Project description:DELLA proteins act as hubs that relay environmental information to the multiple transcriptional circuits that control growth and development through physical interaction with transcription factors from different families. We have analyzed the presence of one DELLA protein at the Arabidopsis genome by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to large-scale sequencing and we find that it binds at the promoters of multiple genes. Enrichment analysis shows a strong preference for cis elements recognized by specific transcription factor families. In particular, we demonstrate that DELLA proteins are recruited by type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (ARR) to the promoters of cytokinin-regulated genes, where they act as transcriptional co-activators. The biological relevance of this mechanism is underpinned by the necessity of simultaneous presence of DELLAs and ARRs to restrict root meristem growth and to promote photomorphogenesis.
Project description:Plant adaptation to limited phosphate (Pi) availability comprises a wide range of strategies to conserve and remobilize internal Pi stores and to enhance Pi acquisition. Vigorous restructuring of root system architecture provides a developmental strategy for topsoil exploration and Pi scavenging. Changes in external Pi availability are locally sensed at the root tip and adjust root growth by modulating cell expansion and cell division. The functionally interacting Arabidopsis genes, LPR1/LPR2 and PDR2, are key components of root Pi sensing. A series of genome-wide studies revealed insight into transcriptional changes upon Pi starvation and provided a comprehensive overview of gene expression patterns in roots and photosynthetic tissues. In this study, we combined genome-wide transcriptome and proteome profiling in Pi-starved roots of wild-type, pdr2 and lpr1lpr2 seedlings. A comparative analysis of the datasets, combined with physiological and cell biological experiments, reveals a network regulating local root Fe uptake, storage and distribution upon Pi limitation. We further highlight expressional changes of several cell wall-modifying enzymes and provide evidence for a dynamic adjustment of the pectin network at sites of local Fe accumulation within the root meristem.
Project description:This experiment was set up in order to identify the (direct) transcriptional targets of the Ethylene Response Factor 115 (ERF115) transcription factor. Because ERF115 expression occurs in quiescent center (QC) cells and strong effects on the QC cells were observed in ERF115 overexpression plants, root tips were harvested for transcript profiling in order to focus on root meristem and QC specific transcriptional targets.
Project description:Maintenance of the root-meristem is determined by polar auxin transport (PAT) and asymmetric cell division (ACD). We find that flavonoids scutellarin and scutellarein, which both have 6-hydroxyl group that differs in its structure from all known-flavonoid PAT inhibitors, promote PAT and ACD in Arabidopsis thaliana root tip, and increase root length. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression under scutellarin and mock (DMSO) treatment and identified distinct classes of genes regulated by scutellarin.
Project description:DELLA proteins act as hubs that relay environmental information to the multiple transcriptional circuits that control growth and development through physical interaction with transcription factors from different families. We have analyzed the presence of one DELLA protein at the Arabidopsis genome by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to large-scale sequencing and we find that it binds at the promoters of multiple genes. Enrichment analysis shows a strong preference for cis elements recognized by specific transcription factor families. In particular, we demonstrate that DELLA proteins are recruited by type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORS (ARR) to the promoters of cytokinin-regulated genes, where they act as transcriptional co-activators. The biological relevance of this mechanism is underpinned by the necessity of simultaneous presence of DELLAs and ARRs to restrict root meristem growth and to promote photomorphogenesis. Provided are 3 biological replicates analysing RGA binding sites in Arabidopsis seedlings. ChIP-seq was performed on plants expressing RGA-GFP under the native RGA promoter and on non-transgenic control plants as reference
Project description:We report the discovery of a root growth program in Arabidopsis that is independent of a functional quiescent center (QC). In this regulatory program, PHABULOSA (PHB), posttranscriptionally regulated by SHR and SCR, plays a central role. In phb shr and phb scr mutants, root meristem/growth activity recovers significantly. Interestingly, this recovery does not accompany the resurgence of QC cells. PHB regulates apical root growth in stele cells of the root meristem, located proximal to the QC. Our genome-wide investigation suggests that PHB exerts its influence on root growth by regulating auxin-cytokinin homeostasis. Apical root growth was restored when cytokinin levels were genetically reduced in the shr mutant. Conversely, when miRNA-resistant PHB was expressed in the root stele cells, apical root growth and meristem functions were significantly inhibited without blocking the QC identity. Taken together, our investigation reveals two mechanisms through which SHR regulates root growth and stem cell activities: one is to specify and maintain the QC and the other is to regulate the proximal meristem activity through PHB and cytokinin. In this regulation, QC seems to be more involved in maintaining the “growth signal” and thus ensure the indeterminate root growth.
Project description:Injured plant somatic tissues regenerate themselves by establishing the shoot or root meristems. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) a two-step culture system ensures regeneration by first promoting the acquisition of pluripotency and subsequently specifying the fate of new meristems. Although previous studies have reported the importance of phytohormones auxin and cytokinin in determining the fate of new meristems, it remains elusive whether and how the environmental factors influence this process. In this study, we investigated the impact of light signals on shoot regeneration using Arabidopsis hypocotyl as explants. We found that light signals promote shoot regeneration while inhibiting root formation. ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), the pivotal transcriptional factor in light signaling, plays a central role in this process by mediating the expression of key genes controlling the fate of new meristems. Specifically, HY5 directly represses root development genes and activates shoot meristem genes, leading to the establishment of shoot progenitor from pluripotent callus. We further demonstrated that the early activation of photosynthesis is critical for shoot initiation, and this is transcriptionally regulated downstream of the HY5-dependent pathways. In conclusion, we uncovered the intricate molecular mechanisms by which light signals control the establishment of new meristem through the regulatory network governed by HY5, thus, highlighting the influence of light signals on plant developmental plasticity.