A SOSEKI-based coordinate system interprets global polarity cues in Arabidopsis

Multicellular development requires coordinated cell polarization relative to body axes, and translation to oriented cell division1–3. In plants, it is unknown how cell polarities are connected to organismal axes and translated to division. Here, we identify Arabidopsis SOSEKI proteins that integrate apical–basal and radial organismal axes to localize to polar cell edges. Localization does not depend on tissue context, requires cell wall integrity and is defined by a transferrable, protein-specific motif. A Domain of Unknown Function in SOSEKI proteins resembles the DIX oligomerization domain in the animal Dishevelled polarity regulator. The DIX-like domain self-interacts and is required for edge localization and for influencing division orientation, together with a second domain that defines the polar membrane domain. Our work shows that SOSEKI proteins locally interpret global polarity cues and can influence cell division orientation. Furthermore, this work reveals that, despite fundamental differences, cell polarity mechanisms in plants and animals converge on a similar protein domain. It is unknown how plant cell polarities are connected to organismal axes. A SOSEKI protein is found to integrate apical–basal and radial organismal axes to localize to polar cell edges independent of tissue context, but requiring cell wall integrity.