In da club: The cytoplasmic kinase MAZZA joins CLAVATA signaling and dances with CLV1-like receptors

Abstract

To coordinate the formation of tissues and organs, plant cells receive diverse signals that specify cell position and cell fate. Members of the CLAVATA1 receptor family (CLV1f) perceive with their extracellular receptor domain a subset of small secreted peptide hormones, the CLEs. CLV1f signaling controls several developmental processes including stem cell homeostasis in root and shoot meristems, but how the signals are intracellularly transmitted has been a longstanding enigma. In order to solve this puzzle, Blümke et al. (2021) report in this issue the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase MAZZA (MAZ, Pti1-3) as a novel intracellular interactor of the CLV1f receptors.