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Liu B, Li C, Li X, Wang J, Xie W, Woods DP, Li W, Zhu X, Yang S, Dong A, Amasino RM. The H3K4 demethylase JMJ1 is required for proper timing of flowering in Brachypodium distachyon. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:2729-2745. [PMID: 38652680 PMCID: PMC11218787 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Flowering is a key developmental transition in the plant life cycle. In temperate climates, flowering often occurs in response to the perception of seasonal cues such as changes in day-length and temperature. However, the mechanisms that have evolved to control the timing of flowering in temperate grasses are not fully understood. We identified a Brachypodium distachyon mutant whose flowering is delayed under inductive long-day conditions due to a mutation in the JMJ1 gene, which encodes a Jumonji domain-containing protein. JMJ1 is a histone demethylase that mainly demethylates H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of the genome-wide distribution of H3K4me1, H3K4me2, and H3K4me3 in wild-type plants by chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing combined with RNA sequencing revealed that H3K4m1 and H3K4me3 are positively associated with gene transcript levels, whereas H3K4me2 is negatively correlated with transcript levels. Furthermore, JMJ1 directly binds to the chromatin of the flowering regulator genes VRN1 and ID1 and affects their transcription by modifying their H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 levels. Genetic analyses indicated that JMJ1 promotes flowering by activating VRN1 expression. Our study reveals a role for JMJ1-mediated chromatin modification in the proper timing of flowering in B. distachyon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Chengzhang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Jiachen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Wenhao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Daniel P Woods
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Weiya Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Shuoming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Aiwu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Richard M Amasino
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Zhu X, Wang H. Revisiting the role and mechanism of ELF3 in circadian clock modulation. Gene 2024; 913:148378. [PMID: 38490512 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148378] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The gene encoding EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) is necessary for photoperiodic flowering and the normal regulation of circadian rhythms. It provides important information at the cellular level to uncover the biological mechanisms that improve plant growth and development. ELF3 interactions with transcription factors such as BROTHER OF LUX ARRHYTHMO (BOA), LIGHT-REGULATED WD1 (LWD1), PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4), PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7), and LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) suggest a role in evening complex (EC) independent pathways, demanding further investigation to elucidate the EC-dependent versus EC-independent mechanisms. The ELF3 regulation of flowering time about photoperiod and temperature variations can also optimize crop cultivation across diverse latitudes. In this review paper, we summarize how ELF3's role in the circadian clock and light-responsive flowering control in crops offers substantial potential for scientific advancement and practical applications in biotechnology and agriculture. Despite its essential role in crop adaptation, very little is known in many important crops. Consequently, comprehensive and targeted research is essential for extrapolating ELF3-related insights from Arabidopsis to other crops, utilizing both computational and experimental methodologies. This research should prioritize investigations into ELF3's protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and genomic targets to elucidate its contribution to accurate circadian clock regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzun Zhu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Changchun University, No.1 Weixinglu Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Hongtao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Tonghua Normal University, Tonghua, 950, Yucai Road, China.
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3
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Minadakis N, Kaderli L, Horvath R, Bourgeois Y, Xu W, Thieme M, Woods DP, Roulin AC. Polygenic architecture of flowering time and its relationship with local environments in the grass Brachypodium distachyon. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae042. [PMID: 38504651 PMCID: PMC11075549 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae042] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Synchronizing the timing of reproduction with the environment is crucial in the wild. Among the multiple mechanisms, annual plants evolved to sense their environment, the requirement of cold-mediated vernalization is a major process that prevents individuals from flowering during winter. In many annual plants including crops, both a long and short vernalization requirement can be observed within species, resulting in so-called early-(spring) and late-(winter) flowering genotypes. Here, using the grass model Brachypodium distachyon, we explored the link between flowering-time-related traits (vernalization requirement and flowering time), environmental variation, and diversity at flowering-time genes by combining measurements under greenhouse and outdoor conditions. These experiments confirmed that B. distachyon natural accessions display large differences regarding vernalization requirements and ultimately flowering time. We underline significant, albeit quantitative effects of current environmental conditions on flowering-time-related traits. While disentangling the confounding effects of population structure on flowering-time-related traits remains challenging, population genomics analyses indicate that well-characterized flowering-time genes may contribute significantly to flowering-time variation and display signs of polygenic selection. Flowering-time genes, however, do not colocalize with genome-wide association peaks obtained with outdoor measurements, suggesting that additional genetic factors contribute to flowering-time variation in the wild. Altogether, our study fosters our understanding of the polygenic architecture of flowering time in a natural grass system and opens new avenues of research to investigate the gene-by-environment interaction at play for this trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Minadakis
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lars Kaderli
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Robert Horvath
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yann Bourgeois
- DIADE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, 34 000 Montpellier, France
| | - Wenbo Xu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Thieme
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel P Woods
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California-Davis, 104 Robbins Hall, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 4000 Jones Bridge Rd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Anne C Roulin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
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4
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Gao M, Lu Y, Geng F, Klose C, Staudt AM, Huang H, Nguyen D, Lan H, Lu H, Mockler TC, Nusinow DA, Hiltbrunner A, Schäfer E, Wigge PA, Jaeger KE. Phytochromes transmit photoperiod information via the evening complex in Brachypodium. Genome Biol 2023; 24:256. [PMID: 37936225 PMCID: PMC10631206 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03082-w] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Daylength is a key seasonal cue for animals and plants. In cereals, photoperiodic responses are a major adaptive trait, and alleles of clock genes such as PHOTOPERIOD1 (PPD1) and EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) have been selected for in adapting barley and wheat to northern latitudes. How monocot plants sense photoperiod and integrate this information into growth and development is not well understood. RESULTS We find that phytochrome C (PHYC) is essential for flowering in Brachypodium distachyon. Conversely, ELF3 acts as a floral repressor and elf3 mutants display a constitutive long day phenotype and transcriptome. We find that ELF3 and PHYC occur in a common complex. ELF3 associates with the promoters of a number of conserved regulators of flowering, including PPD1 and VRN1. Consistent with observations in barley, we are able to show that PPD1 overexpression accelerates flowering in short days and is necessary for rapid flowering in response to long days. PHYC is in the active Pfr state at the end of the day, but we observe it undergoes dark reversion over the course of the night. CONCLUSIONS We propose that PHYC acts as a molecular timer and communicates information on night-length to the circadian clock via ELF3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Gao
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, Großbeeren, 14979, Germany
| | - Feng Geng
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Cornelia Klose
- Institut für Biologie II, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Anne-Marie Staudt
- Institut für Biologie II, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - He Huang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Duy Nguyen
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Hui Lan
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Han Lu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Todd C Mockler
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | | | - Andreas Hiltbrunner
- Institut für Biologie II, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Eberhard Schäfer
- Institut für Biologie II, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 18, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Philip A Wigge
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, Großbeeren, 14979, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, 14476, Germany.
| | - Katja E Jaeger
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 47 Bateman St., Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.
- Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, Großbeeren, 14979, Germany.
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5
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Rodríguez Del Río Á, Monteagudo A, Contreras-Moreira B, Kiss T, Mayer M, Karsai I, Igartua E, Casas AM. Diversity of gene expression responses to light quality in barley. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17143. [PMID: 37816785 PMCID: PMC10564772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44263-8] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Light quality influence on barley development is poorly understood. We exposed three barley genotypes with either sensitive or insensitive response to two light sources producing different light spectra, fluorescent bulbs, and metal halide lamps, keeping constant light intensity, duration, and temperature. Through RNA-seq, we identified the main genes and pathways involved in the genotypic responses. A first analysis identified genotypic differences in gene expression of development-related genes, including photoreceptors and flowering time genes. Genes from the vernalization pathway of light quality-sensitive genotypes were affected by fluorescent light. In particular, vernalization-related repressors reacted differently: HvVRN2 did not experience relevant changes, whereas HvOS2 expression increased under fluorescent light. To identify the genes primarily related to light quality responses, and avoid the confounding effect of plant developmental stage, genes influenced by development were masked in a second analysis. Quantitative expression levels of PPD-H1, which influenced HvVRN1 and HvFT1, explained genotypic differences in development. Upstream mechanisms (light signaling and circadian clock) were also altered, but no specific genes linking photoreceptors and the photoperiod pathway were identified. The variety of light-quality sensitivities reveals the presence of possible mechanisms of adaptation of winter and facultative barley to latitudinal variation in light quality, which deserves further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Rodríguez Del Río
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Aula Dei Experimental Station, CSIC, Avda Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, UPM/INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arantxa Monteagudo
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Aula Dei Experimental Station, CSIC, Avda Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Bruno Contreras-Moreira
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Aula Dei Experimental Station, CSIC, Avda Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tibor Kiss
- Centre for Agriculture Research ELKH (ATK), Martonvásár, Hungary
- Center for Research and Development, Food and Wine Center of Excellence, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary
| | - Marianna Mayer
- Centre for Agriculture Research ELKH (ATK), Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Karsai
- Centre for Agriculture Research ELKH (ATK), Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Ernesto Igartua
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Aula Dei Experimental Station, CSIC, Avda Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Ana M Casas
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Aula Dei Experimental Station, CSIC, Avda Montañana 1005, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain
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6
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Alvarez MA, Li C, Lin H, Joe A, Padilla M, Woods DP, Dubcovsky J. EARLY FLOWERING 3 interactions with PHYTOCHROME B and PHOTOPERIOD1 are critical for the photoperiodic regulation of wheat heading time. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010655. [PMID: 37163495 PMCID: PMC10171656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The photoperiodic response is critical for plants to adjust their reproductive phase to the most favorable season. Wheat heads earlier under long days (LD) than under short days (SD) and this difference is mainly regulated by the PHOTOPERIOD1 (PPD1) gene. Tetraploid wheat plants carrying the Ppd-A1a allele with a large deletion in the promoter head earlier under SD than plants carrying the wildtype Ppd-A1b allele with an intact promoter. Phytochromes PHYB and PHYC are necessary for the light activation of PPD1, and mutations in either of these genes result in the downregulation of PPD1 and very late heading time. We show here that both effects are reverted when the phyB mutant is combined with loss-of-function mutations in EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3), a component of the Evening Complex (EC) in the circadian clock. We also show that the wheat ELF3 protein interacts with PHYB and PHYC, is rapidly modified by light, and binds to the PPD1 promoter in planta (likely as part of the EC). Deletion of the ELF3 binding region in the Ppd-A1a promoter results in PPD1 upregulation at dawn, similar to PPD1 alleles with intact promoters in the elf3 mutant background. The upregulation of PPD1 is correlated with the upregulation of the florigen gene FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (FT1) and early heading time. Loss-of-function mutations in PPD1 result in the downregulation of FT1 and delayed heading, even when combined with the elf3 mutation. Taken together, these results indicate that ELF3 operates downstream of PHYB as a direct transcriptional repressor of PPD1, and that this repression is relaxed both by light and by the deletion of the ELF3 binding region in the Ppd-A1a promoter. In summary, the regulation of the light mediated activation of PPD1 by ELF3 is critical for the photoperiodic regulation of wheat heading time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alejandra Alvarez
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chengxia Li
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Huiqiong Lin
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anna Joe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mariana Padilla
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Woods
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jorge Dubcovsky
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
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7
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Woods DP, Li W, Sibout R, Shao M, Laudencia-Chingcuanco D, Vogel JP, Dubcovsky J, Amasino RM. PHYTOCHROME C regulation of photoperiodic flowering via PHOTOPERIOD1 is mediated by EARLY FLOWERING 3 in Brachypodium distachyon. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010706. [PMID: 37163541 PMCID: PMC10171608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010706] [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: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Daylength sensing in many plants is critical for coordinating the timing of flowering with the appropriate season. Temperate climate-adapted grasses such as Brachypodium distachyon flower during the spring when days are becoming longer. The photoreceptor PHYTOCHROME C is essential for long-day (LD) flowering in B. distachyon. PHYC is required for the LD activation of a suite of genes in the photoperiod pathway including PHOTOPERIOD1 (PPD1) that, in turn, result in the activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT1)/FLORIGEN, which causes flowering. Thus, B. distachyon phyC mutants are extremely delayed in flowering. Here we show that PHYC-mediated activation of PPD1 occurs via EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3), a component of the evening complex in the circadian clock. The extreme delay of flowering of the phyC mutant disappears when combined with an elf3 loss-of-function mutation. Moreover, the dampened PPD1 expression in phyC mutant plants is elevated in phyC/elf3 mutant plants consistent with the rapid flowering of the double mutant. We show that loss of PPD1 function also results in reduced FT1 expression and extremely delayed flowering consistent with results from wheat and barley. Additionally, elf3 mutant plants have elevated expression levels of PPD1, and we show that overexpression of ELF3 results in delayed flowering associated with a reduction of PPD1 and FT1 expression, indicating that ELF3 represses PPD1 transcription consistent with previous studies showing that ELF3 binds to the PPD1 promoter. Indeed, PPD1 is the main target of ELF3-mediated flowering as elf3/ppd1 double mutant plants are delayed flowering. Our results indicate that ELF3 operates downstream from PHYC and acts as a repressor of PPD1 in the photoperiod flowering pathway of B. distachyon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P. Woods
- Dept. Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Weiya Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Richard Sibout
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, UMR1318 INRAE-AgroParisTech, Versailles Cedex, France
- UR1268 BIA, INRAE, Nantes, France
| | - Mingqin Shao
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Debbie Laudencia-Chingcuanco
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, United States of America
| | - John P. Vogel
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Jorge Dubcovsky
- Dept. Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Richard M. Amasino
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- United States Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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8
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Zahn T, Zhu Z, Ritoff N, Krapf J, Junker A, Altmann T, Schmutzer T, Tüting C, Kastritis PL, Babben S, Quint M, Pillen K, Maurer A. Novel exotic alleles of EARLY FLOWERING 3 determine plant development in barley. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023:erad127. [PMID: 37010230 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) is an important regulator of various physiological and developmental processes and hence may serve to improve plant adaptation which will be substantial for future plant breeding. To expand the limited knowledge on barley ELF3 in determining agronomic traits, we conducted field studies with heterogeneous inbred families (HIFs) derived from selected lines of the wild barley nested association mapping population HEB-25. During two growing seasons, phenotypes of nearly isogenic HIF sister lines, segregating for exotic and cultivated alleles at the ELF3 locus, were compared for ten developmental and yield-related traits. We determine novel exotic ELF3 alleles and show that HIF lines, carrying the exotic ELF3 allele, accelerated plant development compared to the cultivated ELF3 allele, depending on the genetic background. Remarkably, the most extreme effects on phenology could be attributed to one exotic ELF3 allele differing from the cultivated Barke ELF3 allele in only one SNP. This SNP causes an amino acid substitution (W669G), which predictively has an impact on the protein structure of ELF3, thereby possibly affecting phase separation behaviour and nano-compartment formation of ELF3 and, potentially, also affecting its local cellular interactions causing significant trait differences between HIF sister lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Zahn
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Zihao Zhu
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 5, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Niklas Ritoff
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jonathan Krapf
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Astrid Junker
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Thomas Altmann
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben, Stadt Seeland, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmutzer
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christian Tüting
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Panagiotis L Kastritis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Steve Babben
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 5, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marcel Quint
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 5, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klaus Pillen
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andreas Maurer
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Chair of Plant Breeding, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Betty-Heimann-Str. 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
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9
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Wittern L, Steed G, Taylor LJ, Ramirez DC, Pingarron-Cardenas G, Gardner K, Greenland A, Hannah MA, Webb AAR. Wheat EARLY FLOWERING 3 affects heading date without disrupting circadian oscillations. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 191:1383-1403. [PMID: 36454669 PMCID: PMC9922389 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant breeders have indirectly selected for variation at circadian-associated loci in many of the world's major crops, when breeding to increase yield and improve crop performance. Using an eight-parent Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population, we investigated how variation in circadian clock-associated genes contributes to the regulation of heading date in UK and European winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties. We identified homoeologues of EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) as candidates for the Earliness per se (Eps) D1 and B1 loci under field conditions. We then confirmed a single-nucleotide polymorphism within the coding region of TaELF3-B1 as a candidate polymorphism underlying the Eps-B1 locus. We found that a reported deletion at the Eps-D1 locus encompassing TaELF3-D1 is, instead, an allele that lies within an introgression region containing an inversion relative to the Chinese Spring D genome. Using Triticum turgidum cv. Kronos carrying loss-of-function alleles of TtELF3, we showed that ELF3 regulates heading, with loss of a single ELF3 homoeologue sufficient to alter heading date. These studies demonstrated that ELF3 forms part of the circadian oscillator; however, the loss of all homoeologues was required to affect circadian rhythms. Similarly, loss of functional LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) in T. aestivum, an orthologue of a protein partner of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ELF3, severely disrupted circadian rhythms. ELF3 and LUX transcripts are not co-expressed at dusk, suggesting that the structure of the wheat circadian oscillator might differ from that of Arabidopsis. Our demonstration that alterations to ELF3 homoeologues can affect heading date separately from effects on the circadian oscillator suggests a role for ELF3 in cereal photoperiodic responses that could be selected for without pleiotropic deleterious alterations to circadian rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Wittern
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Gareth Steed
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Laura J Taylor
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Dora Cano Ramirez
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | | | - Keith Gardner
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Andy Greenland
- The John Bingham Laboratory, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, UK
| | - Matthew A Hannah
- BASF, BBCC – Innovation Center Gent, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 101, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Alex A R Webb
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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10
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Gombos M, Hapek N, Kozma-Bognár L, Grezal G, Zombori Z, Kiss E, Györgyey J. Limited water stress modulates expression of circadian clock genes in Brachypodium distachyon roots. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1241. [PMID: 36690685 PMCID: PMC9870971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27287-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Organisms have evolved a circadian clock for the precise timing of their biological processes. Studies primarily on model dicots have shown the complexity of the inner timekeeper responsible for maintaining circadian oscillation in plants and have highlighted that circadian regulation is more than relevant to a wide range of biological processes, especially organ development and timing of flowering. Contribution of the circadian clock to overall plant fitness and yield has also long been known. Nevertheless, the organ- and species-specific functions of the circadian clock and its relation to stress adaptation have only recently been identified. Here we report transcriptional changes of core clock genes of the model monocot Brachypodium distachyon under three different light regimes (18:6 light:dark, 24:0 light and 0:24 dark) in response to mild drought stress in roots and green plant parts. Comparative monitoring of core clock gene expression in roots and green plant parts has shown that both phase and amplitude of expression in the roots of Brachypodium plants differ markedly from those in the green plant parts, even under well-watered conditions. Moreover, circadian clock genes responded to water depletion differently in root and shoot. These results suggest an organ-specific form and functions of the circadian clock in Brachypodium roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdolna Gombos
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Nóra Hapek
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Kozma-Bognár
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Grezal
- Institute of Biochemistry, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Zombori
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Edina Kiss
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - János Györgyey
- Institute of Plant Biology, BRC-Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
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11
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Ying S, Scheible WR, Lundquist PK. A stress-inducible protein regulates drought tolerance and flowering time in Brachypodium and Arabidopsis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 191:643-659. [PMID: 36264121 PMCID: PMC9806587 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To cope with environmental stresses and ensure maximal reproductive success, plants have developed strategies to adjust the timing of their transition to reproductive growth. This has a substantial impact on the stress resilience of crops and ultimately on agricultural productivity. Here, we report a previously uncharacterized, plant-specific gene family designated as Regulator of Flowering and Stress (RFS). Overexpression of the BdRFS gene in Brachypodium distachyon delayed flowering, increased biomass accumulation, and promoted drought tolerance, whereas clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated knockout mutants exhibited opposite phenotypes. A double T-DNA insertional mutant in the two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homologs replicated the effects on flowering and water deprivation seen in the B. distachyon CRISPR knockout lines, highlighting the functional conservation of the family between monocots and dicots. Lipid analysis of B. distachyon and Arabidopsis revealed that digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) contents were significantly, and reciprocally, altered in overexpressor and knockout mutants. Importantly, alteration of C16:0-containing PC, a Flowering Locus T-interacting lipid, associated with flowering phenotype, with elevated levels corresponding to earlier flowering. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis suggested that BdRFS interacts with phospholipase Dα1 as well as several other abscisic acid-related proteins. Furthermore, reduction of C18:3 fatty acids in DGDG corresponded with reduced jasmonic acid metabolites in CRISPR mutants. Collectively, we suggest that stress-inducible RFS proteins represent a regulatory component of lipid metabolism that impacts several agronomic traits of biotechnological importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Ying
- Authors for correspondence: (P.K.L.) and (S.Y.)
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