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Liu Z, Xia Q, Cai J, Wang Z, Yang K, Chen D, Wei J, Chen C, Liu C, Chang W, Li Z, Li X, Yang Y, Yang L, Tan X. Nitrogen Fertilizers Affect Microbial Hitchhiking to the Plant Roots. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:4639-4648. [PMID: 38377485 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07623] [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: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The phenomenon of microbial hitchhiking, where nonmotile microbes utilize transspecies motility to navigate within their environment, has been observed. However, the underlying factors driving microbial hitchhiking remain unclear. Our study explored how nitrogen fertilizers affect microbial hitchhiking in soil through an in situ planting experiment. We established twelve treatments encompassing the presence and absence of plants, the presence and absence of a filter membrane that is used to prevent hitchhiking, and three nitrogen levels. Results showed that nitrogen influenced bacterial diversity in all soils, an effect thwarted by filter membranes. In the presence of plants, nitrogen significantly affected the bacterial mobility, Bacillus abundance, and plant biomass, but these effects vanished when filters were used. The correlation between motile Bacillus and rhizosphere bacteria was strong without filters at the proper nitrogen levels but weakened with membrane treatments. Thus, plants and nitrogen together, not nitrogen alone, alter the soil microbiome via hitchhiking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Qini Xia
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Jing Cai
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ziyuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Kexin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Dixu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Jiahong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Cun Chen
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
- College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Wei Chang
- Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Variety Improvement Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province/Horticulture Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Variety Improvement Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province/Horticulture Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Xufeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Variety Improvement Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province/Horticulture Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Xiao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
- College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
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Kishino H, Nakamichi R, Kitada S. Genetic adaptations in the population history of Arabidopsis thaliana. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad218. [PMID: 37748020 PMCID: PMC10700115 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
A population encounters a variety of environmental stresses, so the full source of its resilience can only be captured by collecting all the signatures of adaptation to the selection of the local environment in its population history. Based on the multiomic data of Arabidopsis thaliana, we constructed a database of phenotypic adaptations (p-adaptations) and gene expression (e-adaptations) adaptations in the population. Through the enrichment analysis of the identified adaptations, we inferred a likely scenario of adaptation that is consistent with the biological evidence from experimental work. We analyzed the dynamics of the allele frequencies at the 23,880 QTLs of 174 traits and 8,618 eQTLs of 1,829 genes with respect to the total SNPs in the genomes and identified 650 p-adaptations and 3,925 e-adaptations [false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.05]. The population underwent large-scale p-adaptations and e-adaptations along 4 lineages. Extremely cold winters and short summers prolonged seed dormancy and expanded the root system architecture. Low temperatures prolonged the growing season, and low light intensity required the increased chloroplast activity. The subtropical and humid environment enhanced phytohormone signaling pathways in response to the biotic and abiotic stresses. Exposure to heavy metals selected alleles for lower heavy metal uptake from soil, lower growth rate, lower resistance to bacteria, and higher expression of photosynthetic genes were selected. The p-adaptations are directly interpretable, while the coadapted gene expressions reflect the physiological requirements for the adaptation. The integration of this information characterizes when and where the population has experienced environmental stress and how the population responded at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohisa Kishino
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Research and Development Initiative, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Reiichiro Nakamichi
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kitada
- Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
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Busoms S, Pérez-Martín L, Terés J, Huang XY, Yant L, Tolrà R, Salt DE, Poschenrieder C. Combined genomics to discover genes associated with tolerance to soil carbonate. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:3986-3998. [PMID: 37565316 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Carbonate-rich soils limit plant performance and crop production. Previously, local adaptation to carbonated soils was detected in wild Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, allowing the selection of two demes with contrasting phenotypes: A1 (carbonate tolerant, c+) and T6 (carbonate sensitive, c-). Here, A1(c+) and T6(c - ) seedlings were grown hydroponically under control (pH 5.9) and bicarbonate conditions (10 mM NaHCO3 , pH 8.3) to obtain ionomic profiles and conduct transcriptomic analysis. In parallel, A1(c+) and T6(c - ) parental lines and their progeny were cultivated on carbonated soil to evaluate fitness and segregation patterns. To understand the genetic architecture beyond the contrasted phenotypes, a bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-Seq) was performed. Transcriptomics revealed 208 root and 2503 leaf differentially expressed genes in A1(c+) versus T6(c - ) comparison under bicarbonate stress, mainly involved in iron, nitrogen and carbon metabolism, hormones and glycosylates biosynthesis. Based on A1(c+) and T6(c - ) genome contrasts and BSA-Seq analysis, 69 genes were associated with carbonate tolerance. Comparative analysis of genomics and transcriptomics discovered a final set of 18 genes involved in bicarbonate stress responses that may have relevant roles in soil carbonate tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Busoms
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Pérez-Martín
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joana Terés
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xin-Yuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Levi Yant
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence & School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Roser Tolrà
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David E Salt
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence & School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton, UK
| | - Charlotte Poschenrieder
- Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Busoms S, Fischer S, Yant L. Chasing the mechanisms of ecologically adaptive salinity tolerance. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100571. [PMID: 36883005 PMCID: PMC10721451 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants adapted to challenging environments offer fascinating models of evolutionary change. Importantly, they also give information to meet our pressing need to develop resilient, low-input crops. With mounting environmental fluctuation-including temperature, rainfall, and soil salinity and degradation-this is more urgent than ever. Happily, solutions are hiding in plain sight: the adaptive mechanisms from natural adapted populations, once understood, can then be leveraged. Much recent insight has come from the study of salinity, a widespread factor limiting productivity, with estimates of 20% of all cultivated lands affected. This is an expanding problem, given increasing climate volatility, rising sea levels, and poor irrigation practices. We therefore highlight recent benchmark studies of ecologically adaptive salt tolerance in plants, assessing macro- and microevolutionary mechanisms, and the recently recognized role of ploidy and the microbiome on salinity adaptation. We synthesize insight specifically on naturally evolved adaptive salt-tolerance mechanisms, as these works move substantially beyond traditional mutant or knockout studies, to show how evolution can nimbly "tweak" plant physiology to optimize function. We then point to future directions to advance this field that intersect evolutionary biology, abiotic-stress tolerance, breeding, and molecular plant physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Busoms
- Plant Physiology Laboratory, Bioscience Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona E-08193, Spain
| | - Sina Fischer
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Levi Yant
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
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Eckardt NA, Ainsworth EA, Bahuguna RN, Broadley MR, Busch W, Carpita NC, Castrillo G, Chory J, DeHaan LR, Duarte CM, Henry A, Jagadish SVK, Langdale JA, Leakey ADB, Liao JC, Lu KJ, McCann MC, McKay JK, Odeny DA, Jorge de Oliveira E, Platten JD, Rabbi I, Rim EY, Ronald PC, Salt DE, Shigenaga AM, Wang E, Wolfe M, Zhang X. Climate change challenges, plant science solutions. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:24-66. [PMID: 36222573 PMCID: PMC9806663 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century, and this decade is a critical time for action to mitigate the worst effects on human populations and ecosystems. Plant science can play an important role in developing crops with enhanced resilience to harsh conditions (e.g. heat, drought, salt stress, flooding, disease outbreaks) and engineering efficient carbon-capturing and carbon-sequestering plants. Here, we present examples of research being conducted in these areas and discuss challenges and open questions as a call to action for the plant science community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- USDA ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Rajeev N Bahuguna
- Centre for Advanced Studies on Climate Change, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur 848125, Bihar, India
| | - Martin R Broadley
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Wolfgang Busch
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Nicholas C Carpita
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - Gabriel Castrillo
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Joanne Chory
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | | | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amelia Henry
- International Rice Research Institute, Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - S V Krishna Jagadish
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79410, USA
| | - Jane A Langdale
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Andrew D B Leakey
- Department of Plant Biology, Department of Crop Sciences, and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - James C Liao
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11528, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Jen Lu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11528, Taiwan
| | - Maureen C McCann
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA
| | - John K McKay
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Damaris A Odeny
- The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics–Eastern and Southern Africa, Gigiri 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - J Damien Platten
- International Rice Research Institute, Rice Breeding Innovations Platform, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines
| | - Ismail Rabbi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320 Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Ellen Youngsoo Rim
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Pamela C Ronald
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, California 94704, USA
| | - David E Salt
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Future Food Beacon of Excellence, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Alexandra M Shigenaga
- Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Ertao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Marnin Wolfe
- Auburn University, Dept. of Crop Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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Amolegbe SM, Lopez AR, Velasco ML, Carlin DJ, Heacock ML, Henry HF, Trottier BA, Suk WA. Adapting to Climate Change: Leveraging Systems-Focused Multidisciplinary Research to Promote Resilience. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14674. [PMID: 36429393 PMCID: PMC9690097 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 2000 official and potential Superfund sites are located within 25 miles of the East or Gulf coasts, many of which will be at risk of flooding as sea levels rise. More than 60 million people across the United States live within 3 miles of a Superfund site. Disentangling multifaceted environmental health problems compounded by climate change requires a multidisciplinary systems approach to inform better strategies to prevent or reduce exposures and protect human health. The purpose of this minireview is to present the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (SRP) as a useful model of how this systems approach can help overcome the challenges of climate change while providing flexibility to pivot to additional needs as they arise. It also highlights broad-ranging SRP-funded research and tools that can be used to promote health and resilience to climate change in diverse contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Amolegbe
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | | | | | - Danielle J. Carlin
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Michelle L. Heacock
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Heather F. Henry
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Brittany A. Trottier
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - William A. Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
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Huang XY, Hu DW, Zhao FJ. Molybdenum: More than an essential element. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1766-1774. [PMID: 34864981 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential element for almost all living organisms. After being taken up into the cells as molybdate, it is incorporated into the molybdenum cofactor, which functions as the active site of several molybdenum-requiring enzymes and thus plays crucial roles in multiple biological processes. The uptake and transport of molybdate is mainly mediated by two types of molybdate transporters. The homeostasis of Mo in plant cells is tightly controlled, and such homeostasis likely plays vital roles in plant adaptation to local environments. Recent evidence suggests that Mo is more than an essential element required for plant growth and development; it is also involved in local adaptation to coastal salinity. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on molybdate uptake and transport, molybdenum homeostasis network in plants, and discuss the potential roles of the molybdate transporter in plant adaptation to their local environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Da-Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Perea-García A, Andrés-Bordería A, Huijser P, Peñarrubia L. The Copper-microRNA Pathway Is Integrated with Developmental and Environmental Stress Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9547. [PMID: 34502449 PMCID: PMC8430956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As an essential nutrient, copper (Cu) scarcity causes a decrease in agricultural production. Cu deficiency responses include the induction of several microRNAs, known as Cu-miRNAs, which are responsible for degrading mRNAs from abundant and dispensable cuproproteins to economize copper when scarce. Cu-miRNAs, such as miR398 and miR408 are conserved, as well as the signal transduction pathway to induce them under Cu deficiency. The Arabidopsis thaliana SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) family member SPL7 binds to the cis-regulatory motifs present in the promoter regions of genes expressed under Cu deficiency, including Cu-miRNAs. The expression of several other SPL transcription factor family members is regulated by miR156. This regulatory miR156-SPL module plays a crucial role in developmental phase transitions while integrating internal and external cues. Here, we show that Cu deficiency also affects miR156 expression and that SPL3 overexpressing plants, resistant to miR156 regulation, show a severe decrease in SPL7-mediated Cu deficiency responses. These include the expression of Cu-miRNAs and their targets and is probably due to competition between SPL7 and miR156-regulated SPL3 in binding to cis-regulatory elements in Cu-miRNA promoters. Thus, the conserved SPL7-mediated Cu-miRNA pathway could generally be affected by the miR156-SPL module, thereby underscoring the integration of the Cu-miRNA pathway with developmental and environmental stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Perea-García
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-G.); (A.A.-B.)
| | - Amparo Andrés-Bordería
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-G.); (A.A.-B.)
| | - Peter Huijser
- Department of Comparative Development and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Lola Peñarrubia
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-G.); (A.A.-B.)
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