The grant, "Role of a CLE-WOX Intercellular Signaling Module in Controlling Polarity and Patterning During Leaf Development", will allow the Fletcher Lab to continue their investigations into the molecular mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication during plant development. Previous research has shown that small mobile proteins transmit signals between neighboring cells, so that the cells can coordinate their behavior to generate patterns that make one part of the leaf different from another. The lab has identified two CLE signaling proteins that direct Arabidopsis leaf patterning to make the tip distinct from the base, and will use genetic, molecular and biochemical techniques to determine the specific processes through which this occurs.