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Cavé-Radet A, Salmon A, Tran Van Canh L, Moyle RL, Pretorius LS, Lima O, Ainouche ML, El Amrani A. Recent allopolyploidy alters Spartina microRNA expression in response to xenobiotic-induced stress. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 111:309-328. [PMID: 36581792 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01328-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by xenobiotics represents a major threat for natural ecosystems and public health. In response, xenobiotic detoxification is a fundamental trait of organisms for developmental plasticity and stress tolerance, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood in plants. To decipher this process, we explored the consequences of allopolyploidy on xenobiotic tolerance in the genus Spartina Schreb. Specifically, we focused on microRNAs (miRNAs) owing to their central function in the regulation of gene expression patterns, including responses to stress. Small RNA-Seq was conducted on the parents S. alterniflora and S. maritima, their F1 hybrid S. x townsendii and the allopolyploid S. anglica under phenanthrene-induced stress (phe), a model Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) compound. Differentially expressed miRNAs in response to phe were specifically identified within species. In complement, the respective impacts of hybridization and genome doubling were detected, through changes in miRNA expression patterns between S. x townsendii, S. anglica and the parents. The results support the impact of allopolyploidy in miRNA-guided regulation of plant response to phe. In total, we identified 17 phe-responsive miRNAs in Spartina among up-regulated MIR156 and down-regulated MIR159. We also describe novel phe-responsive miRNAs as putative Spartina-specific gene expression regulators in response to stress. Functional validation using Arabidopsis (L.) Heynh. T-DNA lines inserted in homologous MIR genes was performed, and the divergence of phe-responsive miRNA regulatory networks between Arabidopsis and Spartina was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armand Cavé-Radet
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France.
| | - Armel Salmon
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Loup Tran Van Canh
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Richard L Moyle
- Nexgen Plants Pty Ltd., School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lara-Simone Pretorius
- Nexgen Plants Pty Ltd., School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Oscar Lima
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Malika L Ainouche
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Abdelhak El Amrani
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR CNRS 6553, Ecosystèmes-Biodiversité-Evolution, OSUR, Campus de Beaulieu, Bâtiment 14A, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France.
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He F, Long R, Wei C, Zhang Y, Li M, Kang J, Yang Q, Wang Z, Chen L. Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of the SPL gene family and its important role in salt stress in Medicago sativa L. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:295. [PMID: 35705909 PMCID: PMC9199161 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03678-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) transcription factors are widely present in plants and are involved in signal transduction, the stress response and development. The SPL gene family has been characterized in several model species, such as A. thaliana and G. max. However, there is no in-depth analysis of the SPL gene family in forage, especially alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), one of the most important forage crops worldwide. RESULT In total, 76 putative MsSPL genes were identified in the alfalfa genome with an uneven distribution. Based on their identity and gene structure, these MsSPLs were divided into eight phylogenetic groups. Seventy-three MsSPL gene pairs arose from segmental duplication events, and the MsSPLs on the four subgenomes of individual chromosomes displayed high collinearity with the corresponding M. truncatula genome. The prediction of the cis-elements in the promoter regions of the MsSPLs detected two copies of ABA (abscisic acid)-responsive elements (ABREs) on average, implying their potential involvement in alfalfa adaptation to adverse environments. The transcriptome sequencing of MsSPLs in roots and leaves revealed that 54 MsSPLs were expressed in both tissues. Upon salt treatment, three MsSPLs (MsSPL17, MsSPL23 and MsSPL36) were significantly regulated, and the transcription level of MsSPL36 in leaves was repressed to 46.6% of the control level. CONCLUSION In this study, based on sequence homology, we identified 76 SPL genes in the alfalfa. The SPLs with high identity shared similar gene structures and motifs. In total, 71.1% (54 of 76) of the MsSPLs were expressed in both roots and leaves, and the majority (74.1%) preferred underground tissues to aerial tissues. MsSPL36 in leaves was significantly repressed under salt stress. These findings provide comprehensive information regarding the SPB-box gene family for improve alfalfa tolerance to high salinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei He
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Ruicai Long
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Chunxue Wei
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yunxiu Zhang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Mingna Li
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Junmei Kang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qingchuan Yang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Lin Chen
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Arshad M, Hannoufa AA. Alfalfa transcriptome profiling provides insight into miR156-mediated molecular mechanisms of heat stress tolerance. Genome 2022; 65:315-330. [PMID: 35298891 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2021-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Heat is one of the major environmental stressors that negatively affects alfalfa production. Previously, we reported the role of microRNA156 (miR156) in heat tolerance, however, mechanisms and downstream genes involved in this process were not fully studied. To provide further insight, we compared an empty vector control and miR156 overexpressing alfalfa plants (miR156+) after exposing them to heat stress (40 °C) for 24h. We collected leaf samples for transcriptome analysis to illustrate the miR156-regualted molecular mechanisms underlying the heat stress response. A total of 3579 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were detected exclusively in miR156+ plants under heat stress using the Medicago sativa genome as reference. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that these DEGs were mainly involved in "polysaccharide metabolism", "response to chemical", "secondary metabolism", "carbon metabolism" and "cell cycle". Transcription factors predicted in miR156+ plants belonged to TCP family, MYB, ABA response element-binding factor, WRKY and heat shock transcription factor. We also identified two new SPL family gene member (SPL8a and SPL12a), putatively regulated by miR156. The present study provides comprehensive transcriptome profile of alfalfa, identifies a number of genes and pathways, and reveals a miR156-regulated network of mechanisms at the gene expression level to modulate heat responses in alfalfa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arshad
- London Research and Development Centre, 98671, London, Ontario, Canada.,New York University - Abu Dhabi Campus, 167632, Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology , Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;
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Zhang N, Feng X, Zeng Q, Lin H, Wu Z, Gao X, Huang Y, Wu J, Qi Y. Integrated Analysis of miRNAs Associated With Sugarcane Responses to Low-Potassium Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:750805. [PMID: 35058942 PMCID: PMC8763679 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.750805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane is among the most important global crops and a key bioenergy source. Sugarcane production is restricted by limited levels of available soil potassium (K+). The ability of plants to respond to stressors can be regulated by a range of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, there have been few studies regarding the roles of miRNAs in the regulation of sugarcane responses to K+-deficiency. To understand how these non-coding RNAs may influence sugarcane responses to low-K+ stress, we conducted expression profiling of miRNAs in sugarcane roots under low-K+ conditions via high-throughput sequencing. This approach led to the identification of 324 and 42 known and novel miRNAs, respectively, of which 36 were found to be differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) under low-K+ conditions. These results also suggested that miR156-x/z and miR171-x are involved in these responses as potential regulators of lateral root formation and the ethylene signaling pathway, respectively. A total of 705 putative targets of these DEMs were further identified through bioinformatics predictions and degradome analyses, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed these target mRNAs to be enriched for catalytic activity, binding functions, metabolic processes, plant hormone signal transduction, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. In summary, these data provide an overview of the roles of miRNAs in the regulation of sugarcane response to low-K+ conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhang
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Feng
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoying Zeng
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanzhang Lin
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zilin Wu
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoning Gao
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yonghong Huang
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayun Wu
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongwen Qi
- Guangdong Sugarcane Genetic Improvement Engineering Center, Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Feng G, Han J, Yang Z, Liu Q, Shuai Y, Xu X, Nie G, Huang L, Liu W, Zhang X. Genome-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, and expression analysis of the SPL gene family in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Genomics 2021; 113:2413-2425. [PMID: 34058273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
SPL (SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like) is a plant-specific transcription factor family that contains the conserved SBP domain, which plays a vital role in the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition, flowering development and regulation, tillering/branching, and stress responses. Although the SPL family has been identified and characterized in various plant species, limited information about it has been obtained in orchardgrass, which is a critical forage crop worldwide. In this study, 17 putative DgSPL genes were identified among seven chromosomes, and seven groups that share similar gene structures and conserved motifs were determined by phylogenetic analysis. Of these, eight genes have potential target sites for miR156. cis-Element and gene ontology annotation analysis indicated DgSPLs may be involved in regulating development and abiotic stress responses. The expression patterns of eight DgSPL genes at five developmental stages, in five tissues, and under three stress conditions were determined by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. These assays indicated DgSPLs are involved in vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition, floral development, and stress responses. The transient expression analysis in tobacco and heterologous expression assays in yeast indicated that miR156-targeted DG1G01828.1 and DG0G01071.1 are nucleus-localized proteins, that may respond to drought, salt, and heat stress. Our study represents the first systematic analysis of the SPL family in orchardgrass. This research provides a comprehensive assessment of the DgSPL family, which lays the foundation for further examination of the role of miR156/DgSPL in regulating development and stress responses in forages grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Feng
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Jiating Han
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Zhongfu Yang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Qiuxu Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Yang Shuai
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Xiaoheng Xu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Gang Nie
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Linkai Huang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Xinquan Zhang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
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Feyissa BA, Amyot L, Nasrollahi V, Papadopoulos Y, Kohalmi SE, Hannoufa A. Involvement of the miR156/SPL module in flooding response in Medicago sativa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3243. [PMID: 33547346 PMCID: PMC7864954 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82450-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly conserved plant microRNA, miR156, affects plant development, metabolite composition, and stress response. Our previous research revealed the role of miR156 in abiotic stress response in Medicago sativa exerted by downregulating SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE transcription factors. Here we investigated the involvement and possible mechanism of action of the miR156/SPL module in flooding tolerance in alfalfa. For that, we used miR156 overexpressing, SPL13RNAi, flood-tolerant (AAC-Trueman) and -sensitive (AC-Caribou) alfalfa cultivars exposed to flooding. We also used Arabidopsis ABA insensitive (abi1-2, abi5-8) mutants and transgenic lines with either overexpressed (KIN10-OX1, KIN10-OX2) or silenced (KIN10RNAi-1, KIN10RNAi-2) catalytic subunit of SnRK1 to investigate a possible role of ABA and SnRK1 in regulating miR156 expression under flooding. Physiological analysis, hormone profiling and global transcriptome changes revealed a role for miR156/SPL module in flooding tolerance. We also identified nine novel alfalfa SPLs (SPL1, SPL1a, SPL2a, SPL7, SPL7a, SPL8, SPL13a, SPL14, SPL16) responsive to flooding. Our results also showed a possible ABA-dependent SnRK1 upregulation to enhance miR156 expression, resulting in downregulation of SPL4, SPL7a, SPL8, SPL9, SPL13, and SPL13a. We conclude that these effects induce flooding adaptive responses in alfalfa and modulate stress physiology by affecting the transcriptome, ABA metabolites and secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biruk A. Feyissa
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada ,grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A5B7 Canada
| | - Lisa Amyot
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada
| | - Vida Nasrollahi
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada ,grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A5B7 Canada
| | | | - Susanne E. Kohalmi
- grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A5B7 Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3 Canada ,grid.39381.300000 0004 1936 8884Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A5B7 Canada
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Lei Y, Hannoufa A, Yu P. Overexpression of miR156 and Silencing SPL6RNAi and SPL13RNAi Genes in Medicago sativa on the Changes of Carbohydrate Physiochemical, Fermentation, and Nutritional Profiles. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:14540-14548. [PMID: 33232138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c02508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the comparative effects of overexpressing miR156 with individually silencing SPL6RNAi and SPL13RNAi genes on carbohydrate physiochemical, fermentation, and nutritional profiles of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Three sub-genotypes of miR156 overexpressed (miR156 OE), SPL6RNAi, and SPL13RNAi grown with the wild type (WT) in a greenhouse were harvested 3 times at an early vegetative stage. Samples were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed for carbohydrate nutritional profiles in terms of chemical composition, CNCPS fractions, energetic values, in vitro degradation, and fermentation characteristics. Results showed that miR156 OE had lower fiber and higher energy compared to all other genotypes. Moreover, miR156 OE had higher starch compared to SPL13RNAi and higher DM degradation compared to WT and SPL13RNAi. In conclusion, overexpression of miR156 decreased the fiber content of alfalfa but increased energy and DM degradation. SPL6RNAi was more similar to miR156 OE alfalfa in chemical composition and degradation, indicating that the SPL6RNAi gene plays an important role in the miR156 overexpression event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaogeng Lei
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Peiqiang Yu
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8, Canada
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The Impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, and miRNA Expression in Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) Seedlings. ScientificWorldJournal 2020; 2020:6649746. [PMID: 33343237 PMCID: PMC7725555 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6649746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles are one of the most commonly engineered nanomaterials and necessarily enter the environment because of the large quantities produced and their widespread application. Understanding the impacts of nanoparticles on plant growth and development is crucial for the assessment of probable environmental risks to food safety and human health, because plants are a fundamental living component of the ecosystem and the most important source in the human food chain. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles on barley Hordeum vulgare L. seed germination, seedling morphology, root cell viability, stress level, genotoxicity, and expression of miRNAs. The results demonstrate that zinc oxide nanoparticles enhance barley seed germination, shoot/root elongation, and H2O2 stress level and decrease root cell viability and genomic template stability and up- and downregulated miRNAs in barley seedlings.
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Jerome Jeyakumar JM, Ali A, Wang WM, Thiruvengadam M. Characterizing the Role of the miR156-SPL Network in Plant Development and Stress Response. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9091206. [PMID: 32942558 PMCID: PMC7570127 DOI: 10.3390/plants9091206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) is a short, single-stranded, non-coding RNA found in eukaryotic cells that can regulate the expression of many genes at the post-transcriptional level. Among various plant miRNAs with diverse functions, miR156 plays a key role in biological processes, including developmental regulation, immune response, metabolic regulation, and abiotic stress. MiRNAs have become the regulatory center for plant growth and development. MicroRNA156 (miR156) is a highly conserved and emerging tool for the improvement of plant traits, including crop productivity and stress tolerance. Fine-tuning of squamosa promoter biding-like (SPL) gene expression might be a useful strategy for crop improvement. Here, we studied the regulation of the miR156 module and its interaction with SPL factors to understand the developmental transition of various plant species. Furthermore, this review provides a strong background for plant biotechnology and is an important source of information for further molecular breeding to optimize farming productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Martin Jerome Jeyakumar
- Rice Research Institute and Key Lab for Major Crop Diseases, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China; (J.M.J.J.); (A.A.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Institute of Rice Research, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China
| | - Asif Ali
- Rice Research Institute and Key Lab for Major Crop Diseases, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China; (J.M.J.J.); (A.A.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Institute of Rice Research, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China
| | - Wen-Ming Wang
- Rice Research Institute and Key Lab for Major Crop Diseases, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China; (J.M.J.J.); (A.A.)
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Institute of Rice Research, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 625014, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Muthu Thiruvengadam
- Department of Applied Bioscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea;
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Feyissa BA, Arshad M, Gruber MY, Kohalmi SE, Hannoufa A. The interplay between miR156/SPL13 and DFR/WD40-1 regulate drought tolerance in alfalfa. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:434. [PMID: 31638916 PMCID: PMC6802326 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2059-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) cultivars tolerant to drought is critical for the crop's sustainable production. miR156 regulates various plant biological functions by silencing SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. RESULTS To understand the mechanism of miR156-modulated drought stress tolerance in alfalfa we used genotypes with altered expression levels of miR156, miR156-regulated SPL13, and DIHYDROFLAVONOL-4-REDUCTASE (DFR) regulating WD40-1. Previously we reported the involvement of miR156 in drought tolerance, but the mechanism and downstream genes involved in this process were not fully studied. Here we illustrate the interplay between miR156/SPL13 and WD40-1/DFR to regulate drought stress by coordinating gene expression with metabolite and physiological strategies. Low to moderate levels of miR156 overexpression suppressed SPL13 and increased WD40-1 to fine-tune DFR expression for enhanced anthocyanin biosynthesis. This, in combination with other accumulated stress mitigating metabolites and physiological responses, improved drought tolerance. We also demonstrated that SPL13 binds in vivo to the DFR promoter to regulate its expression. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results reveal that moderate relative miR156 transcript levels are sufficient to enhance drought resilience in alfalfa by silencing SPL13 and increasing WD40-1 expression, whereas higher miR156 overexpression results in drought susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biruk A. Feyissa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5V 4T3 Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A4B7 Canada
| | - Muhammad Arshad
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5V 4T3 Canada
- Center of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Margaret Y. Gruber
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N OX2 (retired) Canada
| | - Susanne E. Kohalmi
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A4B7 Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5V 4T3 Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A4B7 Canada
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Wang J, Ye Y, Xu M, Feng L, Xu LA. Roles of the SPL gene family and miR156 in the salt stress responses of tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:370. [PMID: 31438851 PMCID: PMC6704519 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1977-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidences show that SPLs are crucial regulators of plant abiotic stress tolerance and the highly conserved module miR156/SPL appears to balance plant growth and stress responses. The halophyte Tamarix chinensis is highly resistant to salt tress. SPLs of T. chinensis (TcSPLs) and theirs roles in salt stress responses remain elusive. RESULTS In this study, we conducted a systematic analysis of the TcSPLs gene family including 12 members belonging to 7 groups. The physicochemical properties and conserved motifs showed divergence among groups and similarity in each group. The microRNA response elements (MREs) are conserved in location and sequence, with the exception of first MRE within TcSPL5. The miR156-targeted SPLs are identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay of MRE-miR156 interaction. The digital expression gene profiles cluster suggested potential different functions of miR156-targeted SPLs vs non-targeted SPLs in response to salt stress. The expression patterns analysis of miR156-targeted SPLs with a reverse expression trend to TcmiR156 suggested 1 h (salt stress time) could be a critical time point of post-transcription regulation in salt stress responses. CONCLUSIONS Our work demonstrated the post-transcription regulation of miR156-targeted TcSPLs and transcription regulation of non-targeted TcSPLs in salt stress responses, and would be helpful to expound the miR156/SPL-mediated molecular mechanisms underlying T. chinensis salt stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 China
| | - Youju Ye
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
| | - Meng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
| | - Liguo Feng
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 China
| | - Li-an Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
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12
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Matthews C, Arshad M, Hannoufa A. Alfalfa response to heat stress is modulated by microRNA156. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2019; 165:830-842. [PMID: 29923601 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Heat stress and extreme temperatures negatively affect plant development by disrupting regular cellular and biochemical functions, ultimately leading to reduced crop production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop grown worldwide as forage for livestock feed. Limiting the effects of abiotic stress by developing alfalfa cultivars that are stress tolerant would help mitigate losses to crop production. Members of the microRNA156 (miR156) family regulate the Squamosa Promoter-Binding Protein-Like (SPL) genes that in turn impact plant growth and development by regulating downstream genes in response to various abiotic stresses. In this study, alfalfa with miR156 overexpression and SPL13 RNAi knockdown show increased tolerance to heat stress (40°C). Transgenic plants show high water potential and increased non-enzymatic antioxidant content under heat stress. Moreover, anthocyanin content and chlorophyll abundance were increased under stress. Expression of some important transcription factors and downstream genes involved in abiotic stress response were altered in miR156-overexpressing genotypes under heat. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the miR156/SPL13 network contributes to improving heat stress tolerance in alfalfa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Matthews
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Biology Department, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Muhammad Arshad
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Centre for Agriculture Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Biology Department, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
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13
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Kord H, Fakheri B, Ghabooli M, Solouki M, Emamjomeh A, Khatabi B, Sepehri M, Salekdeh GH, Ghaffari MR. Salinity-associated microRNAs and their potential roles in mediating salt tolerance in rice colonized by the endophytic root fungus Piriformospora indica. Funct Integr Genomics 2019; 19:659-672. [PMID: 30903405 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-019-00671-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Piriformospora indica (P. indica), an endophytic root fungus, supports the growth and enhanced tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Several recent studies showed the significant role of small RNA (sRNA) molecules including microRNAs (miRNAs) in plant adaption to environmental stress, but little is known concerning the symbiosis-mediated salt stress tolerance regulated at miRNAs level. The overarching goal of this research is to elucidate the impact of miRNAs in regulating the P. indica-mediated salt tolerance in rice. Applying sRNA-seq analysis led to identify a set of 547 differentially abundant miRNAs in response to P. indica inoculation and salt stress. These included 206 rice-specific and 341 previously known miRNAs from other plant species. In silico analysis of miRNAs predictions of the differentially abundant miRNAs led to identifying of 193 putatively target genes, most of which were encoded either genes or transcription factors involved in nutrient uptake, sodium ion transporters, growth regulators, and auxin- responsive proteins. The rice-specific miRNAs targeted the transcription factors involved in the import of potassium ions into the root cells, the export of sodium ions, and plant growth and development. Interestingly, P. indica affected the differential abundance of miRNAs regulated genes and transcription factors linked to salt stress tolerance. Our data helps to understand the molecular basis of salt stress tolerance mediated by symbionts in plant and the potential impact of miRNAs for genetic improvement of rice varieties for tolerance to salt stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Kord
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (PBB), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Baratali Fakheri
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (PBB), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ghabooli
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
| | - Mahmood Solouki
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (PBB), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Abbasali Emamjomeh
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (PBB), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
| | - Behnam Khatabi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
| | - Mozhgan Sepehri
- Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Ghaffari
- Department of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
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14
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Gao R, Gruber MY, Amyot L, Hannoufa A. SPL13 regulates shoot branching and flowering time in Medicago sativa. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 96:119-133. [PMID: 29149417 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-017-0683-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Our results show SPL13 plays a crucial role in regulating vegetative and reproductive development in Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), and that MYB112 is targeted and downregulated by SPL13 in alfalfa. We previously showed that transgenic Medicago sativa (alfalfa) plants overexpressing microRNA156 (miR156) show a bushy phenotype, reduced internodal length, delayed flowering time, and enhanced biomass yield. In alfalfa, transcripts of seven SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors, including SPL13, are targeted for cleavage by miR156. Thus, association of each target SPL gene to a trait or set of traits is essential for developing molecular markers for alfalfa breeding. In this study, we investigated SPL13 function using SPL13 overexpression and silenced alfalfa plants. Severe growth retardation, distorted branches and up-curled leaves were observed in miR156-impervious 35S::SPL13m over-expression plants. In contrast, more lateral branches and delayed flowering time were observed in SPL13 silenced plants. SPL13 transcripts were predominantly present in the plant meristems, indicating that SPL13 is involved in regulating shoot branch development. Accordingly, the shoot branching-related CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 8 gene was found to be significantly downregulated in SPL13 RNAi silencing plants. A R2R3-MYB gene MYB112 was also identified as being directly silenced by SPL13 based on Next Generation Sequencing-mediated transcriptome analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, suggesting that MYB112 may be involved in regulating alfalfa vegetative growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruimin Gao
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Margaret Y Gruber
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Lisa Amyot
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada.
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15
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Arshad M, Feyissa BA, Amyot L, Aung B, Hannoufa A. MicroRNA156 improves drought stress tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) by silencing SPL13. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 258:122-136. [PMID: 28330556 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage crop that is often grown in areas that frequently experience drought and water shortage. MicroRNA156 (miR156) is an emerging tool for improving various traits in plants. We tested the role of miR156d in drought response of alfalfa, and observed a significant improvement in drought tolerance of miR156 overexpression (miR156OE) alfalfa genotypes compared to the wild type control (WT). In addition to higher survival and reduced water loss, miR156OE genotypes also maintained higher stomatal conductance compared to WT during drought stress. Furthermore, we observed an enhanced accumulation of compatible solute (proline) and increased levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and antioxidants in miR156OE genotypes. Similarly, alfalfa plants with reduced expression of miR156-targeted SPL13 showed reduced water loss and enhanced stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic assimilation. Several genes known to be involved in drought tolerance were differentially expressed in leaf and root of miR156 overexpression plants. Taken together, our findings reveal that miR156 improves drought tolerance in alfalfa at least partially by silencing SPL13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arshad
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5 V 4T3, Canada.
| | - Biruk A Feyissa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5 V 4T3, Canada; Biology Department, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Lisa Amyot
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5 V 4T3, Canada.
| | - Banyar Aung
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5 V 4T3, Canada.
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, Ontario N5 V 4T3, Canada; Biology Department, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
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16
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Lei Y, Hannoufa A, Yu P. The Use of Gene Modification and Advanced Molecular Structure Analyses towards Improving Alfalfa Forage. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E298. [PMID: 28146083 PMCID: PMC5343834 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alfalfa is one of the most important legume forage crops in the world. In spite of its agronomic and nutritive advantages, alfalfa has some limitations in the usage of pasture forage and hay supplement. High rapid degradation of protein in alfalfa poses a risk of rumen bloat to ruminants which could cause huge economic losses for farmers. Coupled with the relatively high lignin content, which impedes the degradation of carbohydrate in rumen, alfalfa has unbalanced and asynchronous degradation ratio of nitrogen to carbohydrate (N/CHO) in rumen. Genetic engineering approaches have been used to manipulate the expression of genes involved in important metabolic pathways for the purpose of improving the nutritive value, forage yield, and the ability to resist abiotic stress. Such gene modification could bring molecular structural changes in alfalfa that are detectable by advanced structural analytical techniques. These structural analyses have been employed in assessing alfalfa forage characteristics, allowing for rapid, convenient and cost-effective analysis of alfalfa forage quality. In this article, we review two major obstacles facing alfalfa utilization, namely poor protein utilization and relatively high lignin content, and highlight genetic studies that were performed to overcome these drawbacks, as well as to introduce other improvements to alfalfa quality. We also review the use of advanced molecular structural analysis in the assessment of alfalfa forage for its potential usage in quality selection in alfalfa breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaogeng Lei
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada.
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3, Canada.
| | - Peiqiang Yu
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada.
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17
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Arshad M, Gruber MY, Wall K, Hannoufa A. An Insight into microRNA156 Role in Salinity Stress Responses of Alfalfa. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:356. [PMID: 28352280 PMCID: PMC5348497 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting alfalfa productivity. Developing salinity tolerant alfalfa genotypes could contribute to sustainable crop production. The functions of microRNA156 (miR156) have been investigated in several plant species, but so far, no studies have been published that explore the role of miR156 in alfalfa response to salinity stress. In this work, we studied the role of miR156 in modulating commercially important traits of alfalfa under salinity stress. Our results revealed that overexpression of miR156 increased biomass, number of branches and time to complete growth stages, while it reduced plant height under control and salinity stress conditions. We observed a miR156-related reduction in neutral detergent fiber under non-stress, and acid detergent fiber under mild salinity stress conditions. In addition, enhanced total Kjeldahl nitrogen content was recorded in miR156 overexpressing genotypes under severe salinity stress. Furthermore, alfalfa genotypes overexpressing miR156 exhibited an altered ion homeostasis under salinity conditions. Under severe salinity stress, miR156 downregulated SPL transcription factor family genes, modified expression of other important transcription factors, and downstream salt stress responsive genes. Taken together, our results reveal that miR156 plays a role in mediating physiological and transcriptional responses of alfalfa to salinity stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ken Wall
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Swift CurrentSK, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LondonON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Abdelali Hannoufa,
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18
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Wang Z, Wang Y, Kohalmi SE, Amyot L, Hannoufa A. SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 2 controls floral organ development and plant fertility by activating ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 2 in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 92:661-674. [PMID: 27605094 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-016-0536-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
A network of genes is coordinately expressed to ensure proper development of floral organs and fruits, which are essential for generating new offspring in flowering plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, microRNA156 (miR156) plays a role in regulating the development of flowers and siliques by targeting members of the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) gene family. Despite the important roles of the miR156/SPL network, our understanding of its downstream genes that are involved in floral organ and silique growth is still incomplete. Here, we report that the miR156/SPL2 regulatory pathway regulates pollen production, fertility rate, and the elongation of floral organs, including petals, sepals, and siliques in Arabidopsis. Transgenic plants exhibiting both overexpression of miR156 and dominant-negative alleles of SPL2 had reduced ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 2 (AS2) transcript levels in their siliques. Furthermore, their fertility phenotype was similar to that of the AS2 loss-of-function mutant. We also demonstrate that the SPL2 protein binds to the 5'UTR of the AS2 gene in vivo, indicating that AS2 is directly regulated by SPL2. Our results suggest that the miR156/SPL2 pathway affects floral organs, silique development and plant fertility, as well as directly regulates AS2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhishuo Wang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1511 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1511 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Susanne E Kohalmi
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1511 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Lisa Amyot
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada.
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1511 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
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19
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Gao R, Austin RS, Amyot L, Hannoufa A. Comparative transcriptome investigation of global gene expression changes caused by miR156 overexpression in Medicago sativa. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:658. [PMID: 27542359 PMCID: PMC4992203 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Medicago sativa (alfalfa) is a low-input forage and potential bioenergy crop, and improving its yield and quality has always been a focus of the alfalfa breeding industry. Transgenic alfalfa plants overexpressing a precursor of alfalfa microRNA156 (MsmiR156) were recently generated by our group. These plants (miR156OE) showed enhanced biomass yield, reduced internodal length, increased shoot branching and trichome density, and a delay in flowering time. Transcripts of three SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) genes (MsSPL6, MsSPL12, and MsSPL13) were found to be targeted for cleavage by MsmiR156 in alfalfa. Results To further illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of miR156 in alfalfa, two miR156OE genotypes (A11a and A17) were subjected to Next Generation RNA Sequencing with Illumina HiSeq. More than 1.11 billion clean reads were obtained from our available sequenced samples. A total of 160,472 transcripts were generated using Trinity de novo assembly and 4,985 significantly differentially expressed genes were detected in miR156OE plants A11a and A17 using the Medicago truncatula genome as reference. A total of 17 genes (including upregulated, downregulated, and unchanged) were selected for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation, which showed that gene expression levels were largely consistent between qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq data. In addition to the established SPL genes MsSPL6, MsSPL12 and MsSPL13, four new SPLs; MsSPL2, MsSPL3, MsSPL4 and MsSPL9 were also down-regulated significantly in both miR156OE plants. These seven SPL genes belong to genes phylogeny clades VI, IV, VIII, V and VII, which have been reported to be targeted by miR156 in Arabidopsis thaliana. The gene ontology terms characterized electron transporter, starch synthase activity, sucrose transport, sucrose-phosphate synthase activity, chitin binding, sexual reproduction, flavonoid biosynthesis and lignin catabolism correlate well to the phenotypes of miR156OE alfalfa plants. Conclusions This is the first report of changes in global gene expression in response to miR156 overexpression in alfalfa. The discovered miR156-targeted SPL genes belonging to different clades indicate miR156 plays fundamental and multifunctional roles in regulating alfalfa plant development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3014-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruimin Gao
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Ryan S Austin
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Lisa Amyot
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Abdelali Hannoufa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada. .,Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
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