Expanding the repertoire of secretory peptides controlling root development with comparative genome analysis and functional assays

Super-resolution ribosome profiling reveals unannotated translation events in Arabidopsis

Deep sequencing of ribosome footprints (ribosome profiling) maps and quantifies mRNA translation. Because ribosomes decode mRNA every 3 nt, the periodic property of ribosome footprints could be used to identify novel translated ORFs. However, due to the limited resolution of existing methods, the 3-nt periodicity is observed mostly in a global analysis, but not in individual transcripts. Here, we report a protocol applied to Arabidopsis that maps over 90% of the footprints to the main reading frame and thus offers super-resolution profiles for individual transcripts to precisely define translated regions. The resulting data not only support many annotated and predicted noncanonical translation events but also uncover small ORFs in annotated noncoding RNAs and pseudogenes. A substantial number of these unannotated ORFs are evolutionarily conserved, and some produce stable proteins. Thus, our study provides a valuable resource for plant genomics and an efficient optimization strategy for ribosome profiling in other organisms.

The SBT6.1 subtilase processes the GOLVEN1 peptide controlling cell elongation

The GOLVEN (GLV) gene family encode small secreted peptides involved in important plant developmental programs. Little is known about the factors required for the production of the mature bioactive GLV peptides. Through a genetic suppressor screen in Arabidopsis thaliana, two related subtilase genes, AtSBT6.1 and AtSBT6.2, were identified that are necessary for GLV1 activity. Root and hypocotyl GLV1 overexpression phenotypes were suppressed by mutations in either of the subtilase genes. Synthetic GLV-derived peptides were cleaved in vitro by the affinity-purified SBT6.1 catalytic enzyme, confirming that the GLV1 precursor is a direct subtilase substrate, and the elimination of the in vitro subtilase recognition sites through alanine substitution suppressed the GLV1 gain-of-function phenotype in vivo Furthermore, the protease inhibitor Serpin1 bound to SBT6.1 and inhibited the cleavage of GLV1 precursors by the protease. GLV1 and its homolog GLV2 were expressed in the outer cell layers of the hypocotyl, preferentially in regions of rapid cell elongation. In agreement with the SBT6 role in GLV precursor processing, both null mutants for sbt6.1 and sbt6.2 and the Serpin1 overexpression plants had shorter hypocotyls. The biosynthesis of the GLV signaling peptides required subtilase activity and might be regulated by specific protease inhibitors. The data fit with a model in which the GLV1 signaling pathway participates in the regulation of hypocotyl cell elongation, is controlled by SBT6 subtilases, and is modulated locally by the Serpin1 protease inhibitor.

CLAVATA 1-type receptors in plant development

A fundamental aspect of plant development is the coordination of growth through endogenous signals and its integration with environmental inputs. Similar to animals, plants frequently use cell surface-localized receptors to monitor such stimuli, for instance through plasma membrane-integral receptor-like kinases (RLKs). Compared to other organisms, plants possess a large number of RLKs (more than 600 in Arabidopsis thaliana), which implies that ligand-receptor-mediated molecular mechanisms regulate a wide range of processes during plant development. Here, we focus on A. thaliana RLKs of the CLAVATA 1 (CLV1) type, which orchestrate key steps during plant development, including the regulation of meristem maintenance, anther development, vascular tissue formation, and root system architecture. These receptors are regulated by small signalling peptides that belong to the family of CLE (CLV3 / EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION) ligands. We discuss different aspects of plant development that are regulated by these receptors in light of their molecular mechanism of action. As so often, the intensive research on this group of plant RLKs has raised many intriguing questions, which remain to be answered.

The CLE gene family in Populus trichocarpa

The CLE (CLAVATA3/Embryo Surrounding Region-related) peptides are small secreted signaling peptides that are primarily involved in the regulation of stem cell homeostasis in different plant meristems. Particularly, the characterization of the CLE41-PXY/TDR signaling pathway has greatly advanced our understanding on the potential roles of CLE peptides in vascular development and wood formation. Nevertheless, our knowledge on this gene family in a tree species is limited. In a recent study, we reported on a systematically investigation of the CLE gene family in Populus trichocarpa. The potential roles of PtCLE genes were studied by comparative analysis and transcriptional profiling. Among fifty PtCLE members, many PtCLE proteins share identical CLE motifs or contain the same CLE motif as that of AtCLEs, while PtCLE genes exhibited either comparable or distinct expression patterns comparing to their Arabidopsis counterparts. These findings indicate the existence of both functional conservation and functional divergence between PtCLEs and their AtCLE orthologues. Our results provide valuable resources for future functional investigations of these critical signaling molecules in woody plants.