How are plant stem cells with DNA damage processed?

The protein KRP6 accumulates near stem cells and promotes cell death in damaged cells, thereby removing them.

Which plant did the research group use?

The research was conducted using Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant in the mustard family.

What role does the SOG1 protein play?

SOG1 protein is activated in response to DNA damage and controls the expression of a cluster of DNA damage response genes, including KRP6.

What potential applications could this research have?

This research could be applied to developing crops that are more resilient to environmental stress and to technologies that stabilize plant growth.

Where was the result of this study published?

The results were published online in the international academic journal 'The Plant Journal' on June 4, 2026.

Discovery of Mechanism by Which Plants Remove DNA-Damaged Stem Cells

Published Jun 8, 2026 11:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 8:33 AM ・ 2 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

A Meiji University research group has elucidated a new molecular mechanism by which plants maintain root growth by accumulating KRP6 protein to eliminate DNA-damaged stem cells.

A research group including Associate Professor Naoki Takahashi of the School of Agriculture at Meiji University and Toshiki Wada (a second-year master's student) has discovered a new mechanism by which plants remove stem cells with damaged DNA, in collaboration with Senior Researcher Ayako Sakamoto of the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology and Professor Masaaki Umeda of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology.

DNA is the blueprint for creating and maintaining living bodies. However, plants regularly suffer DNA damage due to environmental stress. In particular, if DNA damage remains in stem cells that support plant growth, it can adversely affect subsequent growth.

In this study, using Arabidopsis thaliana, the researchers revealed that KRP6 protein accumulates near root stem cells when DNA damage occurs, promoting cell death in those damaged stem cells. This result is crucial for understanding how plants maintain root growth while removing damaged stem cells.

The findings were published online in 'The Plant Journal' on June 4, 2026.

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Source: PR TIMES
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Discovery of Mechanism by Which Plants Remove DNA-Damaged Stem Cells

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