1
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Yue Z, Deng C, Zeng Y, Shang H, Wang S, Liu S, Liu H. Phyllostachys edulis argonaute genes function in the shoot architecture. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 345:112114. [PMID: 38735397 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112114] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Argonaute (AGO) proteins are the core components of the RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISC) in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and are necessary for the development of plant shoot meristem, which gives rise to the above-ground plant body. In this study, we identified 23 Phyllostachys edulis AGO genes (PhAGOs) that were distributed unequally on the 14 unmapped scaffolds. Gene collinearity and phylogeny analysis showed that the innovation of PhAGO genes was mainly due to dispersed duplication and whole-genome duplication, which resulted in the enlarged PhAGO family. PhAGO genes were expressed in a temporal-spatial expression pattern, and they encoded proteins differently localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus. Overexpression of the PhAGO2 and PhAGO4 genes increased the number of tillers or leaves in Oryza sativa and affected the shoot architecture of Arabidopsis thaliana. These results provided insight into the fact that PhAGO genes play important roles in plant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China
| | - Chu Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China
| | - Yuxue Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China
| | - Hongna Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China
| | - Shenkui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China.
| | - Hua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, China.
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2
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Gonzalo L, Giudicatti AJ, Manavella PA. HYL1's multiverse: A journey through miRNA biogenesis and beyond canonical and non-canonical functions of HYL1. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 80:102546. [PMID: 38718678 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
A delicate balance in gene expression, a process highly controlled by post-transcriptional gene silencing mediated by miRNAs, is vital during plant growth and responses to stress. Within the miRNA biogenesis pathway, HYL1 is one of the most important proteins, initially recognized for its role as a cofactor of DCL1. Yet, HYL1's functions extend beyond miRNA processing, encompassing transcriptional regulation and protein translation between other recently discovered functions. This review comprehensively examines our current knowledge of HYL1 functions in plants, looking at its structure, the complex biochemistry behind it, and its involvement in a variety of cellular processes. We also explored the most compelling open questions regarding HYL1 biology and the further perspectives in its study. Unraveling HYL1 functional details could better understand how plants grow, face environmental stresses, and how the miRNA pathway adapts its outcome to the plant growing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Gonzalo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Axel J Giudicatti
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pablo A Manavella
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora" (IHSM "La Mayora"), Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (UMA-CSIC), Campus Teatinos, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
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3
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López-Virgen AG, Dautt-Castro M, Ulloa-Llanes LK, Casas-Flores S, Contreras-Vergara CA, Hernández-Oñate MA, Sotelo-Mundo RR, Vélez-de la Rocha R, Islas-Osuna MA. Genome-wide identification of gene families related to miRNA biogenesis in Mangifera indica L. and their possible role during heat stress. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17737. [PMID: 39035161 PMCID: PMC11260077 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mango is a popular tropical fruit that requires quarantine hot water treatment (QHWT) for postharvest sanitation, which can cause abiotic stress. Plants have various defense mechanisms to cope with stress; miRNAs mainly regulate the expression of these defense responses. Proteins involved in the biogenesis of miRNAs include DICER-like (DCL), ARGONAUTE (AGO), HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), SERRATE (SE), HUA ENHANCER1 (HEN1), HASTY (HST), and HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN 90 (HSP90), among others. According to our analysis, the mango genome contains five DCL, thirteen AGO, six HYL, two SE, one HEN1, one HST, and five putative HSP90 genes. Gene structure prediction and domain identification indicate that sequences contain key domains for their respective gene families, including the RNase III domain in DCL and PAZ and PIWI domains for AGOs. In addition, phylogenetic analysis indicates the formation of clades that include the mango sequences and their respective orthologs in other flowering plant species, supporting the idea these are functional orthologs. The analysis of cis-regulatory elements of these genes allowed the identification of MYB, ABRE, GARE, MYC, and MeJA-responsive elements involved in stress responses. Gene expression analysis showed that most genes are induced between 3 to 6 h after QHWT, supporting the early role of miRNAs in stress response. Interestingly, our results suggest that mango rapidly induces the production of miRNAs after heat stress. This research will enable us to investigate further the regulation of gene expression and its effects on commercially cultivated fruits, such as mango, while maintaining sanitary standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés G. López-Virgen
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Mitzuko Dautt-Castro
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Lourdes K. Ulloa-Llanes
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Sergio Casas-Flores
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, México
| | | | | | - Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo
- CTAOA, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Rosabel Vélez-de la Rocha
- Unidad Culiacán, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - Maria A. Islas-Osuna
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
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4
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Marmisolle FE, Borniego MB, Cambiagno DA, Gonzalo L, García ML, Manavella PA, Hernández C, Reyes CA. Citrus psorosis virus 24K protein inhibits the processing of miRNA precursors by interacting with components of the biogenesis machinery. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0351323. [PMID: 38785434 PMCID: PMC11218507 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03513-23] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Virus infections in this crop can interfere with cellular processes, causing dramatic economic losses. By performing RT-qPCR analyses, we demonstrated that citrus psorosis virus (CPsV)-infected orange plants exhibited higher levels of unprocessed microRNA (miRNA) precursors than healthy plants. This result correlated with the reported reduction of mature miRNAs species. The protein 24K, the CPsV suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR), interacts with miRNA precursors in vivo. Thus, this protein becomes a candidate responsible for the increased accumulation of unprocessed miRNAs. We analyzed 24K RNA-binding and protein-protein interaction domains and described patterns of its subcellular localization. We also showed that 24K colocalizes within nuclear D-bodies with the miRNA biogenesis proteins DICER-LIKE 1 (DCL1), HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), and SERRATE (SE). According to the results of bimolecular fluorescence complementation and co-immunoprecipitation assays, the 24K protein interacts with HYL1 and SE. Thus, 24K may inhibit miRNA processing in CPsV-infected citrus plants by direct interaction with the miRNA processing complex. This work contributes to the understanding of how a virus can alter the regulatory mechanisms of the host, particularly miRNA biogenesis and function.IMPORTANCESweet oranges can suffer from disease symptoms induced by virus infections, thus resulting in drastic economic losses. In sweet orange plants, CPsV alters the accumulation of some precursors from the regulatory molecules called miRNAs. This alteration leads to a decreased level of mature miRNA species. This misregulation may be due to a direct association of one of the viral proteins (24K) with miRNA precursors. On the other hand, 24K may act with components of the cell miRNA processing machinery through a series of predicted RNA-binding and protein-protein interaction domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Facundo E. Marmisolle
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, CCT-La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María B. Borniego
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, CCT-La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Damián A. Cambiagno
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lucia Gonzalo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María L. García
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, CCT-La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo A. Manavella
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carmen Hernández
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, CSIC-UPV, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carina A. Reyes
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, CCT-La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Lozano-Durán R. Viral Recognition and Evasion in Plants. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 75:655-677. [PMID: 39038248 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-060223-030224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Viruses, causal agents of devastating diseases in plants, are obligate intracellular pathogens composed of a nucleic acid genome and a limited number of viral proteins. The diversity of plant viruses, their diminutive molecular nature, and their symplastic localization pose challenges to understanding the interplay between these pathogens and their hosts in the currently accepted framework of plant innate immunity. It is clear, nevertheless, that plants can recognize the presence of a virus and activate antiviral immune responses, although our knowledge of the breadth of invasion signals and the underpinning sensing events is far from complete. Below, I discuss some of the demonstrated or hypothesized mechanisms enabling viral recognition in plants, the step preceding the onset of antiviral immunity, as well as the strategies viruses have evolved to evade or suppress their detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Lozano-Durán
- Center for Molecular Plant Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany;
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6
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Iwakawa HO. The clade-specific target recognition mechanisms of plant RISCs. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6662-6673. [PMID: 38621714 PMCID: PMC11194062 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic Argonaut proteins (AGOs) assemble RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) with guide RNAs that allow binding to complementary RNA sequences and subsequent silencing of target genes. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana encodes 10 different AGOs, categorized into three distinct clades based on amino acid sequence similarity. While clade 1 and 2 RISCs are known for their roles in post-transcriptional gene silencing, and clade 3 RISCs are associated with transcriptional gene silencing in the nucleus, the specific mechanisms of how RISCs from each clade recognize their targets remain unclear. In this study, I conducted quantitative binding analyses between RISCs and target nucleic acids with mismatches at various positions, unveiling distinct target binding characteristics unique to each clade. Clade 1 and 2 RISCs require base pairing not only in the seed region but also in the 3' supplementary region for stable target RNA binding, with clade 1 exhibiting a higher stringency. Conversely, clade 3 RISCs tolerate dinucleotide mismatches beyond the seed region. Strikingly, they bind to DNA targets with an affinity equal to or surpassing that of RNA, like prokaryotic AGO complexes. These insights challenge existing views on plant RNA silencing and open avenues for exploring new functions of eukaryotic AGOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiro-oki Iwakawa
- Department of Life Science, College of Science, Rikkyo University, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan
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7
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Li J, Zhang W, Lu Q, Sun J, Cheng C, Huang S, Li S, Li Q, Zhang W, Zhou C, Liu B, Xiang F. GmDFB1, an ARM-repeat superfamily protein, regulates floral organ identity through repressing siRNA- and miRNA-mediated gene silencing in soybean. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38860597 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The development of flowers in soybean (Glycine max) is essential for determining the yield potential of the plant. Gene silencing pathways are involved in modulating flower development, but their full elucidation is still incomplete. Here, we conducted a forward genetic screen and identified an abnormal flower mutant, deformed floral bud1-1 (Gmdfb1-1), in soybean. We mapped and identified the causal gene, which encodes a member of the armadillo (ARM)-repeat superfamily. Using small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq), we found an abnormal accumulation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNA (miRNAs) in the Gmdfb1 mutants. We further demonstrated that GmDFB1 interacts with the RNA exosome cofactor SUPER KILLER7 (GmSKI7). Additionally, GmDFB1 interacts with the PIWI domain of ARGONAUTE 1 (GmAGO1) to inhibit the cleavage efficiency on the target genes of sRNAs. The enhanced gene silencing mediated by siRNA and miRNA in the Gmdfb1 mutants leads to the downregulation of their target genes associated with flower development. This study revealed the crucial role of GmDFB1 in regulating floral organ identity in soybean probably by participating in two distinct gene silencing pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Wenxiao Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qing Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jiaqi Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Chuang Cheng
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shiyu Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shuo Li
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qiang Li
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Chuanen Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Bin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Fengning Xiang
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
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8
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Tovar-Aguilar A, Grimanelli D, Acosta-García G, Vielle-Calzada JP, Badillo-Corona JA, Durán-Figueroa N. The miRNA822 loaded by ARGONAUTE9 modulates the monosporic female gametogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2024; 37:243-258. [PMID: 38019279 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-023-00487-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE The miR822 together with of AGO9 protein, modulates monosporic development in Arabidopsis thaliana through the regulation of target genes encoding Cysteine/Histidine-Rich C1 domain proteins, revealing a new role of miRNAs in the control of megaspore formation in flowering plants. In the ovule of flowering plants, the establishment of the haploid generation occurs when a somatic cell differentiates into a megaspore mother cell (MMC) and initiates meiosis. As most flowering plants, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) undergoes a monosporic type of gametogenesis as three meiotically derived cells degenerate, and a single one-the functional megaspore (FM), divides mitotically to form the female gametophyte. The genetic basis and molecular mechanisms that control monosporic gametophyte development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that Arabidopsis plants carrying loss-of-function mutations in the miR822, give rise to extranumerary surviving megaspores that acquire a FM identity and divides without giving rise to differentiated female gametophytes. The overexpression of three miR822 putative target genes encoding cysteine/histidine-rich C1 (DC1) domain proteins, At5g02350, At5g02330 and At2g13900 results in defects equivalent to those found in mutant mir822 plants. The three miR822 targets genes are overexpressed in ago9 mutant ovules, suggesting that miR822 acts through an AGO9-dependent pathway to negatively regulate DC1 domain proteins and restricts the survival of meiotically derived cells to a single megaspore. Our results identify a mechanism mediated by the AGO9-miR822 complex that modulates monosporic female gametogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Tovar-Aguilar
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Grimanelli
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Plant Genome and Development Laboratory, UMR5096, 34394, Montpellier, France
| | - Gerardo Acosta-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Jean-Philippe Vielle-Calzada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (Langebio), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, CINVESTAV-IPN, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Noé Durán-Figueroa
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnología, Mexico City, Mexico.
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9
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Martín-Merchán A, Lavatelli A, Engler C, González-Miguel VM, Moro B, Rosano GL, Bologna NG. Arabidopsis AGO1 N-terminal extension acts as an essential hub for PRMT5 interaction and post-translational modifications. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae387. [PMID: 38769059 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins play pivotal roles regulating gene expression through small RNA (sRNA) -guided mechanisms. Among the 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana, AGO1 stands out as the main effector of post-transcriptional gene silencing. Intriguingly, a specific region of AGO1, its N-terminal extension (NTE), has garnered attention in recent studies due to its involvement in diverse regulatory functions, including subcellular localization, sRNA loading and interactions with regulatory factors. In the field of post-translational modifications (PTMs), little is known about arginine methylation in Arabidopsis AGOs. In this study, we show that NTE of AGO1 (NTEAGO1) undergoes symmetric arginine dimethylation at specific residues. Moreover, NTEAGO1 interacts with the methyltransferase PRMT5, which catalyzes its methylation. Notably, we observed that the lack of symmetric dimethylarginine has no discernible impact on AGO1's subcellular localization or miRNA loading capabilities. However, the absence of PRMT5 significantly alters the loading of a subgroup of sRNAs into AGO1 and reshapes the NTEAGO1 interactome. Importantly, our research shows that symmetric arginine dimethylation of NTEs is a common process among Arabidopsis AGOs, with AGO1, AGO2, AGO3 and AGO5 undergoing this PTM. Overall, this work deepens our understanding of PTMs in the intricate landscape of RNA-associated gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martín-Merchán
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Antonela Lavatelli
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Camila Engler
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Víctor M González-Miguel
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Belén Moro
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Germán L Rosano
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nicolas G Bologna
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain
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10
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Mirlohi S, Schott G, Imboden A, Voinnet O. An AGO10:miR165/6 module regulates meristem activity and xylem development in the Arabidopsis root. EMBO J 2024; 43:1843-1869. [PMID: 38565948 PMCID: PMC11066010 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00071-y] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The RNA-silencing effector ARGONAUTE10 influences cell fate in plant shoot and floral meristems. ARGONAUTE10 also accumulates in the root apical meristem (RAM), yet its function(s) therein remain elusive. Here, we show that ARGONAUTE10 is expressed in the root cell initials where it controls overall RAM activity and length. ARGONAUTE10 is also expressed in the stele, where post-transcriptional regulation confines it to the root tip's pro-vascular region. There, variations in ARGONAUTE10 levels modulate metaxylem-vs-protoxylem specification. Both ARGONAUTE10 functions entail its selective, high-affinity binding to mobile miR165/166 transcribed in the neighboring endodermis. ARGONAUTE10-bound miR165/166 is degraded, likely via SMALL-RNA-DEGRADING-NUCLEASES1/2, thus reducing miR165/166 ability to silence, via ARGONAUTE1, the transcripts of cell fate-influencing transcription factors. These include PHABULOSA (PHB), which controls meristem activity in the initials and xylem differentiation in the pro-vasculature. During early germination, PHB transcription increases while dynamic, spatially-restricted transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms reduce and confine ARGONAUTE10 accumulation to the provascular cells surrounding the newly-forming xylem axis. Adequate miR165/166 concentrations are thereby channeled along the ARGONAUTE10-deficient yet ARGONAUTE1-proficient axis. Consequently, inversely-correlated miR165/166 and PHB gradients form preferentially along the axis despite ubiquitous PHB transcription and widespread miR165/166 delivery inside the whole vascular cylinder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Mirlohi
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich), Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gregory Schott
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich), Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - André Imboden
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich), Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Voinnet
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich), Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
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11
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Bradamante G, Nguyen VH, Incarbone M, Meir Z, Bente H, Donà M, Lettner N, Scheid OM, Gutzat R. Two ARGONAUTE proteins loaded with transposon-derived small RNAs are associated with the reproductive cell lineage in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:863-880. [PMID: 38060984 PMCID: PMC10980394 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
In sexually propagating organisms, genetic, and epigenetic mutations are evolutionarily relevant only if they occur in the germline and are hence transmitted to the next generation. In contrast to most animals, plants are considered to lack an early segregating germline, implying that somatic cells can contribute genetic information to progeny. Here we demonstrate that 2 ARGONAUTE proteins, AGO5 and AGO9, mark cells associated with sexual reproduction in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) throughout development. Both AGOs are loaded with dynamically changing small RNA populations derived from highly methylated, pericentromeric, long transposons. Sequencing of single stem cell nuclei revealed that many of these transposons are co-expressed within an AGO5/9 expression domain in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Co-occurrence of transposon expression and specific ARGONAUTE (AGO) expression in the SAM is reminiscent of germline features in animals and supports the existence of an early segregating germline in plants. Our results open the path to investigating transposon biology and epigenome dynamics at cellular resolution in the SAM stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Bradamante
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Vu Hoang Nguyen
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Incarbone
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zohar Meir
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science & Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Heinrich Bente
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mattia Donà
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Lettner
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ortrun Mittelsten Scheid
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruben Gutzat
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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12
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Barre-Villeneuve C, Laudié M, Carpentier MC, Kuhn L, Lagrange T, Azevedo-Favory J. The unique dual targeting of AGO1 by two types of PRMT enzymes promotes phasiRNA loading in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2480-2497. [PMID: 38321923 PMCID: PMC10954461 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Arginine/R methylation (R-met) of proteins is a widespread post-translational modification (PTM), deposited by a family of protein arginine/R methyl transferase enzymes (PRMT). Regulations by R-met are involved in key biological processes deeply studied in metazoan. Among those, post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) can be regulated by R-met in animals and in plants. It mainly contributes to safeguard processes as protection of genome integrity in germlines through the regulation of piRNA pathway in metazoan, or response to bacterial infection through the control of AGO2 in plants. So far, only PRMT5 has been identified as the AGO/PIWI R-met writer in higher eukaryotes. We uncovered that AGO1, the main PTGS effector regulating plant development, contains unique R-met features among the AGO/PIWI superfamily, and outstanding in eukaryotes. Indeed, AGO1 contains both symmetric (sDMA) and asymmetric (aDMA) R-dimethylations and is dually targeted by PRMT5 and by another type I PRMT in Arabidopsis thaliana. We showed also that loss of sDMA didn't compromise AtAGO1 subcellular trafficking in planta. Interestingly, we underscored that AtPRMT5 specifically promotes the loading of phasiRNA in AtAGO1. All our observations bring to consider this dual regulation of AtAGO1 in plant development and response to environment, and pinpoint the complexity of AGO1 post-translational regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Barre-Villeneuve
- CNRS, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, 66860 Perpignan, France
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, F-66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Michèle Laudié
- CNRS, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, 66860 Perpignan, France
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, F-66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Marie-Christine Carpentier
- CNRS, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, 66860 Perpignan, France
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, F-66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Lauriane Kuhn
- Plateforme protéomique Strasbourg – Esplanade, CNRS FR1589, Université de Strasbourg, IBMC, 2 allée Konrad Roentgen, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Recherche CNRS FR1589, France
| | - Thierry Lagrange
- CNRS, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, 66860 Perpignan, France
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, F-66860 Perpignan, France
| | - Jacinthe Azevedo-Favory
- CNRS, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, 66860 Perpignan, France
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, UMR 5096, F-66860 Perpignan, France
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13
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Zhou B, Yu H, Xue Y, Li M, Zhang C, Yu B. The spliceosome-associated protein CWC15 promotes miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2399. [PMID: 38493158 PMCID: PMC10944506 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46676-z] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in regulating gene expression and their biogenesis is precisely controlled through modulating the activity of microprocessor. Here, we report that CWC15, a spliceosome-associated protein, acts as a positive regulator of miRNA biogenesis. CWC15 binds the promoters of genes encoding miRNAs (MIRs), promotes their activity, and increases the occupancy of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases at MIR promoters, suggesting that CWC15 positively regulates the transcription of primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs). In addition, CWC15 interacts with Serrate (SE) and HYL1, two key components of microprocessor, and is required for efficient pri-miRNA processing and the HYL1-pri-miRNA interaction. Moreover, CWC15 interacts with the 20 S proteasome and PRP4KA, facilitating SE phosphorylation by PRP4KA, and subsequent non-functional SE degradation by the 20 S proteasome. These data reveal that CWC15 ensures optimal miRNA biogenesis by maintaining proper SE levels and by modulating pri-miRNA levels. Taken together, this study uncovers the role of a conserved splicing-related protein in miRNA biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangjun Zhou
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Huihui Yu
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Yong Xue
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Mu Li
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Chi Zhang
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Bin Yu
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA.
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14
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Blagojevic A, Baldrich P, Schiaffini M, Lechner E, Baumberger N, Hammann P, Elmayan T, Garcia D, Vaucheret H, Meyers BC, Genschik P. Heat stress promotes Arabidopsis AGO1 phase separation and association with stress granule components. iScience 2024; 27:109151. [PMID: 38384836 PMCID: PMC10879784 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In Arabidopsis thaliana, ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) plays a central role in microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing. AGO1 associates to the rough endoplasmic reticulum to conduct miRNA-mediated translational repression, mRNA cleavage, and biogenesis of phased siRNAs. Here, we show that a 37°C heat stress (HS) promotes AGO1 protein accumulation in cytosolic condensates where it colocalizes with components of siRNA bodies and of stress granules. AGO1 contains a prion-like domain in its poorly characterized N-terminal Poly-Q domain, which is sufficient to undergo phase separation independently of the presence of SGS3. HS only moderately affects the small RNA repertoire, the loading of AGO1 by miRNAs, and the signatures of target cleavage, suggesting that its localization in condensates protects AGO1 rather than promoting or impairing its activity in reprogramming gene expression during stress. Collectively, our work sheds new light on the impact of high temperature on a main effector of RNA silencing in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Blagojevic
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Marlene Schiaffini
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Esther Lechner
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Baumberger
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Hammann
- Plateforme Protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Taline Elmayan
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Damien Garcia
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Hervé Vaucheret
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Blake C. Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Pascal Genschik
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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15
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Singh K, Sharma D, Bhagat PK, Tayyeba S, Noryang S, Sinha AK. Phosphorylation of AGO1a by MAP kinases is required for miRNA mediated resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae infection in rice. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 340:111967. [PMID: 38154578 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111967] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial leaf blight is a devastating disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) which causes severe crop loss in rice. The molecular mechanism that initiates defense against such pathogens remains unexplored. Reports have suggested crucial role of several miRNAs in regulating immune responses in plants. Argonaute (AGO) proteins have been implicated in imparting immunity against pathogens by using small RNAs as guide molecules. Here, we show that phosphorylation of rice AGO1a by MAP kinases is required for miRNA expression regulation during Xoo infection. AGO1a is induced in response to pathogen infection and is under the control of SA signaling pathway. The pathogen responsive MAP kinases MPK3, MPK4 and MPK6, interact with AGO1a in planta and can phosphorylate the protein in vitro. Overexpression of AGO1a extends disease resistance against Xoo in rice and leads to a higher accumulation of miRNAs. Conversely, overexpression of a non phosphorylatable mutant protein aggravates disease susceptibility and remarkably suppresses the miRNA expression levels. At a molecular level, phosphorylation of AGO1a by MAP kinase is required for increased accumulation of miRNAs during pathogen challenge. Taken together, the data suggests that OsAGO1a is a direct phosphorylation target of MAP kinases and this phosphorylation is crucial for its role in imparting disease resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Singh
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Deepika Sharma
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Prakash Kumar Bhagat
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India; School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Sumaira Tayyeba
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India; Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Stanzin Noryang
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India; Biochemistry Department, Elizer Joldan Memorial College, UT Ladakh 194101, India
| | - Alok Krishna Sinha
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
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16
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Johnson KC, Kilikevicius A, Hofman C, Hu J, Liu Y, Aguilar S, Graswich J, Han Y, Wang T, Westcott JM, Brekken RA, Peng L, Karagkounis G, Corey DR. Nuclear localization of Argonaute 2 is affected by cell density and may relieve repression by microRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1930-1952. [PMID: 38109320 PMCID: PMC10899759 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Argonaute protein is associated with post-transcriptional control of cytoplasmic gene expression through miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISC). Specific cellular and environmental conditions can trigger AGO protein to accumulate in the nucleus. Localization of AGO is central to understanding miRNA action, yet the consequences of AGO being in the nucleus are undefined. We show nuclear enrichment of AGO2 in HCT116 cells grown in two-dimensional culture to high density, HCT116 cells grown in three-dimensional tumor spheroid culture, and human colon tumors. The shift in localization of AGO2 from cytoplasm to nucleus de-represses cytoplasmic AGO2-eCLIP targets that were candidates for canonical regulation by miRISC. Constitutive nuclear localization of AGO2 using an engineered nuclear localization signal increases cell migration. Critical RNAi factors also affect the localization of AGO2. Knocking out an enzyme essential for miRNA biogenesis, DROSHA, depletes mature miRNAs and restricts AGO2 localization to the cytoplasm, while knocking out the miRISC scaffolding protein, TNRC6, results in nuclear localization of AGO2. These data suggest that AGO2 localization and miRNA activity can be regulated depending on environmental conditions, expression of mature miRNAs, and expression of miRISC cofactors. Localization and expression of core miRISC protein machinery should be considered when investigating the roles of miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal C Johnson
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Audrius Kilikevicius
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Cristina Hofman
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Selina Aguilar
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jon Graswich
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Yi Han
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Jill M Westcott
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Lan Peng
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Georgios Karagkounis
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10022, USA
| | - David R Corey
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
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17
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Chen S, Phillips CM. HRDE-2 drives small RNA specificity for the nuclear Argonaute protein HRDE-1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:957. [PMID: 38302462 PMCID: PMC10834429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45245-8] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene silencing process that exists in diverse organisms to protect genome integrity and regulate gene expression. In C. elegans, the majority of RNAi pathway proteins localize to perinuclear, phase-separated germ granules, which are comprised of sub-domains referred to as P granules, Mutator foci, Z granules, and SIMR foci. However, the protein components and function of the newly discovered SIMR foci are unknown. Here we demonstrate that HRDE-2 localizes to SIMR foci and interacts with the germline nuclear Argonaute HRDE-1 in its small RNA unbound state. In the absence of HRDE-2, HRDE-1 exclusively loads CSR-class 22G-RNAs rather than WAGO-class 22G-RNAs, resulting in inappropriate H3K9me3 deposition on CSR-target genes. Thus, our study demonstrates that the recruitment of unloaded HRDE-1 to germ granules, mediated by HRDE-2, is critical to ensure that the correct small RNAs are used to guide nuclear RNA silencing in the C. elegans germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihui Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Carolyn M Phillips
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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18
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Kumar S, Sharma N, Sopory SK, Sanan-Mishra N. miRNAs and genes as molecular regulators of rice grain morphology and yield. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 207:108363. [PMID: 38281341 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108363] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Rice is one of the most consumed crops worldwide and the genetic and molecular basis of its grain yield attributes are well understood. Various studies have identified different yield-related parameters in rice that are regulated by the microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that silence gene expression during or after transcription. They control a variety of biological or genetic activities in plants including growth, development and response to stress. In this review, we have summarized the available information on the genetic control of panicle architecture and grain yield (number and morphology) in rice. The miRNA nodes that are associated with their regulation are also described while focussing on the central role of miR156-SPL node to highlight the co-regulation of two master regulators that determine the fate of panicle development. Since abiotic stresses are known to negatively affect yield, the impact of abiotic stress induced alterations on the levels of these miRNAs are also discussed to highlight the potential of miRNAs for regulating crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Kumar
- Plant RNAi Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Neha Sharma
- Plant RNAi Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Sudhir K Sopory
- Plant RNAi Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Neeti Sanan-Mishra
- Plant RNAi Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
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19
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Vaucheret H, Voinnet O. The plant siRNA landscape. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:246-275. [PMID: 37772967 PMCID: PMC10827316 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Whereas micro (mi)RNAs are considered the clean, noble side of the small RNA world, small interfering (si)RNAs are often seen as a noisy set of molecules whose barbarian acronyms reflect a large diversity of often elusive origins and functions. Twenty-five years after their discovery in plants, however, new classes of siRNAs are still being identified, sometimes in discrete tissues or at particular developmental stages, making the plant siRNA world substantially more complex and subtle than originally anticipated. Focusing primarily on the model Arabidopsis, we review here the plant siRNA landscape, including transposable elements (TE)-derived siRNAs, a vast array of non-TE-derived endogenous siRNAs, as well as exogenous siRNAs produced in response to invading nucleic acids such as viruses or transgenes. We primarily emphasize the extraordinary sophistication and diversity of their biogenesis and, secondarily, the variety of their known or presumed functions, including via non-cell autonomous activities, in the sporophyte, gametophyte, and shortly after fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Vaucheret
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Olivier Voinnet
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zurich), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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20
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de Oliveira Cabral SK, de Freitas MB, Stadnik MJ, Kulcheski FR. Emerging roles of plant microRNAs during Colletotrichum spp. infection. PLANTA 2024; 259:48. [PMID: 38285194 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04318-6] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION This review provides valuable insights into plant molecular regulatory mechanisms during fungus attacks, highlighting potential miRNA candidates for future disease management. Plant defense responses to biotic stress involve intricate regulatory mechanisms, including post-transcriptional regulation of genes mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). These small RNAs play a vital role in the plant's innate immune system, defending against viral, bacterial, and fungal attacks. Among the plant pathogenic fungi, Colletotrichum spp. are notorious for causing anthracnose, a devastating disease affecting economically important crops worldwide. Understanding the molecular machinery underlying the plant immune response to Colletotrichum spp. is crucial for developing tools to reduce production losses. In this comprehensive review, we examine the current understanding of miRNAs associated with plant defense against Colletotrichum spp. We summarize the modulation patterns of miRNAs and their respective target genes. Depending on the function of their targets, miRNAs can either contribute to host resistance or susceptibility. We explore the multifaceted roles of miRNAs during Colletotrichum infection, including their involvement in R-gene-dependent immune system responses, hormone-dependent defense mechanisms, secondary metabolic pathways, methylation regulation, and biosynthesis of other classes of small RNAs. Furthermore, we employ an integrative approach to correlate the identified miRNAs with various strategies and distinct phases of fungal infection. This study provides valuable insights into the current understanding of plant miRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms during fungus attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kirchhofer de Oliveira Cabral
- Group of Plant Molecular Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Mateus Brusco de Freitas
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Center of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Marciel João Stadnik
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Center of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Franceli Rodrigues Kulcheski
- Group of Plant Molecular Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
- Post-Graduation Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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21
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Li M, Yu H, Zhou B, Gan L, Li S, Zhang C, Yu B. JANUS, a spliceosome-associated protein, promotes miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:420-430. [PMID: 37994727 PMCID: PMC10783502 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of genes expression. Their levels are precisely controlled through modulating the activity of the microprocesser complex (MC). Here, we report that JANUS, a homology of the conserved U2 snRNP assembly factor in yeast and human, is required for miRNA accumulation. JANUS associates with MC components Dicer-like 1 (DCL1) and SERRATE (SE) and directly binds the stem-loop of pri-miRNAs. In a hypomorphic janus mutant, the activity of DCL1, the numbers of MC, and the interaction of primary miRNA transcript (pri-miRNAs) with MC are reduced. These data suggest that JANUS promotes the assembly and activity of MC through its interaction with MC and/or pri-miRNAs. In addition, JANUS modulates the transcription of some pri-miRNAs as it binds the promoter of pri-miRNAs and facilitates Pol II occupancy of at their promoters. Moreover, global splicing defects are detected in janus. Taken together, our study reveals a novel role of a conserved splicing factor in miRNA biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu Li
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
| | - Huihui Yu
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
| | - Bangjun Zhou
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
| | - Lu Gan
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
| | - Shengjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao New Energy Shangdong Laboratory, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
| | - Bin Yu
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0666, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588–0118, USA
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22
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Aggarwal B, Karlowski WM, Nuc P, Jarmolowski A, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z, Pietrykowska H. MiRNAs differentially expressed in vegetative and reproductive organs of Marchantia polymorpha - insights into their expression pattern, gene structures and function. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-12. [PMID: 38303117 PMCID: PMC10841014 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2303555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs regulate gene expression affecting a variety of plant developmental processes. The evolutionary position of Marchantia polymorpha makes it a significant model to understand miRNA-mediated gene regulatory pathways in plants. Previous studies focused on conserved miRNA-target mRNA modules showed their critical role in Marchantia development. Here, we demonstrate that the differential expression of conserved miRNAs among land plants and their targets in selected organs of Marchantia additionally underlines their role in regulating fundamental developmental processes. The main aim of this study was to characterize selected liverwort-specific miRNAs, as there is a limited knowledge on their biogenesis, accumulation, targets, and function in Marchantia. We demonstrate their differential accumulation in vegetative and generative organs. We reveal that all liverwort-specific miRNAs examined are encoded by independent transcriptional units. MpmiR11737a, MpmiR11887 and MpmiR11796, annotated as being encoded within protein-encoding genes, have their own independent transcription start sites. The analysis of selected liverwort-specific miRNAs and their pri-miRNAs often reveal correlation in their levels, suggesting transcriptional regulation. However, MpmiR11796 shows a reverse correlation to its pri-miRNA level, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. Moreover, we identify novel targets for selected liverwort-specific miRNAs and demonstrate an inverse correlation between their expression and miRNA accumulation. In the case of one miRNA precursor, we provide evidence that it encodes two functional miRNAs with two independent targets. Overall, our research sheds light on liverwort-specific miRNA gene structure, provides new data on their biogenesis and expression regulation. Furthermore, identifying their targets, we hypothesize the potential role of these miRNAs in early land plant development and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharti Aggarwal
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Wojciech Maciej Karlowski
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Nuc
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmolowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Zofia Szweykowska-Kulinska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Halina Pietrykowska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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23
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Liu T, Xu LG, Duan CG. The trans-kingdom communication of noncoding RNAs in plant-environment interactions. THE PLANT GENOME 2023; 16:e20289. [PMID: 36444889 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As conserved regulatory agents, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have an important impact on many aspects of plant life, including growth, development, and environmental response. Noncoding RNAs can travel through not only plasmodesma and phloem but also intercellular barriers to regulate distinct processes. Increasing evidence shows that the intercellular trans-kingdom transmission of ncRNAs is able to modulate many important interactions between plants and other organisms, such as plant response to pathogen attack, the symbiosis between legume plants and rhizobia and the interactions with parasitic plants. In these interactions, plant ncRNAs are believed to be sorted into extracellular vesicles (EVs) or other nonvesicular vehicles to pass through cell barriers and trigger trans-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) in recipient cells from different species. There is evidence that the features of extracellular RNAs and associated RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a role in defining the RNAs to retain in cell or secrete outside cells. Despite the few reports about RNA secretion pathway in plants, the export of extracellular ncRNAs is orchestrated by a series of pathways in plants. The identification and functional analysis of mobile small RNAs (sRNAs) are attracting increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the function, sorting, transport, and regulation of plant extracellular ncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Univ. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liu-Gen Xu
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Univ. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Cheng-Guo Duan
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Univ. of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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24
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Liu Y, Zhu QF, Li WY, Chen P, Xue J, Yu Y, Feng YZ. The Pivotal Role of Noncoding RNAs in Flowering Time Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2114. [PMID: 38136936 PMCID: PMC10742506 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122114] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs constitute a substantial portion of the transcriptome and play pivotal roles in plant growth and development. Among these processes, flowering stands out as a crucial trait, ensuring reproductive success and seed set, and is meticulously controlled by genetic and environmental factors. With remarkable advancements in the identification and characterization of noncoding RNAs in plants, it has become evident that noncoding RNAs are intricately linked to the regulation of flowering time. In this article, we present an overview of the classification of plant noncoding RNAs and delve into their functions in the regulation of flowering time. Furthermore, we review their molecular mechanisms and their involvement in flowering pathways. Our comprehensive review enhances the understanding of how noncoding RNAs contribute to the regulation of flowering time and sheds light on their potential implications in crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yang Yu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources Preservation and Utilization, Agro-biological Gene Research Center, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; (Y.L.); (Q.-F.Z.); (W.-Y.L.); (P.C.); (J.X.)
| | - Yan-Zhao Feng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources Preservation and Utilization, Agro-biological Gene Research Center, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; (Y.L.); (Q.-F.Z.); (W.-Y.L.); (P.C.); (J.X.)
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25
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Liang C, Wang X, He H, Xu C, Cui J. Beyond Loading: Functions of Plant ARGONAUTE Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16054. [PMID: 38003244 PMCID: PMC10671604 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216054] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are key components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that mediates gene silencing in eukaryotes. Small-RNA (sRNA) cargoes are selectively loaded into different members of the AGO protein family and then target complementary sequences to in-duce transcriptional repression, mRNA cleavage, or translation inhibition. Previous reviews have mainly focused on the traditional roles of AGOs in specific biological processes or on the molecular mechanisms of sRNA sorting. In this review, we summarize the biological significance of canonical sRNA loading, including the balance among distinct sRNA pathways, cross-regulation of different RISC activities during plant development and defense, and, especially, the emerging roles of AGOs in sRNA movement. We also discuss recent advances in novel non-canonical functions of plant AGOs. Perspectives for future functional studies of this evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic protein family will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted AGO proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jie Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (C.L.); (X.W.); (H.H.); (C.X.)
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26
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Xu C, Zhang Z, He J, Bai Y, Cui J, Liu L, Tang J, Tang G, Chen X, Mo B. The DEAD-box helicase RCF1 plays roles in miRNA biogenesis and RNA splicing in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 116:144-160. [PMID: 37415266 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16366] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
RCF1 is a highly conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase found in yeast, plants, and mammals. Studies about the functions of RCF1 in plants are limited. Here, we uncovered the functions of RCF1 in Arabidopsis thaliana as a player in pri-miRNA processing and splicing, as well as in pre-mRNA splicing. A mutant with miRNA biogenesis defects was isolated, and the defect was traced to a recessive point mutation in RCF1 (rcf1-4). We show that RCF1 promotes D-body formation and facilitates the interaction between pri-miRNAs and HYL1. Finally, we show that intron-containing pri-miRNAs and pre-mRNAs exhibit a global splicing defect in rcf1-4. Together, this work uncovers roles for RCF1 in miRNA biogenesis and RNA splicing in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhanhui Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Juan He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yongsheng Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jie Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jihua Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Guiliang Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Research Center, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Xuemei Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Beixin Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Longhua Institute of Innovative Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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27
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Chojnacka A, Smoczynska A, Bielewicz D, Pacak A, Hensel G, Kumlehn J, Maciej Karlowski W, Grabsztunowicz M, Sobieszczuk-Nowicka E, Jarmolowski A, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z. PEP444c encoded within the MIR444c gene regulates microRNA444c accumulation in barley. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e14018. [PMID: 37882256 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate the expression of their target genes. The MIR444 gene family is present exclusively in monocotyledons, and microRNAs444 from this family have been shown to target certain MADS-box transcription factors in rice and barley. We identified three barley MIR444 (MIR444a/b/c) genes and comprehensively characterised their structure and the processing pattern of the primary transcripts (pri-miRNAs444). Pri-microRNAs444 undergo extensive alternative splicing, generating functional and nonfunctional pri-miRNA444 isoforms. We show that barley pri-miRNAs444 contain numerous open reading frames (ORFs) whose transcripts associate with ribosomes. Using specific antibodies, we provide evidence that selected ORFs encoding PEP444a within MIR444a and PEP444c within MIR444c are expressed in barley plants. Moreover, we demonstrate that CRISPR-associated endonuclease 9 (Cas9)-mediated mutagenesis of the PEP444c-encoding sequence results in a decreased level of PEP444 transcript in barley shoots and roots and a 5-fold reduced level of mature microRNA444c in roots. Our observations suggest that PEP444c encoded by the MIR444c gene is involved in microRNA444c biogenesis in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Chojnacka
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Smoczynska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Dawid Bielewicz
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Centre for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pacak
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Seeland, Germany
| | - Jochen Kumlehn
- Plant Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Seeland, Germany
| | - Wojciech Maciej Karlowski
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Magda Grabsztunowicz
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewa Sobieszczuk-Nowicka
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmolowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Zofia Szweykowska-Kulinska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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28
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Xu Y, Chen X. microRNA biogenesis and stabilization in plants. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 3:707-717. [PMID: 38933298 PMCID: PMC11197542 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in a broad range of eukaryotic species. In animals, it is estimated that more than 60% of mammalian genes are targets of miRNAs, with miRNAs regulating cellular processes such as differentiation and proliferation. In plants, miRNAs regulate gene expression and play essential roles in diverse biological processes, including growth, development, and stress responses. Arabidopsis mutants with defective miRNA biogenesis are embryo lethal, and abnormal expression of miRNAs can cause severe developmental phenotypes. It is therefore crucial that the homeostasis of miRNAs is tightly regulated. In this review, we summarize the key mechanisms of plant miRNA biogenesis and stabilization. We provide an update on nuclear proteins with functions in miRNA biogenesis and proteins linking miRNA biogenesis to environmental triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xu
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Joint Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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29
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Chen G, Xu D, Liu Q, Yue Z, Dai B, Pan S, Chen Y, Feng X, Hu H. Regulation of FLC nuclear import by coordinated action of the NUP62-subcomplex and importin β SAD2. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:2086-2106. [PMID: 37278318 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Flowering locus C (FLC) is a central transcriptional repressor that controls flowering time. However, how FLC is imported into the nucleus is unknown. Here, we report that Arabidopsis nucleoporins 62 (NUP62), NUP58, and NUP54 composed NUP62-subcomplex modulates FLC nuclear import during floral transition in an importin α-independent manner, via direct interaction. NUP62 recruits FLC to the cytoplasmic filaments and imports it into the nucleus through the NUP62-subcomplex composed central channel. Importin β supersensitive to ABA and drought 2 (SAD2), a carrier protein, is critical for FLC nuclear import and flower transition, which facilitates FLC import into the nucleus mainly through the NUP62-subcomplex. Proteomics, RNA-seq, and cell biological analyses indicate that the NUP62-subcomplex mainly mediates the nuclear import of cargos with unconventional nuclear localization sequences (NLSs), such as FLC. Our findings illustrate the mechanisms of the NUP62-subcomplex and SAD2 on FLC nuclear import process and floral transition, and provide insights into the role of NUP62-subcomplex and SAD2 in protein nucleocytoplasmic transport in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Danyun Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qing Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhichuang Yue
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Biao Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shujuan Pan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yongqiang Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xinhua Feng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Honghong Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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30
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Mann CWG, Sawyer A, Gardiner DM, Mitter N, Carroll BJ, Eamens AL. RNA-Based Control of Fungal Pathogens in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12391. [PMID: 37569766 PMCID: PMC10418863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Our duty to conserve global natural ecosystems is increasingly in conflict with our need to feed an expanding population. The use of conventional pesticides not only damages the environment and vulnerable biodiversity but can also still fail to prevent crop losses of 20-40% due to pests and pathogens. There is a growing call for more ecologically sustainable pathogen control measures. RNA-based biopesticides offer an eco-friendly alternative to the use of conventional fungicides for crop protection. The genetic modification (GM) of crops remains controversial in many countries, though expression of transgenes inducing pathogen-specific RNA interference (RNAi) has been proven effective against many agronomically important fungal pathogens. The topical application of pathogen-specific RNAi-inducing sprays is a more responsive, GM-free approach to conventional RNAi transgene-based crop protection. The specific targeting of essential pathogen genes, the development of RNAi-nanoparticle carrier spray formulations, and the possible structural modifications to the RNA molecules themselves are crucial to the success of this novel technology. Here, we outline the current understanding of gene silencing pathways in plants and fungi and summarize the pioneering and recent work exploring RNA-based biopesticides for crop protection against fungal pathogens, with a focus on spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS). Further, we discuss factors that could affect the success of RNA-based control strategies, including RNA uptake, stability, amplification, and movement within and between the plant host and pathogen, as well as the cost and design of RNA pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. G. Mann
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
| | - Anne Sawyer
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Donald M. Gardiner
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Neena Mitter
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (D.M.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (C.W.G.M.); (A.S.); (B.J.C.)
| | - Andrew L. Eamens
- School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558, Australia
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31
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Wieczorek P, Jarmołowski A, Szweykowska-Kulińska Z, Kozak M, Taube M. Solution structure and behaviour of the Arabidopsis thaliana HYL1 protein. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130376. [PMID: 37150226 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In plants, microRNA biogenesis involves the complex assembly of molecular processes that are mostly governed by three proteins: RNase III protein DCL1 and two RNA binding proteins, SERRATE and HYL1. HYL1 protein is a double stranded RNA binding protein that is needed for the precise excision of miRNA/miRNA* duplex from the stem-loop containing primary miRNA gene transcripts. Moreover, HYL1 protein partners with HSP90 and CARP9 proteins to load the miRNA molecules onto the AGO1 endonuclease. HYL1 protein as a crucial player in the biogenesis pathway is regulated by its phosphorylation status to fine tune the levels of miRNA in various physiological conditions. HYL1 protein consists of two dsRNA binding domains (dsRBD) that are involved in RNA binding and dimerization and a C-terminal disordered tail of unknown function. Although the spatial structures of the individual dsRBDs have been determined there is a lack of information about the behaviour and structure of the full length protein. Using small the angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique we investigated the structure and dynamic of the HYL1 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana in solution. We show that the C-terminal domain is disordered and dynamic in solution and that HYL1 protein dimerization is dependent on the concentration. HYL1 protein lacking a C-terminal tail and a nuclear localisation signal (NLS) fragment is almost exclusively monomeric and similarly to full-length protein has a dynamic nature in solution. Our results point for the first time to the role of the C-terminal fragment in stabilisation of HYL1 dimer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Wieczorek
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmołowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Kozak
- Department of Biomedical Physics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 2, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Michał Taube
- Department of Biomedical Physics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 2, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
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Johnson KC, Kilikevicius A, Hofman C, Hu J, Liu Y, Aguilar S, Graswich J, Han Y, Wang T, Westcott JM, Brekken RA, Peng L, Karagkounis G, Corey DR. Nuclear Localization of Argonaute is affected by Cell Density and May Relieve Repression by microRNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.07.548119. [PMID: 37461596 PMCID: PMC10350042 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.07.548119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute protein is associated with post-transcriptional control of cytoplasmic gene expression through miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISC). Specific cellular and environmental conditions can trigger AGO protein to accumulate in the nucleus. Localization of AGO is central to understanding miRNA action, yet the consequences of AGO being in the nucleus are undefined. We show nuclear enrichment of AGO2 in HCT116 cells grown in two-dimensional culture to high density, HCT116 cells grown in three-dimensional tumor spheroid culture, and human colon tumors. The shift in localization of AGO2 from cytoplasm to nucleus de-represses cytoplasmic AGO2-eCLIP targets that were candidates for canonical regulation by miRISC. Constitutive nuclear localization of AGO2 using an engineered nuclear localization signal increases cell migration. Critical RNAi factors also affect the localization of AGO2. Knocking out an enzyme essential for miRNA biogenesis, DROSHA, depletes mature miRNAs and restricts AGO2 localization to the cytoplasm, while knocking out the miRISC scaffolding protein, TNRC6, results in nuclear localization of AGO2. These data suggest that AGO2 localization and miRNA activity can be regulated depending on environmental conditions, expression of mature miRNAs, and expression of miRISC cofactors. Localization and expression of core miRISC protein machinery should be considered when investigating the roles of miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal C Johnson
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Audrius Kilikevicius
- current address, Eli Lilly, Lilly Cambridge Innovation Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Cristina Hofman
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Yang Liu
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Selina Aguilar
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jon Graswich
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Yi Han
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Tao Wang
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Jill M Westcott
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Lan Peng
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Georgios Karagkounis
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - David R Corey
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Dallas, TX 75235
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Ma Z, Hu L. MicroRNA: A Dynamic Player from Signalling to Abiotic Tolerance in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11364. [PMID: 37511124 PMCID: PMC10379455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules composed of approximately 20-24 nucleotides in plants. They play an important regulatory role in plant growth and development and as a signal in abiotic tolerance. Some abiotic stresses include drought, salt, cold, high temperature, heavy metals and nutritional elements. miRNAs affect gene expression by manipulating the cleavage, translational expression or DNA methylation of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). This review describes the current progress in the field considering two aspects: (i) the way miRNAs are produced and regulated and (ii) the way miRNA/target genes are used in plant responses to various abiotic stresses. Studying the molecular mechanism of action of miRNAs' downstream target genes could optimize the genetic manipulation of crop growth and development conditions to provide a more theoretically optimized basis for improving crop production. MicroRNA is a novel signalling mechanism in interplant communication relating to abiotic tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Ma
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Emil Ramann Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Lanjuan Hu
- Jilin Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
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Hudzik C, Maguire S, Guan S, Held J, Axtell MJ. Trans-species microRNA loci in the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris have a U6-like snRNA promoter. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1834-1847. [PMID: 36896651 PMCID: PMC10226579 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Small regulatory RNAs can move between organisms and regulate gene expression in the recipient. Whether the trans-species small RNAs being exported are distinguished from the normal endogenous small RNAs of the source organism is not known. The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris (dodder) produces many microRNAs that specifically accumulate at the host-parasite interface, several of which have trans-species activity. We found that induction of C. campestris interface-induced microRNAs is similar regardless of host species and occurs in C. campestris haustoria produced in the absence of any host. The loci-encoding C. campestris interface-induced microRNAs are distinguished by a common cis-regulatory element. This element is identical to a conserved upstream sequence element (USE) used by plant small nuclear RNA loci. The properties of the interface-induced microRNA primary transcripts strongly suggest that they are produced via U6-like transcription by RNA polymerase III. The USE promotes accumulation of interface-induced miRNAs (IIMs) in a heterologous system. This promoter element distinguishes C. campestris IIM loci from other plant small RNAs. Our data suggest that C. campestris IIMs are produced in a manner distinct from canonical miRNAs. All confirmed C. campestris microRNAs with documented trans-species activity are interface-induced and possess these features. We speculate that RNA polymerase III transcription of IIMs may allow these miRNAs to be exported to hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Hudzik
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sean Maguire
- New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | - Shengxi Guan
- New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | - Jeremy Held
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Swida-Barteczka A, Pacak A, Kruszka K, Nuc P, Karlowski WM, Jarmolowski A, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z. MicroRNA172b-5p/trehalose-6-phosphate synthase module stimulates trehalose synthesis and microRNA172b-3p/AP2-like module accelerates flowering in barley upon drought stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1124785. [PMID: 36950348 PMCID: PMC10025483 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1124785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are major regulators of gene expression during plant development under normal and stress conditions. In this study, we analyzed the expression of 150 conserved miRNAs during drought stress applied to barley ready to flower. The dynamics of miRNAs expression was also observed after rewatering. Target messenger RNA (mRNAs) were experimentally identified for all but two analyzed miRNAs, and 41 of the targets were not reported before. Drought stress applied to barley induced accelerated flowering coordinated by a pair of two differently expressed miRNAs originating from a single precursor: hvu-miR172b-3p and hvu-miR172b-5p. Increased expression of miRNA172b-3p during drought leads to the downregulation of four APETALA2(AP2)-like genes by their mRNA cleavage. In parallel, the downregulation of the miRNA172b-5p level results in an increased level of a newly identified target, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, a key enzyme in the trehalose biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, drought-treated plants have higher trehalose content, a known osmoprotectant, whose level is rapidly dropping after watering. In addition, trehalose-6-phosphate, an intermediate of the trehalose synthesis pathway, is known to induce flowering. The hvu-miRNA172b-5p/trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and hvu-miRNA172b-3p/AP2-like create a module leading to osmoprotection and accelerated flowering induction during drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Swida-Barteczka
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pacak
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kruszka
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Przemyslaw Nuc
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech M. Karlowski
- Department of Computational Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Artur Jarmolowski
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Zofia Szweykowska-Kulinska
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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36
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Xu Y, Zhang Y, Li Z, Soloria AK, Potter S, Chen X. The N-terminal extension of Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE 1 is essential for microRNA activities. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010450. [PMID: 36888599 PMCID: PMC9994745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate target gene expression through their ARGONAUTE (AGO) effector protein, mainly AGO1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition to the highly conserved N, PAZ, MID and PIWI domains with known roles in RNA silencing, AGO1 contains a long, unstructured N-terminal extension (NTE) of little-known function. Here, we show that the NTE is indispensable for the functions of Arabidopsis AGO1, as a lack of the NTE leads to seedling lethality. Within the NTE, the region containing amino acids (a.a.) 91 to 189 is essential for rescuing an ago1 null mutant. Through global analyses of small RNAs, AGO1-associated small RNAs, and miRNA target gene expression, we show that the region containing a.a. 91-189 is required for the loading of miRNAs into AGO1. Moreover, we show that reduced nuclear partitioning of AGO1 did not affect its profiles of miRNA and ta-siRNA association. Furthermore, we show that the 1-to-90a.a. and 91-to-189a.a. regions of the NTE redundantly promote the activities of AGO1 in the biogenesis of trans-acting siRNAs. Together, we report novel roles of the NTE of Arabidopsis AGO1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Yong Zhang
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Zhenfang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Alyssa K. Soloria
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Savannah Potter
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
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37
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Shi X, Yang H, Birchler JA. MicroRNAs play regulatory roles in genomic balance. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200187. [PMID: 36470594 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Classic genetics studies found that genomic imbalance caused by changing the dosage of part of the genome (aneuploidy) has more detrimental effects than altering the dosage of the whole genome (ploidy). Previous analysis revealed global modulation of gene expression triggered by aneuploidy across various species, including maize (Zea mays), Arabidopsis, yeast, mammals, etc. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 20- to 24-nt endogenous small noncoding RNAs that carry out post-transcriptional gene expression regulation. That miRNAs and their putative targets are preferentially retained as duplicates after whole-genome duplication, as are many transcription factors and signaling components, indicates miRNAs are likely to be dosage-sensitive and potentially involved in genomic balance networks. This review addresses the following questions regarding the role of miRNAs in genomic imbalance. (1) How do aneuploidy and polyploidy impact the expression of miRNAs? (2) Do miRNAs play a regulatory role in modulating the expression of their targets under genomic imbalance?
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Shi
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Hua Yang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - James A Birchler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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38
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Ding N, Zhang B. microRNA production in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1096772. [PMID: 36743500 PMCID: PMC9893293 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1096772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) associate with ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins and act as sequence-specific repressors of target gene expression, at the post-transcriptional level through target transcript cleavage and/or translational inhibition. MiRNAs are mainly transcribed by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (POL II) and processed by DICER LIKE1 (DCL1) complex into 21∼22 nucleotide (nt) long. Although the main molecular framework of miRNA biogenesis and modes of action have been established, there are still new requirements continually emerging in the recent years. The studies on the involvement factors in miRNA biogenesis indicate that miRNA biogenesis is not accomplished separately step by step, but is closely linked and dynamically regulated with each other. In this article, we will summarize the current knowledge on miRNA biogenesis, including MIR gene transcription, primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) processing, miRNA AGO1 loading and nuclear export; and miRNA metabolism including methylation, uridylation and turnover. We will describe how miRNAs are produced and how the different steps are regulated. We hope to raise awareness that the linkage between different steps and the subcellular regulation are becoming important for the understanding of plant miRNA biogenesis and modes of action.
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Bajczyk M, Jarmolowski A, Jozwiak M, Pacak A, Pietrykowska H, Sierocka I, Swida-Barteczka A, Szewc L, Szweykowska-Kulinska Z. Recent Insights into Plant miRNA Biogenesis: Multiple Layers of miRNA Level Regulation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12020342. [PMID: 36679055 PMCID: PMC9864873 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small RNAs, 20-22 nt long, the main role of which is to downregulate gene expression at the level of mRNAs. MiRNAs are fundamental regulators of plant growth and development in response to internal signals as well as in response to abiotic and biotic factors. Therefore, the deficiency or excess of individual miRNAs is detrimental to particular aspects of a plant's life. In consequence, the miRNA levels must be appropriately adjusted. To obtain proper expression of each miRNA, their biogenesis is controlled at multiple regulatory layers. Here, we addressed processes discovered to influence miRNA steady-state levels, such as MIR transcription, co-transcriptional pri-miRNA processing (including splicing, polyadenylation, microprocessor assembly and activity) and miRNA-encoded peptides synthesis. MiRNA stability, RISC formation and miRNA export out of the nucleus and out of the plant cell also define the levels of miRNAs in various plant tissues. Moreover, we show the evolutionary conservation of miRNA biogenesis core proteins across the plant kingdom.
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40
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Li Q, Shen H, Yuan S, Dai X, Yang C. miRNAs and lncRNAs in tomato: Roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1094459. [PMID: 36714724 PMCID: PMC9875070 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1094459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants are continuously exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses in the natural environment. To cope with these stresses, they have evolved a multitude of defenses mechanisms. With the rapid development of genome sequencing technologies, a large number of non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) have been identified in tomato, like microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Recently, more and more evidence indicates that many ncRNAs are involved in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses in tomato. In this review, we summarize recent updates on the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in tomato abiotic/biotic responses, including abiotic (high temperature, drought, cold, salinization, etc.) and biotic (bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, etc.) stresses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms mediated by ncRNAs in response to these stresses will help us to clarify the future directions for ncRNA research and resistance breeding in tomato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Heng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shoujuan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xigang Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Jianghan University/Hubei Engineering Research Center for Protection and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Hanjiang River Basin, Wuhan, China
| | - Changxian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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41
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Chithung TA, Kansal S, Jajo R, Balyan S, Raghuvanshi S. Understanding the evolution of miRNA biogenesis machinery in plants with special focus on rice. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:30. [PMID: 36604385 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-022-00958-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
miRNA biogenesis process is an intricate and complex event consisting of many proteins working in a highly coordinated fashion. Most of these proteins have been studied in Arabidopsis; however, their orthologs and functions have not been explored in other plant species. In the present study, we have manually curated all the experimentally verified information present in the literature regarding these proteins and found a total of 98 genes involved in miRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. The conservation pattern of these proteins was identified in other plant species ranging from dicots to lower organisms, and we found that a major proportion of proteins involved in the pri-miRNA processing are conserved. However, nearly 20% of the genes, mostly involved in either transcription or functioning of the miRNAs, were absent in the lower organisms. Further, we manually curated a regulatory network of the core components of the biogenesis process and found that nearly half (46%) of the proteins interact with them, indicating that the processing step is perhaps the most under surveillance/regulation. We have subsequently attempted to characterize the orthologs identified in Oryza sativa, on the basis of transcriptome and epigenetic modifications under field drought conditions in order to assess the impact of drought on the process. We found several participating genes to be differentially expressed and/or epigenetically methylated under drought, although the core components like DCL1, SE, and HYL1 remain unaffected by the stress itself. The study enhances our present understanding of the biogenesis process and its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonu Angaila Chithung
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Shivani Kansal
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Ringyao Jajo
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Sonia Balyan
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Saurabh Raghuvanshi
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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Jamla M, Joshi S, Patil S, Tripathi BN, Kumar V. MicroRNAs modulating nutrient homeostasis: a sustainable approach for developing biofortified crops. PROTOPLASMA 2023; 260:5-19. [PMID: 35657503 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01775-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During their lifespan, sessile plants have to cope with bioavailability of the suboptimal nutrient concentration and have to constantly sense/evolve the connecting web of signal cascades for efficient nutrient uptake, storage, and translocation for proper growth and metabolism. However, environmental fluctuations and escalating anthropogenic activities are making it a formidable challenge for plants. This is adding to (micro)nutrient-deficient crops and nutritional insecurity. Biofortification is emerging as a sustainable and efficacious approach which can be utilized to combat the micronutrient malnutrition. A biofortified crop has an enriched level of desired nutrients developed using conventional breeding, agronomic practices, or advanced biotechnological tools. Nutrient homeostasis gets hampered under nutrient stress, which involves disturbance in short-distance and long-distance cell-cell/cell-organ communications involving multiple cellular and molecular components. Advanced sequencing platforms coupled with bioinformatics pipelines and databases have suggested the potential roles of tiny signaling molecules and post-transcriptional regulators, the microRNAs (miRNAs) in key plant phenomena including nutrient homeostasis. miRNAs are seen as emerging targets for biotechnology-based biofortification programs. Thus, understanding the mechanistic insights and regulatory role of miRNAs could open new windows for exploring them in developing nutrient-efficient biofortified crops. This review discusses significance and roles of miRNAs in plant nutrition and nutrient homeostasis and how they play key roles in plant responses to nutrient imbalances/deficiencies/toxicities covering major nutrients-nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). A perspective view has been given on developing miRNA-engineered biofortified crops with recent success stories. Current challenges and future strategies have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Jamla
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411016, India
| | - Shrushti Joshi
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411016, India
| | - Suraj Patil
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411016, India
| | - Bhumi Nath Tripathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, 484887, India
| | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411016, India.
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Huo C, Zhang B, Wang R. Research progress on plant noncoding RNAs in response to low-temperature stress. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2022; 17:2004035. [PMID: 34927551 PMCID: PMC8932918 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2021.2004035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Low temperature (LT) is an important factor limiting plant growth and distribution. Plants have evolved sophisticated adaptive mechanisms to cope with hypothermia. RNA silencing is the orchestrator of these cellular responses. RNA silencing, which modifies gene expression through noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), is a strategy used by plants to combat environmental stress. ncRNAs, which have very little protein-coding capacity, work by binding reverse complementary endogenous transcripts. In plants, ncRNAs include small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), medium-sized non-coding RNAs (mncRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Apart from describing the biogenesis of different ncRNAs (miRNAs, siRNAs, and lncRNAs), we thoroughly discuss the functions of these ncRNAs during cold acclimation. Two major classes of sncRNAs, microRNAs and siRNAs, play essential regulatory roles in cold response processes through the posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) pathway or transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) pathway. Microarray or transcriptome sequencing analysis can reveal a large number of cold-responsive miRNAs in plants. In this review, the cold-response patterns of miRNAs verified by Northern blotting or quantitative PCR in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, and many other important crops are discussed. The detailed molecular mechanisms of several miRNAs in Arabidopsis (miR397, miR408, miR402, and miR394) and rice (Osa-miR156, Osa-miR319, and Osa-miR528) that regulate plant cold resistance are elucidated. In addition, the regulatory mechanism of the lncRNA SVALKA in the cold signaling pathway is explained in detail. Finally, we present the challenges for understanding the roles of small ncRNAs in cold signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenmin Huo
- College of Biology Science & Engineering, Hebei University of Economics & Business, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Baowen Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ruiju Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- CONTACT Ruiju Wang College of Biology Science & Engineering, Hebei University of Economics & Business, Shijiazhuang, China
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Minow MAA, Coneva V, Lesy V, Misyura M, Colasanti J. Plant gene silencing signals move from the phloem to influence gene expression in shoot apical meristems. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:606. [PMID: 36550422 PMCID: PMC9783409 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small RNAs (sRNA) are potent regulators of gene expression that can diffuse short distances between cells and move long distances through plant vasculature. However, the degree to which sRNA silencing signals can move from the phloem to the shoot apical meristem (SAM) remains unclear. RESULTS Two independent transgenic approaches were used to examine whether phloem sRNA silencing can reach different domains of the SAM and silence SAM-expressed genes. First, the phloem companion-cell specific SUCROSE-PROTON SYMPORTER2 (SUC2) promoter was used to drive expression of an inverted repeat to target the FD gene, an exclusively SAM-localized floral regulator. Second, the SUC2 promoter was used to express an artificial microRNA (aMiR) designed to target a synthetic CLAVATA3 (CLV3) transgene in SAM stem cells. Both phloem silencing signals phenocopied the loss of function of their targets and altered target gene expression suggesting that a phloem-to-SAM silencing communication axis exists, connecting distal regions of the plant to SAM stem cells. CONCLUSIONS Demonstration of phloem-to-SAM silencing reveals a regulatory link between somatic sRNA expressed in distal regions of the plant and the growing shoot. Since the SAM stem cells ultimately produce the gametes, we discuss the intriguing possibility that phloem-to-SAM sRNA trafficking could allow transient somatic sRNA expression to manifest stable, transgenerational epigenetic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. A. Minow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Viktoriya Coneva
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Lesy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Max Misyura
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph Colasanti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Shi C, Zhang J, Wu B, Jouni R, Yu C, Meyers BC, Liang W, Fei Q. Temperature-sensitive male sterility in rice determined by the roles of AGO1d in reproductive phasiRNA biogenesis and function. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:1529-1544. [PMID: 36031742 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phased secondary siRNAs (phasiRNAs) are broadly present in the reproductive tissues of flowering plants, with spatial-temporal specificity. However, the ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins associated with phasiRNAs and their miRNA triggers remain elusive. Here, through histological and high-throughput sequencing analyses, we show that rice AGO1d, which is specifically expressed in anther wall cells before and during meiosis, associates with both miR2118 and miR2275 to mediate phasiRNA biogenesis. AGO1d preferentially binds to miR2118-triggered 21-nucleotide (nt) phasiRNAs with a 5'-terminal uridine, suggesting a dual role in phasiRNA biogenesis and function. Depletion of AGO1d causes a reduction of 21- and 24-nt phasiRNAs and temperature-sensitive male sterility. At lower temperatures, anthers of the ago1d mutant predominantly show excessive tapetal cells with little starch accumulation during pollen formation, possibly caused by the dysregulation of cell metabolism. These results uncover an essential role of AGO1d in rice anther development at lower temperatures and demonstrate coordinative roles of AGO proteins during reproductive phasiRNA biogenesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanlin Shi
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bingjin Wu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Rachel Jouni
- Plant and Microbial Biosciences Program, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University, Saint Louis, MI, 63130, USA
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MI, 63132, USA
| | - Changxiu Yu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MI, 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Sciences and Technology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MI, 65211, USA
| | - Wanqi Liang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Qili Fei
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
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Arabidopsis AAR2, a conserved splicing factor in eukaryotes, acts in microRNA biogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208415119. [PMID: 36191209 PMCID: PMC9565372 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208415119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In yeast and humans, AAR2 is involved in pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing through regulating U5 snRNP assembly. This study shows that Arabidopsis AAR2 promotes microRNA (miRNA) accumulation in addition to its conserved role in pre-mRNA splicing. AAR2 is associated with the microprocessor component HYL1 and promotes its dephosphorylation to produce the active form in miRNA biogenesis. The study also reveals a previously unknown role of HYL1 in causing the degradation of the primary precursors to miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) and a role of AAR2 in protecting pri-miRNAs from HYL1-depedent degradation. Taken together, our findings provide insights into the role of a conserved splicing factor in miRNA biogenesis in plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in plant growth and development, and as such, their biogenesis is fine-tuned via regulation of the core microprocessor components. Here, we report that Arabidopsis AAR2, a homolog of a U5 snRNP assembly factor in yeast and humans, not only acts in splicing but also promotes miRNA biogenesis. AAR2 interacts with the microprocessor component hyponastic leaves 1 (HYL1) in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and dicing bodies. In aar2 mutants, abundance of nonphosphorylated HYL1, the active form of HYL1, and the number of HYL1-labeled dicing bodies are reduced. Primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) accumulation is compromised despite normal promoter activities of MIR genes in aar2 mutants. RNA decay assays show that the aar2-1 mutation leads to faster degradation of pri-miRNAs in a HYL1-dependent manner, which reveals a previously unknown and negative role of HYL1 in miRNA biogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal a dual role of AAR2 in miRNA biogenesis and pre-messenger RNA splicing.
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Deng F, Zeng F, Shen Q, Abbas A, Cheng J, Jiang W, Chen G, Shah AN, Holford P, Tanveer M, Zhang D, Chen ZH. Molecular evolution and functional modification of plant miRNAs with CRISPR. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:890-907. [PMID: 35165036 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gene editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) has revolutionized biotechnology and provides genetic tools for medicine and life sciences. However, the application of this technology to miRNAs, with the function as negative gene regulators, has not been extensively reviewed in plants. Here, we summarize the evolution, biogenesis, and structure of miRNAs, as well as their interactions with mRNAs and computational models for predicting target genes. In addition, we review current advances in CRISPR/Cas for functional analysis and for modulating miRNA genes in plants. Extending our knowledge of miRNAs and their manipulation with CRISPR will provide fundamental understanding of the functions of plant miRNAs and facilitate more sustainable and publicly acceptable genetic engineering of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenglin Deng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Fanrong Zeng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Qiufang Shen
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Asad Abbas
- School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Jianhui Cheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Central Laboratory, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
| | - Adnan Noor Shah
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, 64200, Pakistan
| | - Paul Holford
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Mohsin Tanveer
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia.
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
| | - Zhong-Hua Chen
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
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He M, Kong X, Jiang Y, Qu H, Zhu H. MicroRNAs: emerging regulators in horticultural crops. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:936-951. [PMID: 35466027 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Horticulture is one of the oldest agricultural practices with great popularity throughout the world. Horticultural crops include fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, as well as medicinal and beverage plants. They are cultivated for food, specific nutrition, and medical use, or for aesthetic pleasure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which constitute a major class of endogenous small RNAs in plants, affect a multitude of developmental and physiological processes by imparting sequence specificity to gene regulation. Over the past decade, tens of thousands of miRNAs have been identified in more than 100 horticultural crops and their critical roles in regulating quality development of diverse horticultural crops have been demonstrated. Here, we review how miRNAs have emerged as important regulators and promising tools for horticultural crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiying He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiangjin Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yueming Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongxia Qu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hong Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
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Identification of Pri-miRNA Stem-Loop Interacting Proteins in Plants Using a Modified Version of the Csy4 CRISPR Endonuclease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168961. [PMID: 36012225 PMCID: PMC9409100 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation at the RNA level by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) is key to coordinating eukaryotic gene expression. In plants, the importance of miRNAs is highlighted by severe developmental defects in mutants impaired in miRNA biogenesis. MiRNAs are processed from long primary-microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) with internal stem-loop structures by endonucleolytic cleavage. The highly structured stem-loops constitute the basis for the extensive regulation of miRNA biogenesis through interaction with RBPs. However, trans-acting regulators of the biogenesis of specific miRNAs are largely unknown in plants. Therefore, we exploit an RNA-centric approach based on modified versions of the conditional CRISPR nuclease Csy4* to pull down interactors of the Arabidopsis pri-miR398b stem-loop (pri-miR398b-SL) in vitro. We designed three epitope-tagged versions of the inactive Csy4* for the immobilization of the protein together with the pri-miR398b-SL bait on high affinity matrices. After incubation with nucleoplasmic extracts from Arabidopsis and extensive washing, pri-miR398b-SL, along with its specifically bound proteins, were released by re-activating the cleavage activity of the Csy4* upon the addition of imidazole. Co-purified proteins were identified via quantitative mass spectrometry and data sets were compared. In total, we identified more than 400 different proteins, of which 180 are co-purified in at least two out of three independent Csy4*-based RNA pulldowns. Among those, the glycine-rich RNA-binding protein AtRZ-1a was identified in all pulldowns. To analyze the role of AtRZ-1a in miRNA biogenesis, we determined the miR398 expression level in the atrz-1a mutant. Indeed, the absence of AtRZ-1a caused a decrease in the steady-state level of mature miR398 with a concomitant reduction in pri-miR398b levels. Overall, we show that our modified Csy4*-based RNA pulldown strategy is suitable to identify new trans-acting regulators of miRNA biogenesis and provides new insights into the post-transcriptional regulation of miRNA processing by plant RBPs.
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50
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Jeena GS, Singh N, Shukla RK. An insight into microRNA biogenesis and its regulatory role in plant secondary metabolism. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:1651-1671. [PMID: 35579713 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-022-02877-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The present review highlights the regulatory roles of microRNAs in plant secondary metabolism and focuses on different bioengineering strategies to modulate secondary metabolite content in plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the class of small endogenous, essential, non-coding RNAs that riboregulate the gene expression involved in various biological processes in most eukaryotes. MiRNAs has emerged as important regulators in plants that function by silencing target genes through cleavage or translational inhibition. These miRNAs plays an important role in a wide range of plant biological and metabolic processes, including plant development and various environmental response controls. Several important plant secondary metabolites like alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics are well studied for their function in plant defense against different types of pests and herbivores. Due to the presence of a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical properties of plant secondary metabolites, it is important to study the regulation of their biosynthetic pathways. The contribution of miRNAs in regulating plant secondary metabolism is not well explored. Recent advancements in molecular techniques have improved our knowledge in understanding the molecular function of genes, proteins, enzymes, and small RNAs involved in different steps of secondary metabolic pathways. In the present review, we have discussed the recent progress made on miRNA biogenesis, its regulation, and highlighted the current research developed in the field of identification, analysis, and characterizations of various miRNAs that regulate plant secondary metabolism. We have also discussed how different bioengineering strategies such as artificial miRNA (amiRNA), endogenous target mimicry, and CRISPR/Cas9 could be utilized to enhance the secondary metabolite production in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajendra Singh Jeena
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Neeti Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, 226015, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar Shukla
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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