Project description:Transgenic expression of a double-stranded RNA in plants can induce silencing of homologous mRNAs in fungal pathogens. Although such host-induced gene silencing is well documented, the molecular mechanisms by which RNAs can move from the cytoplasm of plant cells across the plasma membrane of both the host cell and fungal cell are poorly understood. Indirect evidence suggests that this RNA transfer may occur at a very early stage of the infection process, prior to breach of the host cell wall, suggesting that silencing RNAs might be secreted onto leaf surfaces. To assess whether Arabidopsis plants possess a mechanism for secreting RNA onto leaf surfaces, we developed a protocol for isolating leaf surface RNA separately from intercellular (apoplastic) RNA. This protocol yielded abundant leaf surface RNA that displayed an RNA banding pattern distinct from apoplastic RNA, suggesting that it may be secreted directly onto the leaf surface rather than exuded through stomata or hydathodes. Notably, this RNA was not associated with either extracellular vesicles or protein complexes; however, RNA species longer than 100 nucleotides could be pelleted by ultracentrifugation. Furthermore, pelleting was inhibited by the divalent cation chelator EGTA, suggesting that these RNAs may form condensates on the leaf surface. These leaf surface RNAs are derived almost exclusively from Arabidopsis, but come from diverse genomic sources, including rRNA, tRNA, mRNA, intergenic RNA, microRNAs, and small interfering RNAs, with tRNAs especially enriched. We speculate that endogenous leaf surface RNA plays an important role in the assembly of distinct microbial communities on leaf surfaces.
Project description:The extracellular space within plant leaves is called the apoplast, and functions as a key battlefield between plants and pathogens. Previously, we have shown that apoplastic wash fluid purified from Arabidopsis leaves contains small RNAs (sRNAs). To investigate whether these RNAs are encapsulated inside extracellular vesicles (EVs), we treated EVs isolated from Arabidopsis leaves with the protease trypsin and RNase A, which should degrade RNAs located outside of EVs, but not those located inside. These analyses revealed that apoplastic RNAs are mostly located outside of EVs and are associated with proteins. Additional analyses of these extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) revealed that they are made up both sRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including circular RNAs (circRNAs). We also found that exRNAs are highly enriched in the post-transcriptional modification N6-methyladenine (m6A). Consistent with this, we identified a putative m6A-binding protein in apoplastic wash fluids, GLYCINE-RICH RNA BINDING PROTEIN 7 (GRP7), as wells as the small RNA-binding protein ARGONAUTE2 (AGO2). These two proteins co-immunoprecipitated with each other, and with lncRNAs, including circRNAs. Mutation of GRP7 or AGO2 caused changes in both the sRNA and lncRNA content of apoplastic wash fluid, suggesting that these proteins contribute to the secretion and/or stabilization of exRNAs.
Project description:The extracellular space within plant leaves is called the apoplast, and functions as a key battlefield between plants and pathogens. Previously, we have shown that apoplastic wash fluid purified from Arabidopsis leaves contains small RNAs (sRNAs). To investigate whether these RNAs are encapsulated inside extracellular vesicles (EVs), we treated EVs isolated from Arabidopsis leaves with the protease trypsin and RNase A, which should degrade RNAs located outside of EVs, but not those located inside. These analyses revealed that apoplastic RNAs are mostly located outside of EVs and are associated with proteins. Additional analyses of these extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) revealed that they are made up both sRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including circular RNAs (circRNAs). We also found that exRNAs are highly enriched in the post-transcriptional modification N6-methyladenine (m6A). Consistent with this, we identified a putative m6A-binding protein in apoplastic wash fluids, GLYCINE-RICH RNA BINDING PROTEIN 7 (GRP7), as wells as the small RNA-binding protein ARGONAUTE2 (AGO2). These two proteins co-immunoprecipitated with each other, and with lncRNAs, including circRNAs. Mutation of GRP7 or AGO2 caused changes in both the sRNA and lncRNA content of apoplastic wash fluid, suggesting that these proteins contribute to the secretion and/or stabilization of exRNAs.
Project description:Many genes involve in pathogenicity and virulence are induced only in plant or in the presence of host components. Plant apoplast is the primary site of infection for P. syringae, which obtain nutrients directly from apoplastic fluid of host plants. In this work we investigated the effect of apoplastic fluid on the transcriptomic profile of the bacterium, when grown at low temperature in minimal medium with or without apoplastic fluid extracted from healthy bean leaves.
Project description:•Cutin and suberin are lipid polyesters deposited in specific apoplastic compartments. Their fundamental roles in plant biology include controlling the movement of gases, water and solutes, and conferring pathogen resistance. Both cutin and suberin have been shown to be present in the Arabidopsis seed coat where they regulate seed dormancy and longevity. •In this study, we use accelerated and natural aging seed assays, glutathione redox potential measures, optical and transmission electron microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to demonstrate that increasing the accumulation of lipid polyesters in the seed coat is the mechanism by which the AtHB25 transcription factor regulates seed permeability and longevity. •Chromatin immunoprecipitation during seed maturation revealed that the lipid polyester biosynthetic gene LACS2 (long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 2) is a direct AtHB25 binding target. Gene transfer of this transcription factor to wheat and tomato demonstrates the importance of apoplastic lipid polyesters for the maintenance of seed viability. •Our work establishes AtHB25 as a trans-species regulator of seed longevity and has identified the deposition of apoplastic lipid barriers as a key parameter to improve seed longevity in multiple plant species.
Project description:Papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) play important roles in plant defense mechanisms. Previous work identified a set of five apoplastic PLCPs (CP1A, CP1B, CP2, XCP2 and CatB) which are crucial for the orchestration of SA-dependent defense signaling and vice versa in maize (Zea mays). One central question from these findings is which mechanism is triggered by apoplastic PLCPs to induce SA-dependent defenses. By a mass spectrometry approach we discovered a novel peptide (Zip1 = Zea mays immune signaling peptide) to be enriched in apoplastic fluid upon SA treatment. Zip1 induces PR-gene expression when applied to naїve maize leaves. Moreover, it activates apoplastic PLCPs similar as SA does, suggesting Zip1 to play an important role in SA-mediated defense signaling. In vitro studies using recombinant protein showed that CP1A and CP2, but not XCP2 and CatB, release Zip1 from its pro-peptide (PROZIP1) in vitro. Strikingly, metabolite analysis showed direct induction of SA de novo synthesis by Zip1 in maize leaves. In line with this, RNA sequencing revealed that Zip1-mediated changes in maize gene expression largely resemble SA-induced responses. Consequently, Zip1 increases maize susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. In summary, this study identifies the PLCP-released peptide signal Zip1, which triggers SA signaling in maize.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling during Arabidopsis seed coat development at 3 key developmental timepoints by using 2 mutant lines and their wild types. The data provides a globe view of seed coat development in arabidopsis can be used for identification of new gene candidates for seed coat development.
Project description:Some strains of the foliar pathogen Pseudomonas syringae are adapted for growth and survival on leaf surfaces and in the leaf interior. Global transcriptome profiling was used to evaluate if these two habitats offer distinct environments for bacteria and thus present distinct driving forces for adaptation. Further transcriptome profiling was performed to understand the various environmental conditions that P. syringae cells encounter during their association with plants. RNA was collected from P. syringae pv. syringae strain B728a cells that were exposed to seven treatments. The treatments included five in vitro treatments, namely exposing cells to a basal medium, sodium chloride to confer an osmotic stress, hydrogen peroxide to confer an apoplastic growth, iron limitation, nitrogen limitation. They also included two in planta treatments, namely recovering cells from epiphytic sites after surface inoculation and 72 h of growth on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves and recovering cells from apoplastic sites after infiltration and 48 h of growth in bean leaves. The results suggested that B728a cells experience vastly different environments when growing on the surface versus the interior of leaves and identified distinct traits that are likely used for persistence and growth in these environments.
Project description:A variety of small RNAs, including the Dicer-dependent miRNAs and the Dicer-independent Piwi-interacting RNAs, associate with Argonaute family proteins to regulate gene expression in diverse cellular processes. These two species of small RNA have not been found in fungi. Here, by analyzing small RNA associated with the Neurospora Argonaute protein QDE-2, we show that diverse pathways generate miRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) and Dicer-independent small interfering RNAs (disiRNAs) in this filamentous fungus. Surprisingly, milRNAs are produced by at least four different mechanisms that use a distinct combination of factors, including Dicers, QDE-2, the exonuclease QIP and an RNAse III domain-containing protein MRPL3. In contrast, disiRNAs originate from loci producing overlapping sense and antisense transcripts, and do not require the known RNAi components for their production. Taken together, these results uncover several pathways for small RNA production in filamentous fungi, shedding light on the diversity and evolutionary origins of eukaryotic small RNAs. One small RNA library was generated using QDE-2 immunoprecipitate from Neurospora crassa.