Non-specificity of ethylene inhibitors: 'double-edged' tools to find out new targets involved in the root morphogenetic programme

Crosstalk Between Ethylene and Abscisic Acid During Changes in Soil Water Content Reveals a New Role for 1-Aminocyclopropane-1- Carboxylate in Coffee Anthesis Regulation

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) presents an asynchronous flowering regulated by an endogenous and environmental stimulus, and anthesis occurs once plants are rehydrated after a period of water deficit. We evaluated the evolution of Abscisic Acid (ABA), ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) content, ACC oxidase (ACO) activity, and expression analysis of the Lysine Histidine Transporter 1 (LHT1) transporter, in the roots, leaves, and flower buds from three coffee genotypes (C. arabica L. cv Oeiras, Acauã, and Semperflorens) cultivated under field conditions with two experiments. In a third field experiment, the effect of the exogenous supply of ACC in coffee anthesis was evaluated. We found an increased ACC level, low ACO activity, decreased level of ethylene, and a decreased level of ABA in all tissues from the three coffee genotypes in the re-watering period just before anthesis, and a high expression of the LHT1 in flower buds and leaves. The ethylene content and ACO activity decreased from rainy to dry period whereas the ABA content increased. A higher number of opened and G6 stage flower buds were observed in the treatment with exogenous ACC. The results showed that the interaction of ABA-ACO-ethylene and intercellular ACC transport among the leaves, buds, and roots in coffee favors an increased level of ACC that is most likely, involved as a modulator in coffee anthesis. This study provides evidence that ACC can play an important role independently of ethylene in the anthesis process in a perennial crop.

Sexual Reproduction via a 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid-Dependent Pathway Through Redox Modulation in the Marine Red Alga Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta)

The transition from the vegetative to sexually reproductive phase is the most dynamic change to occur during a plant's life cycle. In the present study, we showed that the ethylene precursor 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) induces sexual reproduction in the marine red alga Pyropia yezoensis independently from ethylene. Exogenous application of ACC, which contains a three membered carbocyclic ring, promoted the formation of spermatia and carporspores in gametophytes, whereas ethephon, an ethylene-releasing compound, did not stimulate sexual reproduction. In addition, an ACC analog, 1-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid (ACBC), which contains a four membered carbocyclic ring, promoted sexual reproduction and enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress in the same manner as ACC, but 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (cycloleucine; which contains a cyclopentane ring) did not. The application of ACC increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced the expression of PyRboh gene encoding NADPH oxidase. ACC also stimulated the synthesis of ascorbate (AsA) by inducing transcripts of PyGalLDH, which encodes galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase, the catalyst for the final enzymatic step of the AsA biosynthetic pathway. Conversely, ACC caused a decrease in the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) by repressing transcripts of PyGCL, which encodes glutamate cysteine ligase, the catalyst for the rate-limiting step in the formation of GSH. These results suggest a possible role played by ACC as a signaling molecule independent from ethylene in the regulation of sexual reproduction through alterations to the redox state in P. yezoensis.

Inhibition of Aminotransferases by Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Triggers a Nitrogen Limitation Condition and Deregulation of Histidine Homeostasis That Impact Root and Shoot Development and Nitrate Uptake

Background and Aims: Although AVG (aminoethoxyvinylglycine) is intensely used to decipher signaling in ethylene/indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) interactions on root morphogenesis, AVG is not a specific inhibitor of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) and tryptophan aminotransferase (TAA) and tryptophan aminotransferase related (TAR) activities since it is able to inhibit several aminotransferases involved in N metabolism. Indeed, 1 mM glutamate (Glu) supply to the roots in plants treated with 10 μM AVG partially restores the root growth. Here, we highlight the changes induced by AVG and AVG + Glu treatments on the N metabolism impairment and root morphogenetic program. Methods: Root nitrate uptake induced by AVG and AVG + Glu treatments was measured by a differential labeling with 15NO3 - and 15Nglutamate. In parallel a profiling of amino acids (AA) was performed to decipher the impairment of AA metabolism. Key Results: 10 μM AVG treatment increases K15NO3 uptake and 15N translocation during root growth inhibition whereas 10 μM AVG + 1 mM 15Nglutamate treatment inhibits K15NO3 uptake and increases 15Nglutamate uptake during partial root growth restoration. This is explained by a nitrogen (N) limitation condition induced by AVG treatment and a N excess condition induced by AVG + Glu treatment. AA levels were mainly impaired by AVG treatment in roots, where levels of Ser, Thr, α-Ala, β-Ala, Val, Asn and His were significantly increased. His was the only amino acid for which no restoration was observed in roots and shoots after glutamate treatment suggesting important control of His homeostasis on aminotransferase network. Results were discussed in light of recent findings on the interconnection between His homeostasis and the general amino acid control system (GAAC) in eukaryotes. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that AVG concentration above 5 μM is a powerful pharmacological tool for unraveling the involvement of GAAC system or new N sensory system in morphological and metabolic changes of the roots in leguminous and non-leguminous plants.

Selenium downregulates auxin and ethylene biosynthesis in rice seedlings to modify primary metabolism and root architecture

Selenium modulates the formation of primary and lateral roots through alterations in auxin and ethylene, leading to new patterns of root architecture in rice seedlings. Selenium (Se) at low concentrations can control root growth through interaction with hormone biosynthesis. Auxin and ethylene have been shown to control the root architecture, with most of the information obtained from the eudicots such Arabidopsis and Nicotiana tabacum. Here, we presented the effects of Se on auxin and ethylene pathways and examined their impact on primary metabolism and root system architecture in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. Se treatment increased elongation of primary root, but decreased the number and length of lateral roots. Se led to decreased expression of genes associated with the biosynthesis of auxin and ethylene, concomitantly with reduced production of these hormones by the roots. Moreover, Se decreased the abundance of transcripts encoding auxin transport proteins. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatment overrode the repressive effect of Se on lateral root growth. The ethylene synthesis inhibitor L-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)-glycine (AVG) increased elongation of primary root, whereas the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) resulted in the opposite effect. Soluble sugars accumulate in roots of rice seedlings under Se treatment. Thus, Se modulates the formation of primary and lateral roots through alterations in auxin and ethylene, leading to new patterns of root architecture in rice seedlings.

AtDAT1 Is a Key Enzyme of D-Amino Acid Stimulated Ethylene Production in Arabidopsis thaliana

D-Enantiomers of proteinogenic amino acids (D-AAs) are found ubiquitously, but the knowledge about their metabolism and functions in plants is scarce. A long forgotten phenomenon in this regard is the D-AA-stimulated ethylene production in plants. As a starting point to investigate this effect, the Arabidopsis accession Landsberg erecta (Ler) got into focus as it was found defective in metabolizing D-AAs. Combining genetics and molecular biology of T-DNA insertion lines and natural variants together with biochemical and physiological approaches, we could identify AtDAT1 as a major D-AA transaminase in Arabidopsis. Atdat1 loss-of-function mutants and Arabidopsis accessions with defective AtDAT1 alleles were unable to produce the metabolites of D-Met, D-Ala, D-Glu, and L-Met. This result corroborates the biochemical characterization, which showed highest activity of AtDAT1 using D-Met as a substrate. Germination of seedlings in light and dark led to enhanced growth inhibition of atdat1 mutants on D-Met. Ethylene measurements revealed an increased D-AA stimulated ethylene production in these mutants. According to initial working models of this phenomenon, D-Met is preferentially malonylated instead of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). This decrease of ACC degradation should then lead to the increase of ethylene production. We could observe a reciprocal relation of malonylated methionine and ACC upon D-Met application and significantly more malonyl-methionine in atdat1 mutants. Unexpectedly, the malonyl-ACC levels did not differ between mutants and wild type. With AtDAT1, the first central enzyme of plant D-AA metabolism was characterized biochemically and physiologically. The specific effects of D-Met on ACC metabolism, ethylene production, and plant development of dat1 mutants unraveled the impact of AtDAT1 on these processes; however, they are not in full accordance to previous working models. Instead, our results imply the influence of additional factors or processes on D-AA-stimulated ethylene production, which await to be uncovered.

Regulation of seedling growth by ethylene and the ethylene-auxin crosstalk

This review highlights that the auxin gradient, established by local auxin biosynthesis and transport, can be controlled by ethylene, and steers seedling growth. A better understanding of the mechanisms in Arabidopsis will increase potential applications in crop species. In dark-grown Arabidopsis seedlings, exogenous ethylene treatment triggers an exaggeration of the apical hook, the inhibition of both hypocotyl and root elongation, and radial swelling of the hypocotyl. These features are predominantly based on the differential cell elongation in different cells/tissues mediated by an auxin gradient. Interestingly, the physiological responses regulated by ethylene and auxin crosstalk can be either additive or synergistic, as in primary root and root hair elongation, or antagonistic, as in hypocotyl elongation. This review focuses on the crosstalk of these two hormones at the seedling stage. Before illustrating the crosstalk, ethylene and auxin biosynthesis, metabolism, transport and signaling are briefly discussed.

Fine-tuning of root elongation by ethylene: a tool to study dynamic structure-function relationships between root architecture and nitrate absorption

Background Recently developed genetic and pharmacological approaches have been used to explore NO3-/ethylene signalling interactions and how the modifications in root architecture by pharmacological modulation of ethylene biosynthesis affect nitrate uptake. Key Results Structure-function studies combined with recent approaches to chemical genomics highlight the non-specificity of commonly used inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis such as AVG (l-aminoethoxyvinylglycine). Indeed, AVG inhibits aminotransferases such as ACC synthase (ACS) and tryptophan aminotransferase (TAA) involved in ethylene and auxin biosynthesis but also some aminotransferases implied in nitrogen (N) metabolism. In this framework, it can be assumed that the products of nitrate assimilation and hormones may interact through a hub in carbon (C) and N metabolism to drive the root morphogenetic programme (RMP). Although ethylene/auxin interactions play a major role in cell division and elongation in root meristems, shaping of the root system depends also on energetic considerations. Based on this finding, the analysis is extended to nutrient ion-hormone interactions assuming a fractal or constructal model for root development. Conclusion Therefore, the tight control of root structure-function in the RMP may explain why over-expressing nitrate transporter genes to decouple structure-function relationships and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has been unsuccessful.