1
|
Nien YC, Vanek A, Axtell MJ. Trans-Species Mobility of RNA Interference between Plants and Associated Organisms. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:694-703. [PMID: 38288670 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae012] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Trans-species RNA interference (RNAi) occurs naturally when small RNAs (sRNAs) silence genes in species different from their origin. This phenomenon has been observed between plants and various organisms including fungi, animals and other plant species. Understanding the mechanisms used in natural cases of trans-species RNAi, such as sRNA processing and movement, will enable more effective development of crop protection methods using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Recent progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of cell-to-cell and long-distance movement of sRNAs within individual plants. This increased understanding of endogenous plant sRNA movement may be translatable to trans-species sRNA movement. Here, we review diverse cases of natural trans-species RNAi focusing on current theories regarding intercellular and long-distance sRNA movement. We also touch on trans-species sRNA evolution, highlighting its research potential and its role in improving the efficacy of HIGS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chi Nien
- Plant Biology Intercollege Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Allison Vanek
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Plant Biology Intercollege Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hartenstein M, Albert M, Krause K. The plant vampire diaries: a historic perspective on Cuscuta research. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:2944-2955. [PMID: 36882965 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The angiosperm genus Cuscuta lives as an almost achlorophyllous root- and leafless holoparasite and has therefore occupied scientists for more than a century. The 'evolution' of Cuscuta research started with early studies that established the phylogenetic framework for this unusual genus. It continued to produce groundbreaking cytological, morphological, and physiological insight throughout the second half of the 20th century and culminated in the last two decades in exciting discoveries regarding the molecular basis of Cuscuta parasitism that were facilitated by the modern 'omics' tools and traceable fluorescent marker technologies of the 21st century. This review will show how present activities are inspired by those past breakthroughs. It will describe significant milestones and recurring themes of Cuscuta research and connect these to the remaining as well as newly evolving questions and future directions in this research field that is expected to sustain its strong growth in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maleen Hartenstein
- Department of Biology, Molecular Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Albert
- Department of Biology, Molecular Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Krause
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Blanco-Touriñán N, Torres-Martínez HH, Augstein F, Champeyroux C, von der Mark C, Carlsbecker A, Dubrovsky JG, Rodriguez-Villalón A. The primary root procambium contributes to lateral root formation through its impact on xylem connection. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1716-1727.e3. [PMID: 37071995 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The postembryonic formation of lateral roots (LRs) starts in internal root tissue, the pericycle. An important question of LR development is how the connection of the primary root vasculature with that of the emerging LR is established and whether the pericycle and/or other cell types direct this process. Here, using clonal analysis and time-lapse experiments, we show that both the procambium and pericycle of the primary root (PR) affect the LR vascular connectivity in a coordinated manner. We show that during LR formation, procambial derivates switch their identity and become precursors of xylem cells. These cells, together with the pericycle-origin xylem, participate in the formation of what we call a "xylem bridge" (XB), which establishes the xylem connection between the PR and the nascent LR. If the parental protoxylem cell fails to differentiate, XB is still sometimes formed but via a connection with metaxylem cells, highlighting that this process has some plasticity. Using mutant analyses, we show that the early specification of XB cells is determined by CLASS III HOMEODOMAIN-LEUCINE ZIPPER (HD-ZIP III) transcription factors (TFs). Subsequent XB cell differentiation is marked by the deposition of secondary cell walls (SCWs) in spiral and reticulate/scalariform patterns, which is dependent on the VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN (VND) TFs. XB elements were also observed in Solanum lycopersicum, suggesting that this mechanism may be more widely conserved in plants. Together, our results suggest that plants maintain vascular procambium activity, which safeguards the functionality of newly established lateral organs by assuring the continuity of the xylem strands throughout the root system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noel Blanco-Touriñán
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Héctor H Torres-Martínez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad, 2001, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico
| | - Frauke Augstein
- Department of Organismal Biology, Physiological Botany, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala University, Ullsv. 24E, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Chloé Champeyroux
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudia von der Mark
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelie Carlsbecker
- Department of Organismal Biology, Physiological Botany, Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala University, Ullsv. 24E, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joseph G Dubrovsky
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad, 2001, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico.
| | - Antia Rodriguez-Villalón
- Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Genomic and Epigenomic Mechanisms of the Interaction between Parasitic and Host Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032647. [PMID: 36768970 PMCID: PMC9917227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic plants extract nutrients from the other plants to finish their life cycle and reproduce. The control of parasitic weeds is notoriously difficult due to their tight physical association and their close biological relationship to their hosts. Parasitic plants differ in their susceptible host ranges, and the host species differ in their susceptibility to parasitic plants. Current data show that adaptations of parasitic plants to various hosts are largely genetically determined. However, multiple cases of rapid adaptation in genetically homogenous parasitic weed populations to new hosts strongly suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. Recent progress in genome-wide analyses of gene expression and epigenetic features revealed many new molecular details of the parasitic plants' interactions with their host plants. The experimental data obtained in the last several years show that multiple common features have independently evolved in different lines of the parasitic plants. In this review we discuss the most interesting new details in the interaction between parasitic and host plants.
Collapse
|