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Ghimire S, Hasan MM, Fang XW. Small ubiquitin-like modifiers E3 ligases in plant stress. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2024; 51:FP24032. [PMID: 38669463 DOI: 10.1071/fp24032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Plants regularly encounter various environmental stresses such as salt, drought, cold, heat, heavy metals and pathogens, leading to changes in their proteome. Of these, a post-translational modification, SUMOylation is particularly significant for its extensive involvement in regulating various plant molecular processes to counteract these external stressors. Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO) protein modification significantly contributes to various plant functions, encompassing growth, development and response to environmental stresses. The SUMO system has a limited number of ligases even in fully sequenced plant genomes but SUMO E3 ligases are pivotal in recognising substrates during the process of SUMOylation. E3 ligases play pivotal roles in numerous biological and developmental processes in plants, including DNA repair, photomorphogenesis, phytohormone signalling and responses to abiotic and biotic stress. A considerable number of targets for E3 ligases are proteins implicated in reactions to abiotic and biotic stressors. This review sheds light on how plants respond to environmental stresses by focusing on recent findings on the role of SUMO E3 ligases, contributing to a better understanding of how plants react at a molecular level to such stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantwana Ghimire
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Md Mahadi Hasan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Xiang-Wen Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
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2
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Xu X, Fonseca de Lima CF, Vu LD, De Smet I. When drought meets heat - a plant omics perspective. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1250878. [PMID: 37674736 PMCID: PMC10478009 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1250878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Changes in weather patterns with emerging drought risks and rising global temperature are widespread and negatively affect crop growth and productivity. In nature, plants are simultaneously exposed to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, but most studies focus on individual stress conditions. However, the simultaneous occurrence of different stresses impacts plant growth and development differently than a single stress. Plants sense the different stress combinations in the same or in different tissues, which could induce specific systemic signalling and acclimation responses; impacting different stress-responsive transcripts, protein abundance and modifications, and metabolites. This mini-review focuses on the combination of drought and heat, two abiotic stress conditions that often occur together. Recent omics studies indicate common or independent regulators involved in heat or drought stress responses. Here, we summarize the current research results, highlight gaps in our knowledge, and flag potential future focus areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Xu
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cassio Flavio Fonseca de Lima
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lam Dai Vu
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ive De Smet
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Kim JY, Lee SJ, Min WK, Cha S, Song JT, Seo HS. COP1 mutation causes low leaf temperature under various abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT DIRECT 2022; 6:e473. [PMID: 36545005 PMCID: PMC9763638 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Stomata are microscopic pores on epidermal cells of leaves and stems that regulate water loss and gas exchange between the plant and its environment. Constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is involved in plant growth and development and multiple abiotic stress responses by regulating the stability of various target proteins. However, little is known about how COP1 controls stomatal aperture and leaf temperature under various environmental conditions. Here, we show that COP1 participates in leaf temperature and stomatal closure regulation under normal and stress conditions in Arabidopsis. Leaf temperature of cop1 mutants was relatively lower than that of wild type (WT) under drought, salt, and heat stress and after abscisic acid (ABA), CaCl2, and H2O2 treatments. However, leaf temperature was generally higher in both WT and cop1 mutants after abiotic stress and chemical treatment than that of untreated WT and cop1 mutants. Stomatal aperture was wider in cop1 mutants than that in WT under all conditions tested, although the extent of stomatal closure varied between WT and cop1 mutants. Under dark conditions, leaf temperature was also lower in cop1 mutants than that in WT. Expression of the genes encoding ABA receptors, ABA biosynthesis proteins, positive regulators of stomatal closure and heat tolerance, and ABA-responsive proteins was lower in cop1 mutants that that in WT. In addition, expression of respiration-related genes was lower in cop1 mutants that that in WT. Taken together, the data provide evidence that mutations in COP1 lead to wider stomatal aperture and higher leaf temperature under normal and stress conditions, indicating that leaf temperature is highly correlated with stomatal aperture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Yong Kim
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
| | - Seung Ju Lee
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
| | - Wang Ki Min
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
| | - Seoyeon Cha
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
| | - Jong Tae Song
- Department of Applied BiosciencesKyungpook National UniversityDaeguSouth Korea
| | - Hak Soo Seo
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life SciencesSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
- Bio‐MAX InstituteSeoul National UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
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4
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Understanding SUMO-mediated adaptive responses in plants to improve crop productivity. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:155-168. [PMID: 35920279 PMCID: PMC9400072 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20210068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The response to abiotic and biotic stresses in plants and crops is considered a multifaceted process. Due to their sessile nature, plants have evolved unique mechanisms to ensure that developmental plasticity remains during their life cycle. Among these mechanisms, post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial components of adaptive responses in plants and transduce environmental stimuli into cellular signalling through the modulation of proteins. SUMOylation is an emerging PTM that has received recent attention due to its dynamic role in protein modification and has quickly been considered a significant component of adaptive mechanisms in plants during stress with great potential for agricultural improvement programs. In the present review, we outline the concept that small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-mediated response in plants and crops to abiotic and biotic stresses is a multifaceted process with each component of the SUMO cycle facilitating tolerance to several different environmental stresses. We also highlight the clear increase in SUMO genes in crops when compared with Arabidopsis thaliana. The SUMO system is understudied in crops, given the importance of SUMO for stress responses, and for some SUMO genes, the apparent expansion provides new avenues to discover SUMO-conjugated targets that could regulate beneficial agronomical traits.
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5
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Li X, Zhou S, Liu Z, Lu L, Dang H, Li H, Chu B, Chen P, Ma Z, Zhao S, Li Z, van Nocker S, Ma F, Guan Q. Fine-tuning of SUMOylation modulates drought tolerance of apple. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:903-919. [PMID: 34978131 PMCID: PMC9055824 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
SUMOylation is involved in various aspects of plant biology, including drought stress. However, the relationship between SUMOylation and drought stress tolerance is complex; whether SUMOylation has a crosstalk with ubiquitination in response to drought stress remains largely unclear. In this study, we found that both increased and decreased SUMOylation led to increased survival of apple (Malus × domestica) under drought stress: both transgenic MdSUMO2A overexpressing (OE) plants and MdSUMO2 RNAi plants exhibited enhanced drought tolerance. We further confirmed that MdDREB2A is one of the MdSUMO2 targets. Both transgenic MdDREB2A OE and MdDREB2AK192R OE plants (which lacked the key site of SUMOylation by MdSUMO2A) were more drought tolerant than wild-type plants. However, MdDREB2AK192R OE plants had a much higher survival rate than MdDREB2A OE plants. We further showed SUMOylated MdDREB2A was conjugated with ubiquitin by MdRNF4 under drought stress, thereby triggering its protein degradation. In addition, MdRNF4 RNAi plants were more tolerant to drought stress. These results revealed the molecular mechanisms that underlie the relationship of SUMOylation with drought tolerance and provided evidence for the tight control of MdDREB2A accumulation under drought stress mediated by SUMOylation and ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Shuangxi Zhou
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversityNorth RydeNSWAustralia
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Liyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Huan Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Huimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Baohua Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Pengxiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Ziqing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Shuang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Zhongxing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Steve van Nocker
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Fengwang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Qingmei Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AppleCollege of HorticultureNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
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Kim JY, Song JT, Seo HS. Ammonium-mediated reduction in salicylic acid content and recovery of plant growth in Arabidopsis siz1 mutants is modulated by NDR1 and NPR1. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2021; 16:1928819. [PMID: 33989128 PMCID: PMC8281091 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1928819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The siz1 mutants exhibit high SA accumulation and consequently severe dwarfism. Although siz1 mutants exhibit growth recovery upon exogenous ammonium supply, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of ammonium on SA level and plant growth in SA-accumulating mutants. The growth of siz1-2 and siz1-3 mutants was recovered to wild-type (WT) levels upon exogenous ammonium supply, but that of siz1-3 ndr1 (non-race-specific disease resistance 1) and siz1-3 npr1 (non-expressor of pathogenesis related gene 1) double mutants was unaffected. The SA level was decreased by exogenous ammonium application in siz1-3 ndr1, siz1-3 npr1, and siz1-3 mutants. The level of nitrate reductase (NR) was almost the same in all genotypes (WT, siz1-3, ndr1, npr1, siz1-3 ndr1, and siz1-3 npr1), regardless of the ammonium treatment, suggesting that exogenous ammonium supply to ndr1 siz1-3 and npr1 siz1-3 double mutants does not have any effect on their growth and NR levels, but decreases the SA level. Taken together, these results indicate that ammonium acts as a signaling molecule to regulate the SA amount, and NDR1 and NPR1 play a positive role in the ammonium-mediated growth recovery of siz1 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Yong Kim
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Tae Song
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Hak Soo Seo
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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E3 SUMO ligase AtSIZ1 regulates the cruciferin content of Arabidopsis seeds. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 519:761-766. [PMID: 31547986 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.09.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana E3 SUMO ligase SIZ1 (AtSIZ1) controls vegetative growth and development, including responses to nutrient deficiency and environmental stresses. Here, we analyzed the effect of AtSIZ1 and its E3 SUMO ligase activity on the amount of seed proteins. Proteomic analysis showed that the level of three major nutrient reservoir proteins, CRUCIFERIN1 (CRU1), CRU2, and CRU3, was reduced in the siz1-2 mutant compared with the wild type. However, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that transcript levels of CRU1, CRU2, and CRU3 genes were significantly higher in the siz1-2 mutant than in the wild type. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed direct interaction of AtSIZ1 with CRU1, CRU2, and CRU3. The sumoylation assay revealed that CRU2, and CRU3 proteins were modified with a small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) by the E3 SUMO ligase activity of AtSIZ1. Additionally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the amino acid content was slightly higher in siz1-2 mutant seeds than in wild type seeds. Taken together, our data indicate that AtSIZ1 plays an important role in the accumulation and stability of seed storage proteins through its E3 ligase activity.
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Rosa MT, Abreu IA. Exploring the regulatory levels of SUMOylation to increase crop productivity. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 49:43-51. [PMID: 31177030 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
SUMOylation is an essential post-translational modification that affects several cellular processes, from gene replication to stress response. Studies using the SUMO (de)conjugation machinery have provided evidence regarding its potential to improve crop performance and productivity under normal and adverse conditions. However, the pleiotropic effect of SUMOylation can be a disadvantage in both situations, especially when considering unpredictable environmental conditions caused by climate changes. Here, we discuss the pleiotropic effects caused by disrupting the SUMOylation machinery, and new strategies that may help to overcome pleiotropy. We propose exploring the several regulatory levels of SUMOylation recently revealed, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional regulation by alternative splicing, and post-translational modifications. These new findings may provide valuable tools to increase crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Tg Rosa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Isabel A Abreu
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Av. da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal.
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9
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Barua P, Lande NV, Subba P, Gayen D, Pinto S, Keshava Prasad TS, Chakraborty S, Chakraborty N. Dehydration-responsive nuclear proteome landscape of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) reveals phosphorylation-mediated regulation of stress response. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2019; 42:230-244. [PMID: 29749054 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Nonavailability of water or dehydration remains recurring climatic disorder affecting yield of major food crops, legumes in particular. Nuclear proteins (NPs) and phosphoproteins (NPPs) execute crucial cellular functions that form the regulatory hub for coordinated stress response. Phosphoproteins hold enormous influence over cellular signalling. Four-week-old seedlings of a grain legume, chickpea, were subjected to gradual dehydration, and NPs were extracted from unstressed control and from 72- and 144-hr stressed tissues. We identified 4,832 NPs and 478 phosphosites, corresponding to 299 unique NPPs involved in multivariate cellular processes including protein modification and gene expression regulation, among others. The identified proteins included several novel kinases, phosphatases, and transcription factors, besides 660 uncharacterized proteins. Spliceosome complex and splicing related proteins were dominant among differentially regulated NPPs, indicating their dehydration modulated regulation. Phospho-motif analysis revealed stress-induced enrichment of proline-directed serine phosphorylation. Association mapping of NPPs revealed predominance of differential phosphorylation of spliceosome and splicing associated proteins. Also, regulatory proteins of key processes viz., protein degradation, regulation of flowering time, and circadian clock were observed to undergo dehydration-induced dephosphorylation. The characterization of novel regulatory proteins would provide new insights into stress adaptation and enable directed genetic manipulations for developing climate-resilient crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Barua
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, Aruna, Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Nilesh Vikram Lande
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, Aruna, Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Pratigya Subba
- YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, 575 018, India
| | - Dipak Gayen
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, Aruna, Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sneha Pinto
- YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, 575 018, India
| | - T S Keshava Prasad
- YU-IOB Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, 575 018, India
- International Technology Park, Institute of Bioinformatics, Bengaluru, 560066, India
| | - Subhra Chakraborty
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, Aruna, Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Niranjan Chakraborty
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, Aruna, Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Rosa MTG, Almeida DM, Pires IS, da Rosa Farias D, Martins AG, da Maia LC, de Oliveira AC, Saibo NJM, Oliveira MM, Abreu IA. Insights into the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the rice SUMOylation machinery and into the role of two rice SUMO proteases. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:349. [PMID: 30541427 PMCID: PMC6291987 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1547-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SUMOylation is an essential eukaryotic post-translation modification that, in plants, regulates numerous cellular processes, ranging from seed development to stress response. Using rice as a model crop plant, we searched for potential regulatory points that may influence the activity of the rice SUMOylation machinery genes. RESULTS We analyzed the presence of putative cis-acting regulatory elements (CREs) within the promoter regions of the rice SUMOylation machinery genes and found CREs related to different cellular processes, including hormone signaling. We confirmed that the transcript levels of genes involved in target-SUMOylation, containing ABA- and GA-related CREs, are responsive to treatments with these hormones. Transcriptional analysis in Nipponbare (spp. japonica) and LC-93-4 (spp. indica), showed that the transcript levels of all studied genes are maintained in the two subspecies, under normal growth. OsSUMO3 is an exceptional case since it is expressed at low levels or is not detectable at all in LC-93-4 roots and shoots, respectively. We revealed post-transcriptional regulation by alternative splicing (AS) for all genes studied, except for SUMO coding genes, OsSIZ2, OsOTS3, and OsELS2. Some AS forms have the potential to alter protein domains and catalytic centers. We also performed the molecular and phenotypic characterization of T-DNA insertion lines of some of the genes under study. Knockouts of OsFUG1 and OsELS1 showed increased SUMOylation levels and non-overlapping phenotypes. The fug1 line showed a dwarf phenotype, and significant defects in fertility, seed weight, and panicle architecture, while the els1 line showed early flowering and decreased plant height. We suggest that OsELS1 is an ortholog of AtEsd4, which was also supported by our phylogenetic analysis. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the rice SUMOylation machinery and discuss possible effects of the regulation of these genes at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. We also contribute to the characterization of two rice SUMO proteases, OsELS1 and OsFUG1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida T. G. Rosa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Diego M. Almeida
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- IBET, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes (BPMP), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université de Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
| | - Inês S. Pires
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- Frontiers Media SA, Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 34, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel da Rosa Farias
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Center, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Alice G. Martins
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Luciano Carlos da Maia
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Center, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - António Costa de Oliveira
- Plant Genomics and Breeding Center, Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Nelson J. M. Saibo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - M. Margarida Oliveira
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Isabel A. Abreu
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB-UNL), Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- IBET, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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11
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Benlloch R, Lois LM. Sumoylation in plants: mechanistic insights and its role in drought stress. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:4539-4554. [PMID: 29931319 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational modification by SUMO is an essential process that has a major role in the regulation of plant development and stress responses. Such diverse biological functions are accompanied by functional diversification among the SUMO conjugation machinery components and regulatory mechanisms that has just started to be identified in plants. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge of the SUMO conjugation system in plants in terms of components, substrate specificity, cognate interactions, enzyme activity, and subcellular localization. In addition, we analyze existing data on the role of SUMOylation in plant drought tolerance in model plants and crop species, paying attention to the genetic approaches used to stimulate or inhibit endogenous SUMO conjugation. The role in drought tolerance of potential SUMO targets identified in proteomic analyses is also discussed. Overall, the complexity of SUMOylation and the multiple genetic and environmental factors that are integrated to confer drought tolerance highlight the need for significant efforts to understand the interplay between SUMO and drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyes Benlloch
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | - L Maria Lois
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics-CRAG, Edifici CRAG-Campus UAB, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Nitrate Reductases Are Relocalized to the Nucleus by AtSIZ1 and Their Levels Are Negatively Regulated by COP1 and Ammonium. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041202. [PMID: 29662028 PMCID: PMC5979280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrate reductases (NRs) catalyze the first step in the reduction of nitrate to ammonium. NR activity is regulated by sumoylation through the E3 ligase activity of AtSIZ1. However, it is not clear how NRs interact with AtSIZ1 in the cell, or how nitrogen sources affect NR levels and their cellular localization. Here, we show that the subcellular localization of NRs is modulated by the E3 SUMO (Small ubiquitin-related modifier) ligase AtSIZ1 and that NR protein levels are regulated by nitrogen sources. Transient expression analysis of GFP fusion proteins in onion epidermal cells showed that the NRs NIA1 and NIA2 localize to the cytoplasmic membrane, and that AtSIZ1 localizes to the nucleoplasm, including nuclear bodies, when expressed separately, whereas NRs and AtSIZ1 localize to the nucleus when co-expressed. Nitrate did not affect the subcellular localization of the NRs, but it caused AtSIZ1 to move from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. NRs were not detected in ammonium-treated cells, whereas the localization of AtSIZ1 was not altered by ammonium treatment. NR protein levels increased in response to nitrate but decreased in response to ammonium. In addition, NR protein levels increased in response to a 26S proteasome inhibitor and in cop1-4 and DN-COP1-overexpressing transgenic plants. NR protein degradation occurred later in cop1-4 than in the wild-type, although the NR proteins did not interact with COP1. Therefore, AtSIZ1 controls nuclear localization of NR proteins, and ammonium negatively regulates their levels. The function and stability of NR proteins might be post-translationally modulated by ubiquitination.
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