Clark, S.E (2001). "Cell signalling at the shoot meristem." Nature Reviews 2: 276-284.

Otsuga, D., B. DeGuzman, M.J. Prigge, G.N. Drews and S.E. Clark (2001). "REVOLUTA regulates meristem initiation at lateral positions." Plant Journal 25: 223-236.

Trotochaud, A.E., S. Jeong and S.E. Clark (2000). "CLAVATA3, a multimeric ligand for the CLAVATA1 receptor kinase." Science 289: 613-617.

Yu, L.P., E.J. Simon and S.E. Clark (2000). "POLTERGEIST functions to regulate meristem development downstream of the CLAVATA loci." Development 127: 1661-1670.

Jeong, S., A.E. Trotochaud, and S.E. Clark (1999). "he CLAVATA2 gene encodes a receptor-like protein required for the stability of the CLAVATA1 receptor-like kinase." Plant Cell 11: 1925-1933.

Trotochaud, A.E., T. Hao, G. Wu, Z. Yang and S.E. Clark (1999). "The CLAVATA1 receptor-like kinase requires CLAVATA3 for its assembly into a signaling complex that includes KAPP and a Rho-related protein." Plant Cell 11: 393-405.

Kayes, J.M. and S.E. Clark (1998). "CLAVATA2, a regulator of meristem and organ development in Arabidopsis." Development 125: 3843-3851.

Stone, J.E., A.E. Trotochaud, J.C. Walker and S.E. Clark (1998). "Control of meristem development by CLAVATA1 receptor kinase and kinase-associated protein phosphatase interactions." Plant Physiology 117: 1217-1225.

Clark, S.E., R.W. Williams and E.M. Meyerowitz (1997). "Control of shoot and floral meristem size in Arabidopsis by a putative receptor-kinase encoded by the CLAVATA1 gene." Cell 89: 575-585.

Clark, S.E (1997). "Organ formation at the vegetative shoot meristem." Plant Cell 9:1067-1076.