Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Simon

Research focus

We are analysing the intercellular signalling pathways that control growth and development of plant shoot and root meristems. Meristems harbour a plant's stem cells and determine the capacity to grow for extended periods, generate new organs such as leaves and control the growth pattern of the root system. We identify the regulatory networks that control plant architecture, study the signalling systems that facilitate intercellular communication within and between meristems and organs, and explore structure and function of plasmodesmata, which allow nutrient and signal exchange via cytoplasmic connections between cells.

Most important publications

  1. Gombos S, Miras M, Howe V, Xi L, Pottier M, Kazemein Jasemi NS, Schladt M, Ejike JO, Neumann U, Hänsch S, Kuttig F, Zhang Z, Dickmanns M, Xu P, Stefan T, Baumeister W, Frommer WB, Simon R, Schulze WX (2023) A high-confidence Physcomitrium patens plasmodesmata proteome by iterative scoring and validation reveals diversification of cell wall proteins during evolution. New Phytol 238(2):637-653. doi: 10.1111/nph.18730.
  2. Bahafid E, Bradtmoller I, Thies AM, Nguyen T, Gutierrez C, Desvoyes B, Stahl Y, Blilou I, Simon RGW (2023) The Arabidopsis SHORTROOT network coordinates shoot apical meristem development with auxin-dependent lateral organ initiation. Elife 12. doi: 10.7554/eLife.83334.
  3. Schlegel J, Denay G, Wink R, Pinto KG, Stahl Y, Schmid J, Blümke P, Simon RG (2021) Control of Arabidopsis shoot stem cell homeostasis by two antagonistic CLE peptide signalling pathways. Elife 10. doi: 10.7554/eLife.70934.
  4. Breiden M, Olsson V, Blümke P, Schlegel J, Gustavo-Pinto K, Dietrich P, Butenko MA, Simon R (2021) The Cell Fate Controlling CLE40 Peptide Requires CNGCs to Trigger Highly Localized Ca2+ Transients in Arabidopsis thaliana Root Meristems. Plant Cell Physiol 62(8):1290-1301. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcab079.
  5. Somssich M, Ma Q, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Stahl Y, Felekyan S, Bleckmann A, Seidel CA, Simon R (2015) Real-time dynamics of peptide ligand-dependent receptor complex formation in planta. Sci Signal 8(388):ra76. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aab0598.
  6. Stahl Y, Grabowski S, Bleckmann A, Kühnemuth R, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Pinto KG, Kirschner GK, Schmid JB, Wink RH, Hülsewede A, Felekyan S, Seidel CA, Simon R (2013) Moderation of Arabidopsis root stemness by CLAVATA1 and ARABIDOPSIS CRINKLY4 receptor kinase complexes. Curr Biol 23(5):362-371. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.01.045.
  7. Bleckmann A, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Seidel CA, Simon R (2010) Stem cell signaling in Arabidopsis requires CRN to localize CLV2 to the plasma membrane. Plant Physiol 152(1):166-176. doi: 10.1104/pp.109.149930.
  8. Brand U, Fletcher JC, Hobe M, Meyerowitz EM, Simon R (2000) Dependence of stem cell fate in Arabidopsis on a feedback loop regulated by CLV3 activity. Science 289(5479):617-619. doi: 10.1126/science.289.5479.617.
  9. Simon R, Igeno MI, Coupland G (1996) Activation of floral meristem identity genes in Arabidopsis. Nature 384(6604):59-62. doi: 10.1038/384059a0.
  10. Simon R, Carpenter R, Doyle S, Coen E (1994) Fimbriata controls flower development by mediating between meristem and organ identity genes. Cell 78(1):99-107. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(94)90576-2.
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Simon

+49 211 8114045

E-Mail senden

Institute of Developmental Genetics
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

www.devgen.hhu.de