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Zhan J, Bélanger S, Lewis S, Teng C, McGregor M, Beric A, Schon MA, Nodine MD, Meyers BC. Premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are present in the Zea genus and unique in biogenesis mechanism and molecular function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2402285121. [PMID: 38739785 PMCID: PMC11127045 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402285121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproductive phasiRNAs (phased, small interfering RNAs) are broadly present in angiosperms and play crucial roles in sustaining male fertility. While the premeiotic 21-nt (nucleotides) phasiRNAs and meiotic 24-nt phasiRNA pathways have been extensively studied in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), a third putative category of reproductive phasiRNAs-named premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs-have recently been reported in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). To determine whether premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are also present in maize and related species and begin to characterize their biogenesis and function, we performed a comparative transcriptome and degradome analysis of premeiotic and meiotic anthers from five maize inbred lines and three teosinte species/subspecies. Our data indicate that a substantial subset of the 24-nt phasiRNA loci in maize and teosinte are already highly expressed at the premeiotic phase. The premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are similar to meiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in genomic origin and dependence on DCL5 (Dicer-like 5) for biogenesis, however, premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are unique in that they are likely i) not triggered by microRNAs, ii) not loaded by AGO18 proteins, and iii) not capable of mediating PHAS precursor cleavage. In addition, we also observed a group of premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in rice using previously published data. Together, our results indicate that the premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs constitute a unique class of reproductive phasiRNAs and are present more broadly in the grass family (Poaceae) than previously known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Zhan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan430070, China
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
| | - Sébastien Bélanger
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
- The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, ScotlandDD2 5DA, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Lewis
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO63130
| | - Chong Teng
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | | | - Aleksandra Beric
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO65211
| | - Michael A. Schon
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen6708 PB, the Netherlands
| | - Michael D. Nodine
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen6708 PB, the Netherlands
| | - Blake C. Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO63132
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO65211
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2
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Zhan J, Bélanger S, Lewis S, Teng C, McGregor M, Beric A, Schon MA, Nodine MD, Meyers BC. Premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are present in the Zea genus and unique in biogenesis mechanism and molecular function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.29.587306. [PMID: 38617318 PMCID: PMC11014486 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.29.587306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive phasiRNAs are broadly present in angiosperms and play crucial roles in sustaining male fertility. While the premeiotic 21-nt phasiRNAs and meiotic 24-nt phasiRNA pathways have been extensively studied in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), a third putative category of reproductive phasiRNAs-named premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs-have recently been reported in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). To determine whether premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are also present in maize and related species and begin to characterize their biogenesis and function, we performed a comparative transcriptome and degradome analysis of premeiotic and meiotic anthers from five maize inbred lines and three teosinte species/subspecies. Our data indicate that a substantial subset of the 24-nt phasiRNA loci in maize and teosinte are already highly expressed at premeiotic phase. The premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are similar to meiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in genomic origin and dependence on DCL5 for biogenesis, however, premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are unique in that they are likely (i) not triggered by microRNAs, (ii) not loaded by AGO18 proteins, and (iii) not capable of mediating cis-cleavage. In addition, we also observed a group of premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in rice using previously published data. Together, our results indicate that the premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs constitute a unique class of reproductive phasiRNAs and are present more broadly in the grass family (Poaceae) than previously known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Zhan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Sébastien Bélanger
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, Scotland DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Scott Lewis
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Chong Teng
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | | | - Aleksandra Beric
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Michael A. Schon
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, the Netherlands
| | - Michael D. Nodine
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, the Netherlands
| | - Blake C. Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Bélanger S, Zhan J, Meyers BC. Phylogenetic analyses of seven protein families refine the evolution of small RNA pathways in green plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 192:1183-1203. [PMID: 36869858 PMCID: PMC10231463 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Several protein families participate in the biogenesis and function of small RNAs (sRNAs) in plants. Those with primary roles include Dicer-like (DCL), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR), and Argonaute (AGO) proteins. Protein families such as double-stranded RNA-binding (DRB), SERRATE (SE), and SUPPRESSION OF SILENCING 3 (SGS3) act as partners of DCL or RDR proteins. Here, we present curated annotations and phylogenetic analyses of seven sRNA pathway protein families performed on 196 species in the Viridiplantae (aka green plants) lineage. Our results suggest that the RDR3 proteins emerged earlier than RDR1/2/6. RDR6 is found in filamentous green algae and all land plants, suggesting that the evolution of RDR6 proteins coincides with the evolution of phased small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). We traced the origin of the 24-nt reproductive phased siRNA-associated DCL5 protein back to the American sweet flag (Acorus americanus), the earliest diverged, extant monocot species. Our analyses of AGOs identified multiple duplication events of AGO genes that were lost, retained, or further duplicated in subgroups, indicating that the evolution of AGOs is complex in monocots. The results also refine the evolution of several clades of AGO proteins, such as AGO4, AGO6, AGO17, and AGO18. Analyses of nuclear localization signal sequences and catalytic triads of AGO proteins shed light on the regulatory roles of diverse AGOs. Collectively, this work generates a curated and evolutionarily coherent annotation for gene families involved in plant sRNA biogenesis/function and provides insights into the evolution of major sRNA pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Junpeng Zhan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Morales KY, Bridgeland AH, Hake KD, Udall JA, Thomson MJ, Yu JZ. Homology-based identification of candidate genes for male sterility editing in upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1006264. [PMID: 36589117 PMCID: PMC9795482 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1006264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accounts for more than 90% of the world's cotton production, providing natural material for the textile and oilseed industries worldwide. One strategy for improving upland cotton yields is through increased adoption of hybrids; however, emasculation of cotton flowers is incredibly time-consuming and genetic sources of cotton male sterility are limited. Here we review the known biochemical modes of plant nuclear male sterility (NMS), often known as plant genetic male sterility (GMS), and characterized them into four groups: transcriptional regulation, splicing, fatty acid transport and processing, and sugar transport and processing. We have explored protein sequence homology from 30 GMS genes of three monocots (maize, rice, and wheat) and three dicots (Arabidopsis, soybean, and tomato). We have analyzed evolutionary relationships between monocot and dicot GMS genes to describe the relative similarity and relatedness of these genes identified. Five were lowly conserved to their source species, four unique to monocots, five unique to dicots, 14 highly conserved among all species, and two in the other category. Using this source, we have identified 23 potential candidate genes within the upland cotton genome for the development of new male sterile germplasm to be used in hybrid cotton breeding. Combining homology-based studies with genome editing may allow for the discovery and validation of GMS genes that previously had no diversity observed in cotton and may allow for development of a desirable male sterile mutant to be used in hybrid cotton production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Y. Morales
- USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, United States
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Aya H. Bridgeland
- USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Kater D. Hake
- Cotton Incorporated, Agricultural and Environment Research, Cary, NC, United States
| | - Joshua A. Udall
- USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Michael J. Thomson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - John Z. Yu
- USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, College Station, TX, United States
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Chakraborty T, Payne H, Mosher RA. Expansion and contraction of small RNA and methylation machinery throughout plant evolution. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 69:102260. [PMID: 35849937 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The revolution in sequencing has created a wealth of plant genomes that can be mined to understand the evolution of biological complexity. Complexity is often driven by gene duplication, which allows paralogs to specialize in an activity of the ancestral gene or acquire novel functions. Angiosperms encode a variety of gene silencing pathways that share related machinery for small RNA biosynthesis and function. Recent phylogenetic analysis of these gene families plots the expansion, specialization, and occasional contraction of this core machinery. This analysis reveals the ancient origin of RNA-directed DNA Methylation in early land plants, or possibly their algal ancestors, as well as ongoing duplications that evolve novel small RNA pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Chakraborty
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA
| | - Hayden Payne
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA
| | - Rebecca A Mosher
- School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA.
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You C, Yu Y, Wang Y. Small RNA in plant meiosis and gametogenesis. REPRODUCTION AND BREEDING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbre.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Zhang L, Xiang Y, Chen S, Shi M, Jiang X, He Z, Gao S. Mechanisms of MicroRNA Biogenesis and Stability Control in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:844149. [PMID: 35350301 PMCID: PMC8957957 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.844149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which is 20-24 nucleotide long, regulate the expression of its target genes post-transcriptionally and play critical roles in plant normal growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stresses. In cells, miRNA biogenesis and stability control are important in regulating intracellular miRNA abundance. In addition, research on these two aspects has achieved fruitful results. In this review, we focus on the recent research progress in our understanding of miRNA biogenesis and their stability control in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioremediation of Soil Contamination, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Xiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengbo Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Shi
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xianda Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoli He
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
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8
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Meng Y, Ma X, Li J, Ito H, Oracz K, Cai J, Shao C. The novel activity of Argonautes in intron splicing: A transcriptome-wide survey in plants. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 270:153632. [PMID: 35114616 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The importance of the evolutionarily conserved Argonaute (AGO) proteins has been well recognized for their involvement in the RNA interference pathways. Recent discoveries in animals demonstrated that AGOs also participate in alternative splicing (AS). Motivated by the question whether the AGO proteins are also functional in RNA splicing in plants, we searched for the introns excised through an AGO-dependent manner in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data analysis uncovered hundreds of the introns up- or down-regulated in the ago1 and ago4 mutants, respectively. For different genes, AGOs might play either a positive or a negative role in intron excision, which was further validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Some introns were specifically regulated by one of the AGO proteins, while some were regulated by both AGOs. Besides, a large portion of the AGO-dependent introns were organ-specifically regulated. RNA immunoprecipitation combined with high-throughput sequencing (RIP-seq) revealed that both AGOs preferentially bound to the intronic regions, supporting their high intron binding affinities. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry (IP-MS) was performed to identify the proteins potentially interacting with the two AGOs. Six novel interactors (two interacting with AGO1 and four with both AGOs) involved in mRNA binding were uncovered, which might facilitate AGO-intron recognition. Analysis of the RNA-seq data from the rice (Oryza sativa) ago18 mutants revealed that hundreds of the introns were expressed in an AGO18-dependent manner. In summary, our results point to the novel role of the plant AGOs in intron splicing, paving a way for further studies on the mechanisms underlying AGO-mediated RNA splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Meng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
| | - Xiaoxia Ma
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China; School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Hidetaka Ito
- Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Krystyna Oracz
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland
| | - Jiahui Cai
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Chaogang Shao
- College of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, China
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Swetha C, Narjala A, Pandit A, Tirumalai V, Shivaprasad PV. Degradome comparison between wild and cultivated rice identifies differential targeting by miRNAs. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:53. [PMID: 35031003 PMCID: PMC8759253 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08288-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small non-coding (s)RNAs are involved in the negative regulation of gene expression, playing critical roles in genome integrity, development and metabolic pathways. Targeting of RNAs by ribonucleoprotein complexes of sRNAs bound to Argonaute (AGO) proteins results in cleaved RNAs having precise and predictable 5` ends. While tools to study sliced bits of RNAs to confirm the efficiency of sRNA-mediated regulation are available, they are sub-optimal. In this study, we provide an improvised version of a tool with better efficiency to accurately validate sRNA targets. Results Here, we improvised the CleaveLand tool to identify additional micro (mi)RNA targets that belong to the same family and also other targets within a specified free energy cut-off. These additional targets were otherwise excluded during the default run. We employed these tools to understand the sRNA targeting efficiency in wild and cultivated rice, sequenced degradome from two rice lines, O. nivara and O. sativa indica Pusa Basmati-1 and analyzed variations in sRNA targeting. Our results indicate the existence of multiple miRNA-mediated targeting differences between domesticated and wild species. For example, Os5NG4 was targeted only in wild rice that might be responsible for the poor secondary wall formation when compared to cultivated rice. We also identified differential mRNA targets of secondary sRNAs that were generated after miRNA-mediated cleavage of primary targets. Conclusions We identified many differentially targeted mRNAs between wild and domesticated rice lines. In addition to providing a step-wise guide to generate and analyze degradome datasets, we showed how domestication altered sRNA-mediated cascade silencing during the evolution of indica rice. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08288-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenna Swetha
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.,SASTRA University, Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, 613401, India
| | - Anushree Narjala
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.,SASTRA University, Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, 613401, India
| | - Awadhesh Pandit
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Varsha Tirumalai
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.,SASTRA University, Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, 613401, India
| | - P V Shivaprasad
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.
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Jha V, Narjala A, Basu D, T. N. S, Pachamuthu K, Chenna S, Nair A, Shivaprasad PV. Essential role of γ-clade RNA-dependent RNA polymerases in rice development and yield-related traits is linked to their atypical polymerase activities regulating specific genomic regions. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:1674-1691. [PMID: 34449900 PMCID: PMC9290346 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RDR) generate double-stranded (ds)RNA triggers for RNA silencing across eukaryotes. Among the three clades, α-clade and β-clade members are key components of RNA silencing and mediators of stress responses across eukaryotes. However, γ-clade members are unusual in that they are represented in phylogenetically distant plants and fungi, and their functions are unknown. Using genetic, bioinformatic and biochemical methods, we show that γ-clade RDRs from Oryza sativa L. are involved in plant development as well as regulation of expression of coding and noncoding RNAs. Overexpression of γ-clade RDRs in transgenic rice and tobacco plants resulted in robust growth phenotype, whereas their silencing in rice displayed strong inhibition of growth. Small (s)RNA and RNA-seq analysis of OsRDR3 mis-expression lines suggested that it is specifically involved in the regulation of repeat-rich regions in the genome. Biochemical analysis confirmed that OsRDR3 has robust polymerase activities on both single stranded (ss)RNA and ssDNA templates similar to the activities reported for α-clade RDRs such as AtRDR6. Our results provide the first evidence of the importance of γ-clade RDRs in plant development, their atypical biochemical activities and their contribution to the regulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Jha
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling StudiesFaculty of BiologyAlbert‐Ludwigs‐Universität FreiburgFreiburg im Breisgau79104Germany
| | - Anushree Narjala
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- SASTRA UniversityThirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur613401India
| | - Debjani Basu
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
| | - Sujith T. N.
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- University of Trans‐Disciplinary Health Sciences and TechnologyBengaluru560064India
| | - Kannan Pachamuthu
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- Institut Jean‐Pierre BourginINRAEAgroParisTechUniversité Paris‐SaclayVersailles78000France
| | - Swetha Chenna
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- SASTRA UniversityThirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur613401India
| | - Ashwin Nair
- National Centre for Biological SciencesGKVK CampusBangalore560065India
- SASTRA UniversityThirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur613401India
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11
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Lian JP, Yang YW, He RR, Yang L, Zhou YF, Lei MQ, Zhang Z, Huang JH, Cheng Y, Liu YW, Zhang YC, Chen YQ. Ubiquitin-dependent Argonauteprotein MEL1 degradation is essential for rice sporogenesis and phasiRNA target regulation. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:2685-2700. [PMID: 34003932 PMCID: PMC8408455 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
MEIOSIS ARRESTED AT LEPTOTENE1 (MEL1), a rice (Oryza sativa) Argonaute (AGO) protein, has been reported to function specifically at premeiotic and meiotic stages of germ cell development and is associated with a novel class of germ cell-specific small noncoding RNAs called phased small RNAs (phasiRNAs). MEL1 accumulation is temporally and spatially regulated and is eliminated after meiosis. However, the metabolism and turnover (i.e. the homeostasis) of MEL1 during germ cell development remains unknown. Here, we show that MEL1 is ubiquitinated and subsequently degraded via the proteasome pathway in vivo during late sporogenesis. Abnormal accumulation of MEL1 after meiosis leads to a semi-sterile phenotype. We identified a monocot-specific E3 ligase, XBOS36, a CULLIN RING-box protein, that is responsible for the degradation of MEL1. Ubiquitination at four K residues at the N terminus of MEL1 by XBOS36 induces its degradation. Importantly, inhibition of MEL1 degradation either by XBOS36 knockdown or by MEL1 overexpression prevents the formation of pollen at the microspore stage. Further mechanistic analysis showed that disrupting MEL1 homeostasis in germ cells leads to off-target cleavage of phasiRNA target genes. Our findings thus provide insight into the communication between a monocot-specific E3 ligase and an AGO protein during plant reproductive development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rui-Rui He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Lu Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Yan-Fei Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Meng-Qi Lei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Jia-Hui Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
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Xu Y, Fu S, Tao X, Zhou X. Rice stripe virus: Exploring Molecular Weapons in the Arsenal of a Negative-Sense RNA Virus. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 59:351-371. [PMID: 34077238 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-020620-113020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rice stripe disease caused by Rice stripe virus (RSV) is one of the most devastating plant viruses of rice and causes enormous losses in production. RSV is transmitted from plant to plant by the small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus) in a circulative-propagative manner. The recent reemergence of this pathogen in East Asia since 2000 has made RSV one of the most studied plant viruses over the past two decades. Extensive studies of RSV have resulted in substantial advances regarding fundamental aspects of the virus infection. Here, we compile and analyze recent information on RSV with a special emphasis on the strategies that RSV has adopted to establish infections. These advances include RSV replication and movement in host plants and the small brown planthopper vector, innate immunity defenses against RSV infection, epidemiology, and recent advances in the management of rice stripe disease. Understanding these issues will facilitate the design of novel antiviral therapies for management and contribute to a more detailed understanding of negative-sense virus-host interactions at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Xiaorong Tao
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xueping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Yadava P, Tamim S, Zhang H, Teng C, Zhou X, Meyers BC, Walbot V. Transgenerational conditioned male fertility of HD-ZIP IV transcription factor mutant ocl4: impact on 21-nt phasiRNA accumulation in pre-meiotic maize anthers. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2021; 34:117-129. [PMID: 33689028 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-021-00406-3] [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: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Maize Outer cell layer 4 (ocl4) encodes an HD-ZIP IV transcription factor required for robust male fertility and 21-nt phasiRNA biogenesis. ocl4 fertility is favored in warm conditions, and phasiRNAs are partially restored. Environment-sensitive male-sterile plants have been described before and can result from different molecular mechanisms and biological processes, but putative environment-conditioned, transgenerational rescue of their male fertility is a rather new mystery. Here, we report a derivative line of the male-sterile outer cell layer 4 (ocl4) mutant of maize, in which fertility was restored and perpetuated over several generations. Conditioned fertile ocl4 anthers exhibit the anatomical abnormality of a partially duplicated endothecial layer, just like their sterile counterparts. We profiled the dynamics of phased, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) during pre-meiotic development in fully sterile and various grades of semi-fertile ocl4 anthers. The conditioned fertile anthers accumulated significantly higher 21-nt phasiRNAs compared to ocl4 sterile samples, suggesting a partial restoration of phasiRNAs in conditioned fertility. We found that the biogenesis of 21-nt phasiRNAs is largely dependent on Ocl4 at three key steps: (1) production of PHAS precursor transcripts, (2) expression of miR2118 that modulates precursor processing, and (3) accumulation of 21-nt phasiRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranjal Yadava
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research-, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Saleh Tamim
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Chong Teng
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Xue Zhou
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Rd, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, 52 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Virginia Walbot
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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14
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Li Y, Huang Y, Pan L, Zhao Y, Huang W, Jin W. Male sterile 28 encodes an ARGONAUTE family protein essential for male fertility in maize. Chromosome Res 2021; 29:189-201. [PMID: 33651229 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-021-09653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Male sterility is a common biological phenomenon in plants and is a useful trait for hybrid seed production. Normal tapetum development is essential for viable pollen generation. Although many genes involved in tapetum differentiation and degradation have been isolated in maize, elements that regulate tapetum development during pollen mother cell (PMC) meiosis are less studied. Here, we characterized a classical male-sterile mutant male sterile 28 (ms28) in maize. The ms28 mutant had a regular male meiosis process, while its tapetum cells showed premature vacuolation at the early meiotic prophase stage. Using map-based cloning, we cloned the Ms28 gene and confirmed its role in male fertility in maize together with two allelic mutants. Ms28 encodes the ARGONAUTE (AGO) family protein ZmAGO5c, and its transcripts primarily accumulate in premeiosis anthers, with more intense signals in PMCs. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes related to anther development, cell division, and reproductive structure development processes were differentially expressed between the ms28 mutant and its fertile siblings. Moreover, small RNA (sRNA) sequencing revealed that the small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) abundances were obviously changed in ms28 meiotic anthers, which indicated that Ms28 may regulate tapetal cell development through small RNA-mediated epigenetic regulatory pathways. Taken together, our results shed more light on the functional mechanisms of the early development of the tapetum for male fertility in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yumin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lingling Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Weiwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center of China, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Ministry of Education (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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15
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Pachamuthu K, Swetha C, Basu D, Das S, Singh I, Sundar VH, Sujith TN, Shivaprasad PV. Rice-specific Argonaute 17 controls reproductive growth and yield-associated phenotypes. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 105:99-114. [PMID: 32964370 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-020-01071-2] [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: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript describes the functions of an Argonaute protein named AGO17 in rice. AGO17 is required for the development of rice reproductive tissues. Argonaute (AGO) proteins are a well-conserved multigene family of regulators mediating gene silencing across eukaryotes. Monocot plants have additional members of AGO, the functions of which are poorly understood. Among the non-dicot AGO1 clade members in monocots, AGO17 expresses highly in reproductive tissues. Here we show that overexpression of Oryza sativa indica AGO17 in rice resulted in robust growth and increased yield, whereas its silencing resulted in reduced panicle length, less fertility, and poor growth. Small (s)RNA transcriptome analysis revealed misregulation of several miRNAs and other categories of sRNAs in silenced and overexpression lines, in agreement with its likely competition with other AGO1 clade members. Targets of differentially expressed miRNAs included previously unreported target RNAs coding for proteins involved in development, phase transition, and transport. Our results indicate a distinctive role for OsAGO17 in rice reproductive development that could be harnessed to improve yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Pachamuthu
- 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
| | - Debjani Basu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Soumita Das
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Indira Singh
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Vivek Hari Sundar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - T N Sujith
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Padubidri V Shivaprasad
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, 560065, India.
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Lee YS, Maple R, Dürr J, Dawson A, Tamim S, Del Genio C, Papareddy R, Luo A, Lamb JC, Amantia S, Sylvester AW, Birchler JA, Meyers BC, Nodine MD, Rouster J, Gutierrez-Marcos J. A transposon surveillance mechanism that safeguards plant male fertility during stress. NATURE PLANTS 2021; 7:34-41. [PMID: 33398155 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-00818-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although plants are able to withstand a range of environmental conditions, spikes in ambient temperature can impact plant fertility causing reductions in seed yield and notable economic losses1,2. Therefore, understanding the precise molecular mechanisms that underpin plant fertility under environmental constraints is critical to safeguarding future food production3. Here, we identified two Argonaute-like proteins whose activities are required to sustain male fertility in maize plants under high temperatures. We found that MALE-ASSOCIATED ARGONAUTE-1 and -2 associate with temperature-induced phased secondary small RNAs in pre-meiotic anthers and are essential to controlling the activity of retrotransposons in male meiocyte initials. Biochemical and structural analyses revealed how male-associated Argonaute activity and its interaction with retrotransposon RNA targets is modulated through the dynamic phosphorylation of a set of highly conserved, surface-located serine residues. Our results demonstrate that an Argonaute-dependent, RNA-guided surveillance mechanism is critical in plants to sustain male fertility under environmentally constrained conditions, by controlling the mutagenic activity of transposons in male germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Seok Lee
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Robert Maple
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Julius Dürr
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Saleh Tamim
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Charo Del Genio
- Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems, School of Computing, Electronics and Mathematics, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Ranjith Papareddy
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Anding Luo
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Jonathan C Lamb
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- BayerCrop Science Division, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stefano Amantia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Anne W Sylvester
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - James A Birchler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael D Nodine
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Silva-Martins G, Bolaji A, Moffett P. What does it take to be antiviral? An Argonaute-centered perspective on plant antiviral defense. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:6197-6210. [PMID: 32835379 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA silencing is a major mechanism of constitutive antiviral defense in plants, mediated by a number of proteins, including the Dicer-like (DCL) and Argonaute (AGO) endoribonucleases. Both DCL and AGO protein families comprise multiple members. In particular, the AGO protein family has expanded considerably in different plant lineages, with different family members having specialized functions. Although the general mode of action of AGO proteins is well established, the properties that make different AGO proteins more or less efficient at targeting viruses are less well understood. In this report, we review methodologies used to study AGO antiviral activity and current knowledge about which AGO family members are involved in antiviral defense. In addition, we discuss what is known about the different properties of AGO proteins thought to be associated with this function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayooluwa Bolaji
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Peter Moffett
- Centre SÈVE, Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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