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. We have
characterized a receptor-mediated signaling pathway that is critical for
the symmetric division of stem cells within the meristem. When
signaling is disrupted, stem cell daughters are blocked from
differentiation, leading to the massive accumulation of stem cells at
the shoot meristem.  We also studied transcription factors and chromatin
remodelers that are critical for proper gene expression control
associated with stem cell maintenance and differentiation.

Field(s) of Study

• Signal Transduction, Gene Expressionular Genetics

Areas of Focus

• Biochemistry
• Development
• Plant Molecular Biology