RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Minimum requirements for reprogramming and maintaining cell fate in the Arabidopsis root JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 214957 DO 10.1101/214957 A1 Colleen Drapek A1 Erin E. Sparks A1 Peter Marhavy A1 Tonni G. Andersen A1 Jessica H. Hennacy A1 Niko Geldner A1 Philip N. Benfey YR 2017 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/11/08/214957.abstract AB Changes in gene regulation during differentiation are governed by networks of transcription factors. To identify the minimal network for endodermal differentiation in the Arabidopsis root, we asked what transcription factors are sufficient to program a non-native cell-type into endodermis. Our results show the transcription factors SHORTROOT and MYB36 have limited ability to reprogram a non-native cell-type (the epidermis) and that this reprogramming is reversible in the absence of additional cues. The stele-derived signaling peptide CIF2 stabilizes SHORTROOT-induced reprogramming. The outcome is a partially impermeable barrier deposited in the sub-epidermal cell layer that has a transcriptional signature similar to endodermis. The trans-differentiation mechanism depends on the expression of genes downstream in the gene regulatory network but is independent of SHORTROOT movement. These results highlight a non cell-autonomous induction mechanism for endodermis that resembles differentiation in many animal systems.One Sentence Summary SHORTROOT and CIF2 combined can induce and stabilize an endodermis in sub-epidermal cells and do so in a non cell-autonomous manner.