Maize height is determined by the number of nodes and the length of internodes. Node number is driven by intercalary meristem formation and internode length by intercalary cell elongation, respectively. However, mechanisms regulating establishment of nodes and internode growth are unclear. We screened EMS-induced maize mutants and identified a dwarf mutant zm66, linked to a single base change in TERMINAL EAR 1 (ZmTE1). Detailed phenotypic analysis revealed that zm66 (zmte1-2) has shorter internodes and increased node numbers, caused by decreased cell elongation and disordered intercalary meristem formation, respectively. Transcriptome analysis showed that auxin signalling genes are also dysregulated in zmte1-2, as are cell elongation and cell cycle-related genes. This argues that ZmTE1 regulates auxin signalling, cell division, and cell elongation. We found that the ZmWEE1 kinase phosphorylates ZmTE1, thus confining it to the nucleus and probably reducing cell division. In contrast, the ZmPP2Ac-2 phosphatase promotes dephosphorylation and cytoplasmic localization of ZmTE1, as well as cell division. Taken together, ZmTE1, a key regulator of plant height, is responsible for maintaining organized formation of internode meristems and rapid cell elongation. ZmWEE1 and ZmPP2Ac-2 might balance ZmTE1 activity, controlling cell division and elongation to maintain normal maize growth.

中文翻译：

---

ZmTE1通过调控玉米闰分生组织形成和节间细胞伸长促进株高

玉米高度由节数和节间长度决定。节数由闰分生组织形成驱动，节间长度由闰细胞伸长驱动。然而，调节节点建立和节点间生长的机制尚不清楚。我们筛选了 EMS 诱导的玉米突变体并鉴定了一个矮突变体zm66 ，它与TERMINAL EAR 1 ( ZmTE1 )中的单个碱基变化有关。详细的表型分析表明，zm66 ( zmte1-2 ) 具有较短的节间和增加的节数，这分别是由细胞伸长率降低和闰分生组织形成紊乱引起的。转录组分析表明，生长素信号基因在zmte1-2，以及细胞伸长和细胞周期相关基因。这表明 ZmTE1 调节生长素信号传导、细胞分裂和细胞伸长。我们发现 ZmWEE1 激酶磷酸化 ZmTE1，从而将其限制在细胞核中并可能减少细胞分裂。相反，ZmPP2Ac-2 磷酸酶促进 ZmTE1 的去磷酸化和细胞质定位，以及细胞分裂。总之，植物高度的关键调节因子 ZmTE1 负责维持节间分生组织的有组织形成和细胞快速伸长。ZmWEE1 和 ZmPP2Ac-2 可能平衡 ZmTE1 活性，控制细胞分裂和伸长以维持正常的玉米生长。