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Shi D, Huang H, Zhang Y, Qian Z, Du J, Huang L, Yan X, Lin S. The roles of non-coding RNAs in male reproductive development and abiotic stress responses during this unique process in flowering plants. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 341:111995. [PMID: 38266717 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Successful male reproductive development is the guarantee for sexual reproduction of flowering plants. Male reproductive development is a complicated and multi-stage process that integrates physiological processes and adaptation and tolerance to a myriad of environmental stresses. This well-coordinated process is governed by genetic and epigenetic machineries. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play pleiotropic roles in the plant growth and development. The identification, characterization and functional analysis of ncRNAs and their target genes have opened a new avenue for comprehensively revealing the regulatory network of male reproductive development and its response to environmental stresses in plants. This review briefly addresses the types, origin, biogenesis and mechanisms of ncRNAs in plants, highlights important updates on the roles of ncRNAs in regulating male reproductive development and emphasizes the contribution of ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs, in responses to abiotic stresses during this unique process in flowering plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexi Shi
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Huiting Huang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhihao Qian
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jiao Du
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Li Huang
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiufeng Yan
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Sue Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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2
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Bradamante G, Nguyen VH, Incarbone M, Meir Z, Bente H, Donà M, Lettner N, Scheid OM, Gutzat R. Two ARGONAUTE proteins loaded with transposon-derived small RNAs are associated with the reproductive cell lineage in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:863-880. [PMID: 38060984 PMCID: PMC10980394 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
In sexually propagating organisms, genetic, and epigenetic mutations are evolutionarily relevant only if they occur in the germline and are hence transmitted to the next generation. In contrast to most animals, plants are considered to lack an early segregating germline, implying that somatic cells can contribute genetic information to progeny. Here we demonstrate that 2 ARGONAUTE proteins, AGO5 and AGO9, mark cells associated with sexual reproduction in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) throughout development. Both AGOs are loaded with dynamically changing small RNA populations derived from highly methylated, pericentromeric, long transposons. Sequencing of single stem cell nuclei revealed that many of these transposons are co-expressed within an AGO5/9 expression domain in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Co-occurrence of transposon expression and specific ARGONAUTE (AGO) expression in the SAM is reminiscent of germline features in animals and supports the existence of an early segregating germline in plants. Our results open the path to investigating transposon biology and epigenome dynamics at cellular resolution in the SAM stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Bradamante
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Vu Hoang Nguyen
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Incarbone
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zohar Meir
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science & Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Heinrich Bente
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mattia Donà
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Lettner
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruben Gutzat
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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3
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Tu CW, Huang YW, Lee CW, Kuo SY, Lin NS, Hsu YH, Hu CC. Argonaute 5-mediated antiviral defense and viral counter-defense in Nicotiana benthamiana. Virus Res 2023; 334:199179. [PMID: 37481165 PMCID: PMC10405324 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The argonaute (AGO) family proteins play a crucial role in preventing viral invasions through the plant antiviral RNA silencing pathway, with distinct AGO proteins recruited for specific antiviral mechanisms. Our previous study revealed that Nicotiana benthamiana AGO5 (NbAGO5) expression was significantly upregulated in response to bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) infection. However, the roles of NbAGO5 in antiviral mechanisms remained to be explored. In this research, we examined the antiviral functions of NbAGO5 in the infections of different viruses. It was found that the accumulation of NbAGO5 was induced not only at the RNA but also at the protein level following the infections of BaMV, potato virus X (PVX), tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in N. benthamiana. To explore the antiviral mechanism and regulatory function of NbAGO5, we generated NbAGO5 overexpression (OE-NbAGO5) and knockout (nbago5) transgenic N. benthamiana lines. Our findings reveal that NbAGO5 provides defense against BaMV, PVX, TMV, and a mutant CMV deficient in 2b gene, but not against the wild-type CMV and turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Through affinity purification and small RNA northern blotting, we demonstrated that NbAGO5 exerts its antiviral function by binding to viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs). Moreover, we observed that CMV 2b and TuMV HC-Pro interact with NbAGO5, triggering its degradation via the 26S proteasome and autophagy pathways, thereby allowing these viruses to overcome NbAGO5-mediated defense. In addition, TuMV HC-Pro provides another line of counter-defense by interfering with vsiRNA binding by NbAGO5. Our study provides further insights into the antiviral RNA interference mechanism and the complex interplay between NbAGO5 and plant viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Wei Tu
- PhD Program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Wen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Wei Lee
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Song-Yi Kuo
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore
| | - Na-Sheng Lin
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Yau-Heiu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chi Hu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan; Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
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4
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Silva-Martins G, Roussin-Léveillée C, Bolaji A, Veerapen VP, Moffett P. A Jasmonic Acid-Related Mechanism Affects ARGONAUTE5 Expression and Antiviral Defense Against Potato Virus X in Arabidopsis thaliana. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:425-433. [PMID: 36853196 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-11-22-0224-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
During virus infection, Argonaute (AGO) proteins bind to Dicer-produced virus small interfering RNAs and target viral RNA based on sequence complementarity, thereby limiting virus proliferation. The Arabidopsis AGO2 protein is important for resistance to multiple viruses, including potato virus X (PVX). In addition, AGO5 is important in systemic defense against PVX. Normally AGO5 is expressed only in reproductive tissues, and its induction by virus infection is thought to be important for its participation in antiviral defense. However, it is unclear what mechanisms induce AGO5 expression in response to virus infection. Here, we show that dde2-2, a mutant compromised in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, displays constitutive upregulation of AGO5. This mutant also showed increased resistance to PVX and this resistance was dependent on a functional AGO5 gene. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate treatment ablated AGO5 expression in leaves during virus infection and resulted in increased susceptibility to virus. Our results further support a role for AGO5 in antiviral RNA silencing and a negative regulation by JA, a plant hormone associated with defense against plant-feeding arthropods, which are often the vectors of plant viruses. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Silva-Martins
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | | | - Ayooluwa Bolaji
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Varusha Pillay Veerapen
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Peter Moffett
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
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5
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Flores-Tornero M, Becker JD. 50 years of sperm cell isolations: from structural to omic studies. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023:erad117. [PMID: 37025026 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The fusion of male and female gametes is a fundamental process in the perpetuation and diversification of species. During the last 50 years, significant efforts have been made to isolate and characterize sperm cells from flowering plants, and to identify how these cells interact with female gametes to achieve double fertilization. The first techniques and analytical approaches not only provided structural and biochemical characterizations of plant sperm cells but also paved the way for in vitro fertilization studies. Further technological advances then led to unique insights into sperm biology at transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenetic level. Starting with a historical overview of sperm cell isolation techniques, we provide examples of how these contributed to create our current knowledge of sperm cell biology, and point out remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Flores-Tornero
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, 2780-157 Portugal
| | - Jörg D Becker
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, 2780-157 Portugal
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6
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Sánchez-Correa MDS, Isidra-Arellano MC, Pozas-Rodríguez EA, Reyero-Saavedra MDR, Morales-Salazar A, del Castillo SMLC, Sanchez-Flores A, Jiménez-Jacinto V, Reyes JL, Formey D, Valdés-López O. Argonaute5 and its associated small RNAs modulate the transcriptional response during the rhizobia- Phaseolus vulgaris symbiosis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1034419. [PMID: 36466235 PMCID: PMC9714512 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1034419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Both plant- and rhizobia-derived small RNAs play an essential role in regulating the root nodule symbiosis in legumes. Small RNAs, in association with Argonaute proteins, tune the expression of genes participating in nodule development and rhizobial infection. However, the role of Argonaute proteins in this symbiosis has been overlooked. In this study, we provide transcriptional evidence showing that Argonaute5 (AGO5) is a determinant genetic component in the root nodule symbiosis in Phaseolus vulgaris. A spatio-temporal transcriptional analysis revealed that the promoter of PvAGO5 is active in lateral root primordia, root hairs from rhizobia-inoculated roots, nodule primordia, and mature nodules. Transcriptional analysis by RNA sequencing revealed that gene silencing of PvAGO5 affected the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of the cell wall and phytohormones participating in the rhizobial infection process and nodule development. PvAGO5 immunoprecipitation coupled to small RNA sequencing revealed the small RNAs bound to PvAGO5 during the root nodule symbiosis. Identification of small RNAs associated to PvAGO5 revealed miRNAs previously known to participate in this symbiotic process, further supporting a role for AGO5 in this process. Overall, the data presented shed light on the roles that PvAGO5 plays during the root nodule symbiosis in P. vulgaris.
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Affiliation(s)
- María del Socorro Sánchez-Correa
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Mariel C. Isidra-Arellano
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Eithan A. Pozas-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - María del Rocío Reyero-Saavedra
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Morales-Salazar
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
| | | | - Alejandro Sanchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Verónica Jiménez-Jacinto
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jose L. Reyes
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Damien Formey
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Oswaldo Valdés-López
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional de Leguminosas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
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7
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Ichino L, Picard CL, Yun J, Chotai M, Wang S, Lin EK, Papareddy RK, Xue Y, Jacobsen SE. Single-nucleus RNA-seq reveals that MBD5, MBD6, and SILENZIO maintain silencing in the vegetative cell of developing pollen. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111699. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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8
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Hou Q, Zhang T, Qi Y, Dong Z, Wan X. Epigenetic Dynamics and Regulation of Plant Male Reproduction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810420. [PMID: 36142333 PMCID: PMC9499625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Flowering plant male germlines develop within anthers and undergo epigenetic reprogramming with dynamic changes in DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, and small RNAs. Profiling the epigenetic status using different technologies has substantially accumulated information on specific types of cells at different stages of male reproduction. Many epigenetically related genes involved in plant gametophyte development have been identified, and the mutation of these genes often leads to male sterility. Here, we review the recent progress on dynamic epigenetic changes during pollen mother cell differentiation, microsporogenesis, microgametogenesis, and tapetal cell development. The reported epigenetic variations between male fertile and sterile lines are summarized. We also summarize the epigenetic regulation-associated male sterility genes and discuss how epigenetic mechanisms in plant male reproduction can be further revealed.
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Mohsenzadeh Golfazani M, Taghvaei MM, Samizadeh Lahiji H, Ashery S, Raza A. Investigation of proteins' interaction network and the expression pattern of genes involved in the ABA biogenesis and antioxidant system under methanol spray in drought-stressed rapeseed. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:217. [PMID: 35965657 PMCID: PMC9365922 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03290-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Drought is one of the most critical abiotic stresses, which significantly impair rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) productivity. Several factors can regulate the stress response, including changes in gene expression in biological pathways, extensive protein interaction networks, and post-translational regulatory factors like microRNAs. External factors can also affect the intensity of the stress response. Therefore, this study investigated protein-protein interactions of some essential genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) production, antioxidant system, and Krebs cycle. The expression of phyton synthase (PSY), 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED3), aldehyde oxidase (AAO3), thioredoxin reductase (NTRC), and glutathione reductase (GR) genes in two rapeseed genotypes, i.e., Hyola308 (drought-sensitive) and SLM046 (drought-tolerant) were evaluated using qRT-PCR technique under 72 h of drought stress and methanol foliar application. In the SLM046 (tolerant) genotype, the expression levels of PYS, NCED, AAO3, and GR genes were increased after 8 h of foliar application. The expression level of the NTR gene was increased 8 and 24 h after stress and methanol treatment. In the Hyola308 genotype, PYS, AAO3, NTR, and GR genes' expression level was increased 8 h after methanol foliar application, and the NCED gene was increased 24 h after stress with methanol treatment. In general, methanol foliar application increased the expression levels of several genes. Particularly, the gene expression was considerably higher in the SLM046 genotype than in Hyola308. Bioinformatics prediction of microRNAs targeting PSY, NCED, GR, NTRC, and AAO3 genes was performed, and 38, 38, 13, 11, and 11 microRNAs were predicted for these genes, respectively. The study of effective microRNAs showed that sometimes more than one type of microRNA could affect the desired gene, and in some cases, a conserved family of microRNAs caused the main effect on gene expression. Overall, our results lay the foundation for functional characterization of these genes or gene-miRNA modules in regulating drought stress tolerance in rapeseed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Taghvaei
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Habibollah Samizadeh Lahiji
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Seddigheh Ashery
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Raza
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology/College of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, China
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10
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Wu X, Wang X, Chen W, Liu X, Lin Y, Wang F, Liu L, Meng Y. A microRNA-microRNA crosstalk network inferred from genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism variants in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:958520. [PMID: 36131801 PMCID: PMC9484463 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.958520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To adapt to variable natural conditions, plants have evolved several strategies to respond to different environmental stresses. MicroRNA (miRNA)-mediated gene regulation is one of such strategies. Variants, e.g., single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the mature miRNAs or their target sites may cause the alteration of regulatory networks and serious phenotype changes. In this study, we proposed a novel approach to construct a miRNA-miRNA crosstalk network in Arabidopsis thaliana based on the notion that two cooperative miRNAs toward common targets are under a strong pressure to be inherited together across ecotypes. By performing a genome-wide scan of the SNPs within the mature miRNAs and their target sites, we defined a "regulation fate profile" to describe a miRNA-target regulation being static (kept) or dynamic (gained or lost) across 1,135 ecotypes compared with the reference genome of Col-0. The cooperative miRNA pairs were identified by estimating the similarity of their regulation fate profiles toward the common targets. The reliability of the cooperative miRNA pairs was supported by solid expressional correlation, high PPImiRFS scores, and similar stress responses. Different combinations of static and dynamic miRNA-target regulations account for the cooperative miRNA pairs acting on various biological characteristics of miRNA conservation, expression, homology, and stress response. Interestingly, the targets that are co-regulated dynamically by both cooperative miRNAs are more likely to be responsive to stress. Hence, stress-related genes probably bear selective pressures in a certain group of ecotypes, in which miRNA regulations on the stress genes reprogram. Finally, three case studies showed that reprogramming miRNA-miRNA crosstalk toward the targets in specific ecotypes was associated with these ecotypes' climatic variables and geographical locations. Our study highlights the potential of miRNA-miRNA crosstalk as a genetic basis underlying environmental adaptation in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Wu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuewen Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Wei Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xunyan Liu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yibin Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fengfeng Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lulu Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yijun Meng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Oliver C, Martinez G. Accumulation dynamics of ARGONAUTE proteins during meiosis in Arabidopsis. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2022; 35:153-160. [PMID: 34812935 PMCID: PMC9110482 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-021-00434-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division that is key for reproduction and genetic diversity in sexually reproducing plants. Recently, different RNA silencing pathways have been proposed to carry a specific activity during meiosis, but the pathways involved during this process remain unclear. Here, we explored the subcellular localization of different ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins, the main effectors of RNA silencing, during male meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana using immunolocalizations with commercially available antibodies. We detected the presence of AGO proteins associated with posttranscriptional gene silencing (AGO1, 2, and 5) in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, while AGOs associated with transcriptional gene silencing (AGO4 and 9) localized exclusively in the nucleus. These results indicate that the localization of different AGOs correlates with their predicted roles at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels and provide an overview of their timing and potential role during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Oliver
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural, Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - German Martinez
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural, Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
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12
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Patil PG, Singh NV, Bohra A, Jamma S, N M, C VS, Karuppannan DB, Sharma J, Marathe RA. Novel miRNA-SSRs for Improving Seed Hardness Trait of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). Front Genet 2022; 13:866504. [PMID: 35495126 PMCID: PMC9040167 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Present research discovered novel miRNA-SSRs for seed type trait from 761 potential precursor miRNA sequences of pomegranate. SSR mining and BLASTx of the unique sequences identified 69 non-coding pre-miRNA sequences, which were then searched for BLASTn homology against Dabenzi genome. Sixty three true pri-miRNA contigs encoding 213 pre-miRNAs were predicted. Analysis of the resulting sequences enabled discovery of SSRs within pri-miRNA (227) and pre-miRNA sequences (79). A total of 132 miRNA-SSRs were developed for seed type trait from 63 true pri-miRNAs, of which 46 were specific to pre-miRNAs. Through ePCR, 123 primers were validated and mapped on eight Tunisia chromosomes. Further, 80 SSRs producing specific amplicons were ePCR-confirmed on multiple genomes i.e. Dabenzi, Taishanhong, AG2017 and Tunisia, yielding a set of 63 polymorphic SSRs (polymorphism information content ≥0.5). Of these, 32 miRNA-SSRs revealed higher polymorphism level (89.29%) when assayed on six pomegranate genotypes. Furthermore, target prediction and network analysis suggested a possible association of miRNA-SSRs i.e. miRNA_SH_SSR69, miRNA_SH_SSR36, miRNA_SH_SSR103, miRNA_SH_SSR35 and miRNA_SH_SSR53 with seed type trait. These miRNA-SSRs would serve as important genomic resource for rapid and targeted improvement of seed type trait of pomegranate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Goudappa Patil
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur, India
- *Correspondence: Prakash Goudappa Patil,
| | | | - Abhishek Bohra
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, India
| | - Shivani Jamma
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur, India
| | - Manjunatha N
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur, India
| | - Venkatesh S. C
- Dept. of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement, University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot, India
| | | | - Jyotsana Sharma
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur, India
| | - Rajiv A. Marathe
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP), Solapur, India
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13
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Li Z, Li W, Guo M, Liu S, Liu L, Yu Y, Mo B, Chen X, Gao L. Origin, evolution and diversification of plant ARGONAUTE proteins. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:1086-1097. [PMID: 34845788 PMCID: PMC9208301 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute (AGO) proteins are central players in RNA interference in eukaryotes. They associate with small RNAs (sRNA) and lead to transcriptional or posttranscriptional silencing of targets, thereby regulating diverse biological processes. The molecular and biological functions of AGO proteins have been extensively characterized, particularly in a few angiosperm species, leading to the recognition that the AGO family has expanded to accommodate diverse sRNAs thereby performing diverse biological functions. However, understanding of the expansion of AGO proteins in plants is still limited, due to a dearth of knowledge of AGO proteins in green algal groups. Here, we identified more than 2900 AGO proteins from 244 plant species, including green algae, and performed a large-scale phylogenetic analysis. The phylogeny shows that the plant AGO family gave rise to four clades after the emergence of hydrobiontic algae and prior to the emergence of land plants. Subsequent parallel expansion in ferns and angiosperms resulted in eight main clades in angiosperms: AGO2, AGO7, AGO6, AGO4, AGO1, AGO10a, AGO10b and AGO5. On the basis of this phylogeny, we identified two novel AGO4 orthologs that Arabidopsis does not have, and redefined AGO10, which is composed of AGO10a and AGO10b. Finally, we propose a hypothetical evolutionary model of AGO proteins in plants. Our studies provide a deeper understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of AGO family members in the green lineage, which would help to further reveal their roles as RNAi effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zancong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Wenqi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Mingxi Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Simu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yu Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Beixin Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lei Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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14
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Aslam M, Fakher B, Qin Y. Big Role of Small RNAs in Female Gametophyte Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23041979. [PMID: 35216096 PMCID: PMC8878111 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In living organisms, sexual reproduction relies on the successful development of the gametes. Flowering plants produce gametes in the specialized organs of the flower, the gametophytes. The female gametophyte (FG), a multicellular structure containing female gametes (egg cell and central cell), is often referred to as an embryo sac. Intriguingly, several protein complexes, molecular and genetic mechanisms participate and tightly regulate the female gametophyte development. Recent evidence indicates that small RNA (sRNA) mediated pathways play vital roles in female gametophyte development and specification. Here, we present an insight into our understanding and the recent updates on the molecular mechanism of different players of small RNA-directed regulatory pathways during ovule formation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Aslam
- Guangxi Key Lab of Sugarcane Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
| | - Beenish Fakher
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
| | - Yuan Qin
- Guangxi Key Lab of Sugarcane Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
- Correspondence:
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15
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Oliver C, Annacondia ML, Wang Z, Jullien PE, Slotkin RK, Köhler C, Martinez G. The miRNome function transitions from regulating developmental genes to transposable elements during pollen maturation. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:784-801. [PMID: 34755870 PMCID: PMC8824631 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Animal and plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for the spatio-temporal regulation of development. Together with this role, plant miRNAs have been proposed to target transposable elements (TEs) and stimulate the production of epigenetically active small interfering RNAs. This activity is evident in the plant male gamete containing structure, the male gametophyte or pollen grain. How the dual role of plant miRNAs, regulating both genes and TEs, is integrated during pollen development and which mRNAs are regulated by miRNAs in this cell type at a genome-wide scale are unknown. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of miRNA dynamics and activity during pollen development in Arabidopsis thaliana using small RNA and degradome parallel analysis of RNA end high-throughput sequencing. Furthermore, we uncover miRNAs loaded into the two main active Argonaute (AGO) proteins in the uninuclear and mature pollen grain, AGO1 and AGO5. Our results indicate that the developmental progression from microspore to mature pollen grain is characterized by a transition from miRNAs targeting developmental genes to miRNAs regulating TE activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Oliver
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Maria Luz Annacondia
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Zhenxing Wang
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
- College of Horticulture and State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Landscaping, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Key Laboratory of Biology of Ornamental Plants in East China, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Pauline E Jullien
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - R Keith Slotkin
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65201, USA
| | - Claudia Köhler
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm 14476, Germany
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16
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Jullien PE, Schröder JA, Bonnet DMV, Pumplin N, Voinnet O. Asymmetric expression of Argonautes in reproductive tissues. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:38-43. [PMID: 34687292 PMCID: PMC8774725 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Arabidopsis genome encodes ten Argonautes proteins showing distinct expression pattern as well as intracellular localisation during sexual reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- P E Jullien
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology—Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH‐Zurich), 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J A Schröder
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - D M V Bonnet
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - N Pumplin
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology—Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH‐Zurich), 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - O Voinnet
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology—Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH‐Zurich), 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Interpreting machine learning models to investigate circadian regulation and facilitate exploration of clock function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2103070118. [PMID: 34353905 PMCID: PMC8364196 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103070118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock is an internal molecular 24-h timer that is critical to life on Earth. We describe a series of artificial intelligence (AI)– and machine learning (ML)–based approaches that enable more cost-effective analysis and insight into circadian regulation and function. Throughout the manuscript, we illuminate what is inside the ML “black box” via explanation or interpretation of predictive ML models. Using this interpretation of our models, we derive biological insights into why a prediction was made, alongside accurate predictions. Most innovatively, we use only DNA sequence features for accurate circadian gene expression prediction. Using explainable AI, we define possible, responsible regulatory elements as we make these predictions; this critically requires no prior knowledge of regulatory elements. The circadian clock is an important adaptation to life on Earth. Here, we use machine learning to predict complex, temporal, and circadian gene expression patterns in Arabidopsis. Most significantly, we classify circadian genes using DNA sequence features generated de novo from public, genomic resources, facilitating downstream application of our methods with no experimental work or prior knowledge needed. We use local model explanation that is transcript specific to rank DNA sequence features, providing a detailed profile of the potential circadian regulatory mechanisms for each transcript. Furthermore, we can discriminate the temporal phase of transcript expression using the local, explanation-derived, and ranked DNA sequence features, revealing hidden subclasses within the circadian class. Model interpretation/explanation provides the backbone of our methodological advances, giving insight into biological processes and experimental design. Next, we use model interpretation to optimize sampling strategies when we predict circadian transcripts using reduced numbers of transcriptomic timepoints. Finally, we predict the circadian time from a single, transcriptomic timepoint, deriving marker transcripts that are most impactful for accurate prediction; this could facilitate the identification of altered clock function from existing datasets.
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18
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Liu L, Wang T. Male gametophyte development in flowering plants: A story of quarantine and sacrifice. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 258-259:153365. [PMID: 33548696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Over 160 years ago, scientists made the first microscopic observations of angiosperm pollen. Unlike in animals, male meiosis in angiosperms produces a haploid microspore that undergoes one asymmetric division to form a vegetative cell and a generative cell. These two cells have distinct fates: the vegetative cell exits the cell cycle and elongates to form a tip-growing pollen tube; the generative cell divides once more in the pollen grain or within the growing pollen tube to form a pair of sperm cells. The concept that male germ cells are less active than the vegetative cell came from biochemical analyses and pollen structure anatomy early in the last century and is supported by the pollen transcriptome data of the last decade. However, the mechanism of how and when the transcriptional repression in male germ cells occurs is still not fully understood. In this review, we provide a brief account of the cytological and metabolic differentiation between the vegetative cell and male germ cells, with emphasis on the role of temporary callose walls, dynamic nuclear pore density, transcription repression, and histone variants. We further discuss the intercellular movement of small interfering RNA (siRNA) derived from transposable elements (TEs) and reexamine the function of TE expression in male germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingtong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Tai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
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19
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Rutley N, Poidevin L, Doniger T, Tillett RL, Rath A, Forment J, Luria G, Schlauch KA, Ferrando A, Harper JF, Miller G. Characterization of novel pollen-expressed transcripts reveals their potential roles in pollen heat stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2021; 34:61-78. [PMID: 33459869 PMCID: PMC7902599 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-020-00400-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Arabidopsis pollen transcriptome analysis revealed new intergenic transcripts of unknown function, many of which are long non-coding RNAs, that may function in pollen-specific processes, including the heat stress response. The male gametophyte is the most heat sensitive of all plant tissues. In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important components of cellular regulatory networks involved in most biological processes, including response to stress. While examining RNAseq datasets of developing and germinating Arabidopsis thaliana pollen exposed to heat stress (HS), we identified 66 novel and 246 recently annotated intergenic expressed loci (XLOCs) of unknown function, with the majority encoding lncRNAs. Comparison with HS in cauline leaves and other RNAseq experiments indicated that 74% of the 312 XLOCs are pollen-specific, and at least 42% are HS-responsive. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 96% of the genes evolved recently in Brassicaceae. We found that 50 genes are putative targets of microRNAs and that 30% of the XLOCs contain small open reading frames (ORFs) with homology to protein sequences. Finally, RNAseq of ribosome-protected RNA fragments together with predictions of periodic footprint of the ribosome P-sites indicated that 23 of these ORFs are likely to be translated. Our findings indicate that many of the 312 unknown genes might be functional and play a significant role in pollen biology, including the HS response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Rutley
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Laetitia Poidevin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient́́if́icas-Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Tirza Doniger
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Richard L Tillett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
- Nevada INBRE Bioinformatics Core, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Abhishek Rath
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Javier Forment
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient́́if́icas-Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gilad Luria
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Karen A Schlauch
- Institute of Health Innovation, Desert Research Institute, Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Alejandro Ferrando
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient́́if́icas-Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jeffery F Harper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Gad Miller
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
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20
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Yu S, Wang JW. The Crosstalk between MicroRNAs and Gibberellin Signaling in Plants. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:1880-1890. [PMID: 32845336 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Gibberellin (GA) is an integral phytohormone that plays prominent roles in controlling seed germination, stem elongation, leaf development and floral induction. It has been shown that GA regulates these diverse biological processes mainly through overcoming the suppressive effects of the DELLA proteins, a family of nuclear repressors of GA response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which have been identified as master regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes, are also involved in a wide range of plant developmental events through the repression of their target genes. The pathways of GA biosynthesis and signaling, as well as the pathways of miRNA biogenesis and regulation, have been profoundly delineated in the past several decades. Growing evidence has shown that miRNAs and GAs are coordinated in regulating plant development, as several components in GA pathways are targeted by miRNAs, and GAs also regulate the expression of miRNAs or their target genes vice versa. Here, we review the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular connections between miRNAs and GA, with an emphasis on the two miRNAs, miR156 and miR159.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Yu
- Center for RNA research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 00826, South Korea
| | - Jia-Wei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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21
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Zhang YZ, Yuan J, Zhang L, Chen C, Wang Y, Zhang G, Peng L, Xie SS, Jiang J, Zhu JK, Du J, Duan CG. Coupling of H3K27me3 recognition with transcriptional repression through the BAH-PHD-CPL2 complex in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6212. [PMID: 33277495 PMCID: PMC7718874 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone 3 Lys 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3)-mediated epigenetic silencing plays a critical role in multiple biological processes. However, the H3K27me3 recognition and transcriptional repression mechanisms are only partially understood. Here, we report a mechanism for H3K27me3 recognition and transcriptional repression. Our structural and biochemical data showed that the BAH domain protein AIPP3 and the PHD proteins AIPP2 and PAIPP2 cooperate to read H3K27me3 and unmodified H3K4 histone marks, respectively, in Arabidopsis. The BAH-PHD bivalent histone reader complex silences a substantial subset of H3K27me3-enriched loci, including a number of development and stress response-related genes such as the RNA silencing effector gene ARGONAUTE 5 (AGO5). We found that the BAH-PHD module associates with CPL2, a plant-specific Pol II carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) phosphatase, to form the BAH-PHD-CPL2 complex (BPC) for transcriptional repression. The BPC complex represses transcription through CPL2-mediated CTD dephosphorylation, thereby causing inhibition of Pol II release from the transcriptional start site. Our work reveals a mechanism coupling H3K27me3 recognition with transcriptional repression through the alteration of Pol II phosphorylation states, thereby contributing to our understanding of the mechanism of H3K27me3-dependent silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhe Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Jianlong Yuan
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Lingrui Zhang
- grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Chunxiang Chen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China
| | - Guiping Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China
| | - Li Peng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China
| | - Si-Si Xie
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- grid.256922.80000 0000 9139 560XState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 475004 Kaifeng, China
| | - Jian-Kang Zhu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China ,grid.169077.e0000 0004 1937 2197Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Jiamu Du
- grid.263817.9Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Plant and Food Science, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055 Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheng-Guo Duan
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201602 Shanghai, China ,grid.256922.80000 0000 9139 560XState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 475004 Kaifeng, China
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22
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Pereira PA, Boavida LC, Santos MR, Becker JD. AtNOT1 is required for gametophyte development in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:1289-1303. [PMID: 32369648 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In flowering plants, pollen development is under a dynamic and well-orchestrated transcriptional control, characterized by an early phase with high transcript diversity and a late post-mitotic phase skewed to a cell-type-specific transcriptome. Such transcriptional changes require a balance between synthesis and degradation of mRNA transcripts, the latter being initiated by deadenylation. The CCR4-NOT complex is the main evolutionary conserved deadenylase complex in eukaryotes, and its function is essential during germline specification in animals. We hypothesized that the CCR4-NOT complex might play a central role in mRNA turnover during microgametogenesis in Arabidopsis. Disruption of NOT1 gene, which encodes the scaffold protein of the CCR4-NOT complex, showed abnormal seed set. Genetic analysis failed to recover homozygous progeny, and reciprocal crosses confirmed reduced transmission through the male and female gametophytes. Concordantly, not1 embryo sacs showed delayed development and defects in embryogenesis. not1 pollen grains exhibited abnormal male germ unit configurations and failed to germinate. Transcriptome analysis of pollen from not1/+ mutants revealed that lack of NOT1 leads to an extensive transcriptional deregulation during microgametogenesis. Therefore, our work establishes NOT1 as an important player during gametophyte development in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia A Pereira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Leonor C Boavida
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Mário R Santos
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, 2780-156, Portugal
| | - Jörg D Becker
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, 2780-156, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, 2780-157, Portugal
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23
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Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Autophagy in Plants. Trends Genet 2020; 36:676-688. [PMID: 32674948 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy, a highly conserved quality control mechanism, is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and healthy growth of plants. Compared with extensive research in the cytoplasmic control of autophagy, studies regarding the nuclear events involved in the regulation of plant autophagy are just beginning to emerge. Accumulating evidence reveals a coordinated expression of plant autophagy genes in response to diverse developmental states and growth conditions. Here, we summarize recent progress in the identification of tightly controlled transcription factors and histone marks associated with the autophagic process in plants, and propose several modules, consisting of transcription regulators and epigenetic modifiers, as important nuclear players that could contribute to both short-term and long-term controls of plant autophagy at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
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24
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Niedojadło K, Kupiecka M, Kołowerzo-Lubnau A, Lenartowski R, Niedojadło J, Bednarska-Kozakiewicz E. Dynamic distribution of ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) and ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4) in Hyacinthus orientalis L. pollen grains and pollen tubes growing in vitro. PROTOPLASMA 2020; 257:793-805. [PMID: 31916009 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-019-01463-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional and posttranscriptional AGO-mediated control of gene expression may play important roles during male monocot gametophyte development. In this report, we demonstrated dynamic changes in the spatiotemporal distribution of AGO1 and AGO4, which are key proteins of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) in Hyacinthus orientalis male gametophyte development. During maturation of the bicellular pollen grains and in vitro pollen tube growth, the pattern of AGO1 localization was correlated with previously observed transcriptional activity of the cells. During the period of high transcriptional activity, AGO1 is associated with chromatin while the clustered distribution of AGO1 in the interchromatin areas is accompanied by condensation of chromatin and the gradual transcriptional silencing of both cells in mature, dehydrated pollen. During pollen tube growth and the restarting of RNA synthesis in the vegetative nucleus, AGO1 is dispersed in the chromatin. Additionally, the gradual increase in the cytoplasmic pool of AGO1 in the elongating pollen tube indicates the activation of the posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) pathway. During pollen tube growth in the generative cell and in the sperm cells, AGO1 is present mainly in the areas between highly condensed chromatin clusters. Changes in the distribution of AGO4 that indicated the possibility of spatiotemporal organization in the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) process (cytoplasmic and nuclear steps) were also observed during hyacinth male gametophyte development. Based on our findings, we propose that in the germinating pollen tube, the cytoplasmic assembly of AGO4/siRNA takes place and that the mature complexes could be transported to the nucleus to carry out their function during the next steps of pollen tube growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Niedojadło
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland.
- Centre For Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100, Torun, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Kupiecka
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kołowerzo-Lubnau
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland
- Centre For Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wileńska 4, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Robert Lenartowski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Janusz Niedojadło
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Bednarska-Kozakiewicz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland
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Roussin-Léveillée C, Silva-Martins G, Moffett P. ARGONAUTE5 Represses Age-Dependent Induction of Flowering through Physical and Functional Interaction with miR156 in Arabidopsis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:957-966. [PMID: 32105323 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Flowering time is a finely tuned process in plants, in part controlled by the age-regulated microRNA156 (miR156), which functions by suppressing the transcripts of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential effectors of miRNA-mediated gene regulation. However, which AGO(s) mediate(s) the control of flowering time remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a role of AGO5 in controlling flowering time by modulating the expression of SPL transcription factors. We show that AGO5 interacts physically and functionally with miR156 and that ago5 mutants present an early flowering phenotype in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, in ago5 mutants, the repression of flowering caused by miR156 overexpression is largely reversed, whereas leaf morphology remains unaffected. Our results thus indicate a specific role for AGO5 in mediating miR156 activity in meristematic, but not vegetative, tissue. As such, our data suggest a spatiotemporal regulation of the miR156 aging pathway mediated through different AGO proteins in different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Roussin-Léveillée
- Centre S�VE, D�partement de Biologie, Universit� de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu�bec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Guilherme Silva-Martins
- Centre S�VE, D�partement de Biologie, Universit� de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu�bec J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Peter Moffett
- Centre S�VE, D�partement de Biologie, Universit� de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu�bec J1K 2R1, Canada
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Das S, Swetha C, Pachamuthu K, Nair A, Shivaprasad PV. Loss of function of Oryza sativa Argonaute 18 induces male sterility and reduction in phased small RNAs. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2020; 33:59-73. [PMID: 32157461 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-020-00386-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In this manuscript, we show that Oryza sativa indica Argonaute protein AGO18 is required for male gametophyte development likely to through a small RNA-mediated mechanism. Monocots have evolved unique gene silencing pathways due to the presence of unique members of Dicer-like and Argonaute (AGO) family members. Among the monocot AGO homologs, AGO18 occupies a unique position. Previous reports have implicated this protein in viral resistance as well as in gametogenesis, likely through its competition with AGO1 clade members for micro(mi)RNAs and other small (s)RNAs. Although expression of rice AGO18 in specific stages of male gametogenesis has been documented, its major functions in plant development remain poorly understood. Here, we show that Oryza sativa indica AGO18 is involved in male gametophyte development. Knockdown (KD) of AGO18 in transgenic rice lines resulted in stunted plants that are male sterile, whereas their carpels were functional. Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of several pollen development-associated genes in KD lines. sRNA sequencing in vegetative and reproductive tissues of KD lines indicated reduction of miRNAs and phased secondary sRNAs implicated in male gametophyte development. Our results indicate a distinct role for rice AGO18 in male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumita Das
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Chenna Swetha
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Kannan Pachamuthu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Ashwin Nair
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - P V Shivaprasad
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.
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27
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Balyan S, Joseph SV, Jain R, Mutum RD, Raghuvanshi S. Investigation into the miRNA/5' isomiRNAs function and drought-mediated miRNA processing in rice. Funct Integr Genomics 2020; 20:509-522. [DOI: 10.1007/s10142-020-00731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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28
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Huang J, Wang C, Li X, Fang X, Huang N, Wang Y, Ma H, Wang Y, Copenhaver GP. Conservation and Divergence in the Meiocyte sRNAomes of Arabidopsis, Soybean, and Cucumber. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 182:301-317. [PMID: 31719152 PMCID: PMC6945826 DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is a critical process for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, genetic information on homologous chromosomes is shuffled through meiotic recombination to produce gametes with novel allelic combinations. Meiosis and recombination are orchestrated by several mechanisms including regulation by small RNAs (sRNAs). Our previous work in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) meiocytes showed that meiocyte-specific sRNAs (ms-sRNAs) have distinct characteristics, including positive association with the coding region of genes that are transcriptionally upregulated during meiosis. Here, we characterized the ms-sRNAs in two important crops, soybean (Glycine max) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Ms-sRNAs in soybean have the same features as those in Arabidopsis, suggesting that they may play a conserved role in eudicots. We also investigated the profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and phased secondary small interfering RNAs in the meiocytes of all three species. Two conserved miRNAs, miR390 and miR167, are highly abundant in the meiocytes of all three species. In addition, we identified three novel cucumber miRNAs. Intriguingly, our data show that the previously identified phased secondary small interfering RNA pathway involving soybean-specific miR4392 is more abundant in meiocytes. These results showcase the conservation and divergence of ms-sRNAs in flowering plants, and broaden our understanding of sRNA function in crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyue Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Biology and the Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, Genome Science Building, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaolong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ning Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Department of Biology, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
| | - Yingxiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Gregory P Copenhaver
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Biology and the Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, Genome Science Building, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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Cao JJ, Liu CX, Shao SJ, Zhou J. Molecular Mechanisms of Autophagy Regulation in Plants and Their Applications in Agriculture. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:618944. [PMID: 33664753 PMCID: PMC7921839 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.618944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular process for the degradation and recycling of unnecessary cytoplasmic components in eukaryotes. Various studies have shown that autophagy plays a crucial role in plant growth, productivity, and survival. The extensive functions of plant autophagy have been revealed in numerous frontier studies, particularly those regarding growth adjustment, stress tolerance, the identification of related genes, and the involvement of metabolic pathways. However, elucidation of the molecular regulation of plant autophagy, particularly the upstream signaling elements, is still lagging. In this review, we summarize recent progress in research on the molecular mechanisms of autophagy regulation, including the roles of protein kinases, phytohormones, second messengers, and transcriptional and epigenetic control, as well as the relationship between autophagy and the 26S proteasome in model plants and crop species. We also discuss future research directions for the potential application of autophagy in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jian Cao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen-Xu Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shu-Jun Shao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Agricultural Ministry of China, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plants Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Agricultural Ministry of China, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Zhou,
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Hu Z, Shen X, Xiang X, Cao J. Evolution of MIR159/319 genes in Brassica campestris and their function in pollen development. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 101:537-550. [PMID: 31745746 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-019-00920-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
MIR159/319 have conserved evolution and diversified function after WGT in Brassica campestris, both of them can lead pollen vitality and germination abnormality, Bra-MIR319c also can function in flower development. MiR159 and miR319 are extensively studied highly conserved microRNAs which play roles in vegetative development, reproduction, and hormone regulation. In this study, the effects of whole-genome triplication (WGT) on the evolution of the MIR159/319 family and the functional diversification of the genes were comprehensively investigated in Brassica campestris. We identified 11 MIR159/319 genes in B. campestris, which produced five mature sequences. After analyzing the precursor sequences and phylogenetic tree, we found that Bra-MIR159/319 have evolutionary conservatism. Furthermore, Bra-MIR159/319 show functional diversification after WGT, as indicated by their expression patterns and the cis-element in their promoter. GUS signal showed that Bra-MIR159a and Bra-MIR319c can be expressed in anther but in different development stages. In B. campestris, overexpressed MIR159a and MIR319c contribute to late anther development and promote pollen abortion. Moreover, Bra-MIR319c can partially assume the function of MIR319a in flower development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Hu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiuping Shen
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xun Xiang
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiashu Cao
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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31
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Wu W, Zheng B. Intercellular delivery of small RNAs in plant gametes. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 224:86-90. [PMID: 30993716 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Small RNAs are 20-24 nucleotides in length. In plants, small RNAs are classified into microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), based on their biogenesis and molecular features. In contrast to the extensive knowledge of the roles of small RNAs in sporophytic tissues, the distribution and function of small RNAs in gametophytic cells have been less well studied. However, with the improvement of single-cell sorting and RNA sequencing technologies, the distribution of small RNAs, especially siRNAs, between sperm cells and the vegetative cell, as well as the function of sperm-delivered small RNAs during early seed development have been elucidated. This review summarizes work from the past 5 years regarding small RNAs in male gametes, emphasizing the intercellular communication and biological significance of small RNAs in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenye Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Binglian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
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32
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Marchais A, Chevalier C, Voinnet O. Extensive profiling in Arabidopsis reveals abundant polysome-associated 24-nt small RNAs including AGO5-dependent pseudogene-derived siRNAs. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2019; 25:1098-1117. [PMID: 31138671 PMCID: PMC6800511 DOI: 10.1261/rna.069294.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In a reductionist perspective, plant silencing small (s)RNAs are often classified as mediating nuclear transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) or cytosolic posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Among the PTGS diagnostics is the association of AGOs and their sRNA cargos with the translation apparatus. In Arabidopsis, this is observed for AGO1 loaded with micro(mi)RNAs and, accordingly, translational-repression (TR) is one layer of plant miRNA action. Using AGO1:miRNA-mediated TR as a paradigm, we explored, with two unrelated polysome-isolation methods, which, among the ten Arabidopsis AGOs and numerous sRNA classes, interact with translation. We found that representatives of all three AGO-clades associate with polysomes, including the TGS-effector AGO4 and stereotypical 24-nt sRNAs that normally mediate TGS of transposons/repeats. Strikingly, approximately half of these annotated 24-nt siRNAs displayed unique matches in coding regions/introns of genes, and in pseudogenes, but not in transposons/repeats commonly found in their vicinity. Protein-coding gene-derived 24-nt sRNAs correlate with gene-body methylation. Those derived from pseudogenes belong to two main clusters defined by their parental-gene expression patterns, and are vastly enriched in AGO5, itself found on polysomes. Based on their tight expression pattern in developing and mature siliques, their biogenesis, and genomic/epigenomic features of their loci-of-origin, we discuss potential roles for these hitherto unknown polysome-enriched, pseudogene-derived siRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Marchais
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Clément Chevalier
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Voinnet
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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Heidari P, Ahmadizadeh M, Izanlo F, Nussbaumer T. In silico study of the CESA and CSL gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa: Focus on post-translation modifications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plgene.2019.100189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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34
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Ashapkin VV, Kutueva LI, Aleksandrushkina NI, Vanyushin BF. Epigenetic Regulation of Plant Gametophyte Development. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20123051. [PMID: 31234519 PMCID: PMC6627097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20123051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike in animals, the reproductive lineage cells in plants differentiate from within somatic tissues late in development to produce a specific haploid generation of the life cycle-male and female gametophytes. In flowering plants, the male gametophyte develops within the anthers and the female gametophyte-within the ovule. Both gametophytes consist of only a few cells. There are two major stages of gametophyte development-meiotic and post-meiotic. In the first stage, sporocyte mother cells differentiate within the anther (pollen mother cell) and the ovule (megaspore mother cell). These sporocyte mother cells undergo two meiotic divisions to produce four haploid daughter cells-male spores (microspores) and female spores (megaspores). In the second stage, the haploid spore cells undergo few asymmetric haploid mitotic divisions to produce the 3-cell male or 7-cell female gametophyte. Both stages of gametophyte development involve extensive epigenetic reprogramming, including siRNA dependent changes in DNA methylation and chromatin restructuring. This intricate mosaic of epigenetic changes determines, to a great extent, embryo and endosperm development in the future sporophyte generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily V Ashapkin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia.
| | - Lyudmila I Kutueva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia.
| | | | - Boris F Vanyushin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia.
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Genome-Wide Identification of Putative MicroRNAs in Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Their Functional Landscape in Cellular Regulation. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:2019846. [PMID: 31321230 PMCID: PMC6607727 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2019846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs, involved in the regulation of many cellular processes in plants. Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified in cassava by various techniques, yet these identifications were constrained by a lack of miRNA templates and the narrow range of conditions in transcriptome study. In this research, we conducted genome-wide analysis identification, whereby miRNAs from cassava genome were thoroughly screened using bioinformatics approach independent of predefined templates and studied conditions. Our work provided a catalog of putative mature miRNAs and explored the landscape of miRNAome in cassava. These putative miRNAs were validated using statistical analysis as well as available cassava expression data. We showed that the crowded locations of cassava miRNAs are consistent with other plants and animals and hypothesized to have the same evolutionary origin. At least 10 conserved miRNAs were identified in cassava based on the comparative study of miRNA conservation. Finally, investigation of miRNAs and target gene relationships enabled us to envisage the complexities of cellular regulatory systems modulated at posttranscriptional level.
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Perspectives on microRNAs and Phased Small Interfering RNAs in Maize ( Zea mays L.): Functions and Big Impact on Agronomic Traits Enhancement. PLANTS 2019; 8:plants8060170. [PMID: 31212808 PMCID: PMC6630462 DOI: 10.3390/plants8060170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Small RNA (sRNA) population in plants comprises of primarily micro RNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). MiRNAs play important roles in plant growth and development. The miRNA-derived secondary siRNAs are usually known as phased siRNAs, including phasiRNAs and tasiRNAs. The miRNA and phased siRNA biogenesis mechanisms are highly conserved in plants. However, their functional conservation and diversification may differ in maize. In the past two decades, lots of miRNAs and phased siRNAs have been functionally identified for curbing important maize agronomic traits, such as those related to developmental timing, plant architecture, sex determination, reproductive development, leaf morphogenesis, root development and nutrition, kernel development and tolerance to abiotic stresses. In contrast to Arabidopsis and rice, studies on maize miRNA and phased siRNA biogenesis and functions are limited, which restricts the small RNA-based fundamental and applied studies in maize. This review updates the current status of maize miRNA and phased siRNA mechanisms and provides a survey of our knowledge on miRNA and phased siRNA functions in controlling agronomic traits. Furthermore, improvement of those traits through manipulating the expression of sRNAs or their targets is discussed.
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Bajczyk M, Bhat SS, Szewc L, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z, Jarmolowski A, Dolata J. Novel Nuclear Functions of Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE1: Beyond RNA Interference. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 179:1030-1039. [PMID: 30606888 PMCID: PMC6393810 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.01351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute1 activity is not limited to the cytoplasm and has been found to be associated with the regulation of gene expression in the nucleus and to be tightly associated with chromatin and transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Bajczyk
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Susheel Sagar Bhat
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Lukasz Szewc
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Zofia Szweykowska-Kulinska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmolowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Jakub Dolata
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
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Yan F, Li H, Zhao P. Genome-Wide Identification and Transcriptional Expression of the PAL Gene Family in Common Walnut ( Juglans Regia L.). Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E46. [PMID: 30650597 PMCID: PMC6357058 DOI: 10.3390/genes10010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Juglans regia L. is an economically important crop cultivated worldwide for its high quality and quantity of wood and nuts. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway that plays a critical role in plant growth, development, and adaptation, but there have been few reports of the PAL gene family in common walnut. Here, we report a genome-wide study of J. regiaPAL genes and analyze their phylogeny, duplication, microRNA, and transcriptional expression. A total of 12 PAL genes were identified in the common walnut and clustered into two subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. These common walnut PALs are distributed on eight different pseudo-chromosomes. Seven of the 12 PALs (JrPAL2-3, JrPAL4-2, JrPAL2-1, JrPAL4-1, JrPAL8, JrPAL9, and JrPAL6) were specific found in J. regia, and JrPAL3, JrPAL5, JrPAL1-2, JrPAL7, and JrPAL2-2 were found to be closely associated with the woody plant Populus trichocarpa. Additionally, the expression patterns of JrPAL3, JrPAL7, JrPAL9, and JrPAL2-1 showed that they had high expression in female and male flowers. The miRNA ath-miR830-5p regulates two genes, JrPAL5 and JrPAL1, such that they have low expression in the male and female flowers of the common walnut. Our research provides useful information for further research into the function of PAL genes in common walnut and Juglans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Yan
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
| | - Huaizhu Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xianyang Normal University, Xianyang 712000, China.
| | - Peng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
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Pegler JL, Grof CPL, Eamens AL. The Plant microRNA Pathway: The Production and Action Stages. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1932:15-39. [PMID: 30701489 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9042-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant microRNAs are an endogenous class of small regulatory RNA central to the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression in plant development and environmental stress adaptation or in response to pathogen challenge. The plant microRNA pathway is readily separated into two distinct stages: (1) the production stage, which is localized to the plant cell nucleus and where the microRNA small RNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA precursor transcript, and (2) the action stage, which is localized to the plant cell cytoplasm and where the mature microRNA small RNA is loaded into an effector complex and is used by the complex as a sequence specificity guide to direct expression repression of target genes harboring highly complementary microRNA target sequences. Historical research indicated that the plant microRNA pathway was a highly structured, almost linear pathway requiring a small set of core machinery proteins. However, contemporary research has demonstrated that the plant microRNA pathway is highly dynamic, and to allow for this flexibility, a large and highly functionally diverse set of machinery proteins is now known to be required. For example, recent research has shown that plant microRNAs can regulate target gene expression via a translational repression mechanism of RNA silencing in addition to the standard messenger RNA cleavage-based mechanism of RNA silencing: a mode of RNA silencing originally assigned to all plant microRNAs. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as our model system, here we report on both the core and auxiliary sets of machinery proteins now known to be required for both microRNA production and microRNA action in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Pegler
- Faculty of Science, Centre for Plant Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher P L Grof
- Faculty of Science, Centre for Plant Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew L Eamens
- Faculty of Science, Centre for Plant Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
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40
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Abstract
The reproductive adaptations of land plants have played a key role in their terrestrial colonization and radiation. This encompasses mechanisms used for the production, dispersal and union of gametes to support sexual reproduction. The production of small motile male gametes and larger immotile female gametes (oogamy) in specialized multicellular gametangia evolved in the charophyte algae, the closest extant relatives of land plants. Reliance on water and motile male gametes for sexual reproduction was retained by bryophytes and basal vascular plants, but was overcome in seed plants by the dispersal of pollen and the guided delivery of non-motile sperm to the female gametes. Here we discuss the evolutionary history of male gametogenesis in streptophytes (green plants) and the underlying developmental biology, including recent advances in bryophyte and angiosperm models. We conclude with a perspective on research trends that promise to deliver a deeper understanding of the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of male gametogenesis in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Hackenberg
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
| | - David Twell
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
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41
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Clearance of maternal barriers by paternal miR159 to initiate endosperm nuclear division in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5011. [PMID: 30479343 PMCID: PMC6258693 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07429-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm entry triggers central cell division during seed development, but what factors besides the genome are inherited from sperm, and the mechanism by which paternal factors regulate early division events, are not understood. Here we show that sperm-transmitted miR159 promotes endosperm nuclear division by repressing central cell-transmitted miR159 targets. Disruption of paternal miR159 causes approximately half of the seeds to abort as a result of defective endosperm nuclear divisions. In wild-type plants, MYB33 and MYB65, two miR159 targets, are highly expressed in the central cell before fertilization, but both are rapidly abolished after fertilization. In contrast, loss of paternal miR159 leads to retention of MYB33 and MYB65 in the central cell after fertilization. Furthermore, ectopic expression of a miR159-resistant version of MYB33 (mMYB33) in the endosperm significantly inhibits initiation of endosperm nuclear division. Collectively, these results show that paternal miR159 inhibits its maternal targets to promote endosperm nuclear division, thus uncovering a previously unknown paternal effect on seed development. Seed development in plants is triggered by entry of sperm to the ovule. Here, Zhao et al. uncover miR159 as a paternal-trigger of seed development that is transmitted to the central cell where it represses expression of maternal targets to promote nuclear division in the endosperm.
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42
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Pradillo M, Santos JL. Genes involved in miRNA biogenesis affect meiosis and fertility. Chromosome Res 2018; 26:233-241. [PMID: 30343461 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-018-9588-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (containing about 22 nucleotides) single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in plants and animals, being absent from unicellular organisms. They act on diverse key physiological and cellular processes, such as development and tissue differentiation, cell identity, cell cycle progression, and programmed cell death. They are also likely to be involved in a broad spectrum of human diseases. Particularly, this review examines and summarizes work characterizing the function of miRNAs in gametogenesis and fertility. Although numerous studies have elucidated the involvement of reproductive-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in regulating germ cell development and meiosis, less is known about the role of miRNAs in these processes. We focus on the study of hypomorphic and null alleles of genes encoding components of miRNA biogenesis in both plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and mammals (Mus musculus). We compare the consequences of the presence of these mutations on male meiosis in both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Pradillo
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan L Santos
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Huang L, Dong H, Zhou D, Li M, Liu Y, Zhang F, Feng Y, Yu D, Lin S, Cao J. Systematic identification of long non-coding RNAs during pollen development and fertilization in Brassica rapa. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 96:203-222. [PMID: 29975432 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in plant development has been established, but a systematic analysis of lncRNAs expressed during pollen development and fertilization has been elusive. We performed a time series of RNA-seq experiments at five developmental stages during pollen development and three different time points after pollination in Brassica rapa and identified 12 051 putative lncRNAs. A comprehensive view of dynamic lncRNA expression networks underpinning pollen development and fertilization was provided. B. rapa lncRNAs share many common characteristics of lncRNAs: relatively short length, low expression but specific in narrow time windows, and low evolutionary conservation. Gene modules and key lncRNAs regulating reproductive development such as exine formation were uncovered. Forty-seven cis-acting lncRNAs and 451 trans-acting lncRNAs were revealed to be highly coexpressed with their target protein-coding genes. Of particular importance are the discoveries of 14 lncRNAs that were highly coexpressed with 10 function-known pollen-associated coding genes. Fifteen lncRNAs were predicted as endogenous target mimics for 13 miRNAs, and two lncRNAs were proved to be functional target mimics for miR160 after experimental verification and shown to function in pollen development. Our study provides the systematic identification of lncRNAs during pollen development and fertilization in B. rapa and forms the foundation for future genetic, genomic, and evolutionary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Huang
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Heng Dong
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ming Li
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yaoyao Feng
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Dongliang Yu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Sue Lin
- Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Jiashu Cao
- Laboratory of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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44
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Wang G, Jiang H, Del Toro de León G, Martinez G, Köhler C. Sequestration of a Transposon-Derived siRNA by a Target Mimic Imprinted Gene Induces Postzygotic Reproductive Isolation in Arabidopsis. Dev Cell 2018; 46:696-705.e4. [PMID: 30122632 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon occurring in mammals and flowering plants, causing genes to be expressed depending on their parent of origin. In plants, genomic imprinting is mainly confined to the endosperm, a nutritive tissue supporting embryo growth, similar to the placenta in mammals. Here, we show that the paternally expressed imprinted gene PEG2 transcript sequesters the transposable element (TE)-derived small interfering RNA (siRNA) siRNA854 in the endosperm. siRNA854 is present in the vegetative cell of pollen and transferred to the central cell of the female gametophyte after fertilization, where it is captured by PEG2. Depletion of siRNA854 as a consequence of increased PEG2 transcript levels establishes a reproductive barrier and prevents successful hybridizations between plants differing in chromosome number (ploidy). Thus, the balance of a male gamete accumulating TE-derived siRNA and a paternally expressed imprinted gene regulate triploid seed viability, revealing a transgenerational speciation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guifeng Wang
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden; Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crops Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Gerardo Del Toro de León
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - German Martinez
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Claudia Köhler
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
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45
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Gene Silencing of Argonaute5 Negatively Affects the Establishment of the Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8120352. [PMID: 29182547 PMCID: PMC5748670 DOI: 10.3390/genes8120352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia is finely regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels. Argonaute5 (AGO5), a protein involved in RNA silencing, can bind both viral RNAs and microRNAs to control plant-microbe interactions and plant physiology. For instance, AGO5 regulates the systemic resistance of Arabidopsis against Potato Virus X as well as the pigmentation of soybean (Glycine max) seeds. Here, we show that AGO5 is also playing a central role in legume nodulation based on its preferential expression in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean roots and nodules. We also report that the expression of AGO5 is induced after 1 h of inoculation with rhizobia. Down-regulation of AGO5 gene in P. vulgaris and G. max causes diminished root hair curling, reduces nodule formation and interferes with the induction of three critical symbiotic genes: Nuclear Factor Y-B (NF-YB), Nodule Inception (NIN) and Flotillin2 (FLOT2). Our findings provide evidence that the common bean and soybean AGO5 genes play an essential role in the establishment of the symbiosis with rhizobia.
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46
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Martinez G, Choudury SG, Slotkin RK. tRNA-derived small RNAs target transposable element transcripts. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:5142-5152. [PMID: 28335016 PMCID: PMC5605234 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs) are 18–26 nucleotide small RNAs that are not random degradation products, but are rather specifically cleaved from mature tRNA transcripts. Abundant in stressed or viral-infected cells, the function and potential targets of tRFs are not known. We identified that in the unstressed wild-type male gamete containing pollen of flowering plants, and analogous reproductive structure in non-flowering plant species, tRFs accumulate to high levels. In the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana, tRFs are processed by Dicer-like 1 and incorporated into Argonaute1 (AGO1), akin to a microRNA. We utilized the fact that many plant small RNAs direct cleavage of their target transcripts to demonstrate that the tRF–AGO1 complex acts to specifically target and cleave endogenous transposable element (TE) mRNAs produced from transcriptionally active TEs. The data presented here demonstrate that tRFs are bona-fide regulatory microRNA-like small RNAs involved in the regulation of genome stability through the targeting of TE transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Martinez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA.,Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center of Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sarah G Choudury
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA.,Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA
| | - R Keith Slotkin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA.,Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA
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47
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Oliver C, Pradillo M, Jover-Gil S, Cuñado N, Ponce MR, Santos JL. Loss of function of Arabidopsis microRNA-machinery genes impairs fertility, and has effects on homologous recombination and meiotic chromatin dynamics. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9280. [PMID: 28839139 PMCID: PMC5571030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22-nt single-stranded noncoding RNAs with regulatory roles in a wide range of cellular functions by repressing eukaryotic gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Here, we analyzed the effects on meiosis and fertility of hypomorphic or null alleles of the HYL1, HEN1, DCL1, HST and AGO1 genes, which encode miRNA-machinery components in Arabidopsis. Reduced pollen and megaspore mother cell number and fertility were shown by the mutants analyzed. These mutants also exhibited a relaxed chromatin conformation in male meiocytes at the first meiotic division, and increased chiasma frequency, which is likely to be due to increased levels of mRNAs from key genes involved in homologous recombination. The hen1-13 mutant was found to be hypersensitive to gamma irradiation, which mainly causes double-strand breaks susceptible to be repaired by homologous recombination. Our findings uncover a role for miRNA-machinery components in Arabidopsis meiosis, as well as in the repression of key genes required for homologous recombination. These genes seem to be indirect miRNA targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Oliver
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Institut de Génétique Humaine UMR9002 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, 34396, Montpellier, cedex 05, France
| | - Mónica Pradillo
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Jover-Gil
- Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Elche, 03202, Elche, Spain
| | - Nieves Cuñado
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Rosa Ponce
- Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Elche, 03202, Elche, Spain.
| | - Juan Luis Santos
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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48
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Conze LL, Berlin S, Le Bail A, Kost B. Transcriptome profiling of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) pollen and pollen tubes. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:581. [PMID: 28784084 PMCID: PMC5545845 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3972-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pollen tube growth is essential for plant reproduction and represents a widely employed model to investigate polarized cell expansion, a process important for plant morphogenesis and development. Cellular and regulatory mechanisms underlying pollen tube elongation are under intense investigation, which stands to greatly benefit from a comprehensive understanding of global gene expression profiles in pollen and pollen tubes. Here, RNA sequencing technology was applied to de novo assemble a Nicotiana tabacum male gametophytic transcriptome and to compare transcriptome profiles at two different stages of gametophyte development: mature pollen grains (MPG) and pollen tubes grown for six hours in vitro (PT6). RESULTS De novo assembly of data obtained by 454 sequencing of a normalized cDNA library representing tobacco pollen and pollen tube mRNA (pooled mRNA isolated from mature pollen grains [MPG] and from pollen tubes grown in vitro for 3 [PT3] or 6 [PT6] hours) resulted in the identification of 78,364 unigenes. Among these unigenes, which mapped to 24,933 entries in the Sol Genomics Network (SGN) N. tabacum unigene database, 24,672 were predicted to represent full length cDNAs. In addition, quantitative analyses of data obtained by Illumina sequencing of two separate non-normalized MPG and PT6 cDNA libraries showed that 8979 unigenes were differentially expressed (differentially expressed unigenes: DEGs) between these two developmental stages at a FDR q-value of <0.0001. Interestingly, whereas most of these DEGs were downregulated in PT6, the minor fraction of DEGs upregulated in PT6 was enriched for GO (gene ontology) functions in pollen tube growth or fertilization. CONCLUSIONS A major output of our study is the development of two different high-quality databases representing the tobacco male gametophytic transcriptome and containing encompassing information about global changes in gene expression after pollen germination. Quantitative analyses of these databases 1) indicated that roughly 30% of all tobacco genes are expressed in the male gametophyte, and 2) support previous observations suggesting a global reduction of transcription after pollen germination. Interestingly, a small number of genes, many of which predicted to function in pollen tube growth or fertilization, were found to be upregulated in elongating pollen tubes despite globally reduced transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu Conze
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sofia Berlin
- Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aude Le Bail
- Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen/Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kost
- Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen/Nuremberg, Germany
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49
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Baghban Kohnehrouz B, Bastami M, Nayeri S. In Silico Identification of Novel microRNAs and Targets Using EST Analysis in Allium cepa L. Interdiscip Sci 2017; 10:771-780. [PMID: 28660536 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-017-0240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are a newly discovered class of non-coding small RNAs roughly 22 nucleotides long. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs play multiple roles in biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, apoptosis and stress responses. The identification of miRNAs and their targets is an important need to understand their roles in the development and physiology of sweet onion (Allium cepa). In this research, several computational approaches were combined to make concise prediction of the potential miRNAs and their targets. We used previously known miRNAs from other plant species against Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) database to search for the potential miRNAs. As a result, nine potential miRNAs were identified in eight ESTs of A. cepa, belonging to eight families. We could further BLAST the mRNA database and found total 154 number of the potential targets in A. cepa based on these potential miRNAs. According to the mRNA target information provided by NCBI, most of the target mRNAs appeared to be involved in plant growth, signal transduction, development, and stress responses. Gene ontology (GO) analysis implicated these targets in 32 biological processes such as protein ubiquitination, plant hormone signalling pathways and heme biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meysam Bastami
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, 34149, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Shahnoush Nayeri
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of New Technologies and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, 19839, Tehran, Iran
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50
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Alptekin B, Langridge P, Budak H. Abiotic stress miRNomes in the Triticeae. Funct Integr Genomics 2017; 17:145-170. [PMID: 27665284 PMCID: PMC5383695 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-016-0525-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The continued growth in world population necessitates increases in both the quantity and quality of agricultural production. Triticeae members, particularly wheat and barley, make an important contribution to world food reserves by providing rich sources of carbohydrate and protein. These crops are grown over diverse production environments that are characterized by a range of environmental or abiotic stresses. Abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, or nutrient deficiencies and toxicities cause large yield losses resulting in economic and environmental damage. The negative effects of abiotic stresses have increased at an alarming rate in recent years and are predicted to further deteriorate due to climate change, land degradation, and declining water supply. New technologies have provided an important tool with great potential for improving crop tolerance to the abiotic stresses: microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are small regulators of gene expression that act on many different molecular and biochemical processes such as development, environmental adaptation, and stress tolerance. miRNAs can act at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, although post-transcriptional regulation is the most common in plants where miRNAs can inhibit the translation of their mRNA targets via complementary binding and cleavage. To date, expression of several miRNA families such as miR156, miR159, and miR398 has been detected as responsive to environmental conditions to regulate stress-associated molecular mechanisms individually and/or together with their various miRNA partners. Manipulation of these miRNAs and their targets may pave the way to improve crop performance under several abiotic stresses. Here, we summarize the current status of our knowledge on abiotic stress-associated miRNAs in members of the Triticeae tribe, specifically in wheat and barley, and the miRNA-based regulatory mechanisms triggered by stress conditions. Exploration of further miRNA families together with their functions under stress will improve our knowledge and provide opportunities to enhance plant performance to help us meet global food demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Alptekin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Peter Langridge
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hikmet Budak
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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