Publikation
Ibañez, C.; Delker, C.; Martinez, C.; Bürstenbinder, K.; Janitza, P.; Lippmann, R.; Ludwig, W.; Sun, H.; James, G. V.; Klecker, M.; Grossjohann, A.; Schneeberger, K.; Prat, S.; Quint, M. Brassinosteroids Dominate Hormonal Regulation of Plant Thermomorphogenesis via BZR1 Curr Biol 28, 303-310.e3, (2018) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.11.077
Thermomorphogenesis is defined as the suite of morphological changes that together are likely to contribute to adaptive growth acclimation to usually elevated ambient temperature [ 1, 2 ]. While many details of warmth-induced signal transduction are still elusive, parallels to light signaling recently became obvious (reviewed in [ 3 ]). It involves photoreceptors that can also sense changes in ambient temperature [ 3–5 ] and act, for example, by repressing protein activity of the central integrator of temperature information PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4 [ 6 ]). In addition, PIF4 transcript accumulation is tightly controlled by the evening complex member EARLY FLOWERING 3 [ 7, 8 ]. According to the current understanding, PIF4 activates growth-promoting genes directly but also via inducing auxin biosynthesis and signaling, resulting in cell elongation. Based on a mutagenesis screen in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana for mutants with defects in temperature-induced hypocotyl elongation, we show here that both PIF4 and auxin function depend on brassinosteroids. Genetic and pharmacological analyses place brassinosteroids downstream of PIF4 and auxin. We found that brassinosteroids act via the transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1), which accumulates in the nucleus at high temperature, where it induces expression of growth-promoting genes. Furthermore, we show that at elevated temperature BZR1 binds to the promoter of PIF4, inducing its expression. These findings suggest that BZR1 functions in an amplifying feedforward loop involved in PIF4 activation. Although numerous negative regulators of PIF4 have been described, we identify BZR1 here as a true temperature-dependent positive regulator of PIF4, acting as a major growth coordinator.
Publikation
Ibañez, C.; Poeschl, Y.; Peterson, T.; Bellstädt, J.; Denk, K.; Gogol-Döring, A.; Quint, M.; Delker, C. Ambient temperature and genotype differentially affect developmental and phenotypic plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana BMC Plant Biol 17, 114, (2017) DOI: 10.1186/s12870-017-1068-5
BackgroundGlobal increase in ambient temperatures
constitute a significant challenge to wild and cultivated plant species.
Forward genetic analyses of individual temperature-responsive traits
have resulted in the identification of several signaling and response
components. However, a comprehensive knowledge about temperature
sensitivity of different developmental stages and the contribution of
natural variation is still scarce and fragmented at best.ResultsHere, we
systematically analyze thermomorphogenesis throughout a complete life
cycle in ten natural Arabidopsis thaliana accessions grown under long
day conditions in four different temperatures ranging from 16 to 28 °C.
We used Q10, GxE, phenotypic divergence and correlation analyses to
assess temperature sensitivity and genotype effects of more than 30
morphometric and developmental traits representing five phenotype
classes. We found that genotype and temperature differentially affected
plant growth and development with variing strengths. Furthermore,
overall correlations among phenotypic temperature responses was
relatively low which seems to be caused by differential capacities for
temperature adaptations of individual
accessions.ConclusionGenotype-specific temperature responses may be
attractive targets for future forward genetic approaches and
accession-specific thermomorphogenesis maps may aid the assessment of
functional relevance of known and novel regulatory components.
Publikation
Hoehenwarter, W.; Mönchgesang, S.; Neumann, S.; Majovsky, P.; Abel, S.; Müller, J. Comparative expression profiling reveals a role of the root apoplast in local phosphate response BMC Plant Biol 16 , 106, (2016) DOI: 10.1186/s12870-016-0790-8
BackgroundPlant adaptation to limited phosphate availability
comprises a wide range of responses to conserve and remobilize internal
phosphate sources and to enhance phosphate acquisition. Vigorous
restructuring of root system architecture provides a developmental
strategy for topsoil exploration and phosphate scavenging. Changes in
external phosphate availability are locally sensed at root tips and
adjust root growth by modulating cell expansion and cell division. The
functionally interacting Arabidopsis genes, LOW PHOSPHATE RESPONSE 1 and
2 (LPR1/LPR2) and PHOSPHATE DEFICIENCY RESPONSE 2 (PDR2), are key
components of root phosphate sensing. We recently demonstrated that the
LOW PHOSPHATE RESPONSE 1 - PHOSPHATE DEFICIENCY RESPONSE 2 (LPR1-PDR2)
module mediates apoplastic deposition of ferric iron (Fe3+) in the
growing root tip during phosphate limitation. Iron deposition coincides
with sites of reactive oxygen species generation and triggers cell wall
thickening and callose accumulation, which interfere with cell-to-cell
communication and inhibit root growth.ResultsWe took advantage of
the opposite phosphate-conditional root phenotype of the phosphate
deficiency response 2 mutant (hypersensitive) and low phosphate response
1 and 2 double mutant (insensitive) to investigate the phosphate
dependent regulation of gene and protein expression in roots using
genome-wide transcriptome and proteome analysis. We observed an
overrepresentation of genes and proteins that are involved in the
regulation of iron homeostasis, cell wall remodeling and reactive oxygen
species formation, and we highlight a number of candidate genes with a
potential function in root adaptation to limited phosphate availability.
Our experiments reveal that FERRIC REDUCTASE DEFECTIVE 3 mediated,
apoplastic iron redistribution, but not intracellular iron uptake and
iron storage, triggers phosphate-dependent root growth modulation. We
further highlight expressional changes of several cell wall-modifying
enzymes and provide evidence for adjustment of the pectin network at
sites of iron accumulation in the root.ConclusionOur study
reveals new aspects of the elaborate interplay between phosphate
starvation responses and changes in iron homeostasis. The results
emphasize the importance of apoplastic iron redistribution to mediate
phosphate-dependent root growth adjustment and suggest an important role
for citrate in phosphate-dependent apoplastic iron transport. We
further demonstrate that root growth modulation correlates with an
altered expression of cell wall modifying enzymes and changes in the
pectin network of the phosphate-deprived root tip, supporting the
hypothesis that pectins are involved in iron binding and/or phosphate
mobilization.
Publikation
Phosphate (Pi) and its anhydrides constitute
major nodes in metabolism. Thus, plant performance depends directly on
Pi nutrition. Inadequate Pi availability in the rhizosphere is a common
challenge to plants, which activate metabolic and developmental
responses to maximize Pi usage and acquisition. The sensory mechanisms
that monitor environmental Pi and transmit the nutritional signal to
adjust root development have increasingly come into focus. Recent
transcriptomic analyses and genetic approaches have highlighted complex
antagonistic interactions between external Pi and Fe bioavailability and
have implicated the stem cell niche as a target of Pi sensing to
regulate root meristem activity.
Publikation
Schilling, S.; Stenzel, I.; von Bohlen, A.; Wermann, M.; Schulz, K.; Demuth, H.-U.; Wasternack, C. Isolation and characterization of the glutaminyl
cyclases from Solanum tuberosum and Arabidopsis thaliana: implications
for physiological functions Biol. Chem 388, 145-153, (2007) DOI: 10.1515/BC.2007.016
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Publikation
Auxin regulates a host of plant developmental and physiological processes, including embryogenesis, vascular differentiation, organogenesis, tropic growth, and root and shoot architecture. Genetic and biochemical studies carried out over the past decade have revealed that much of this regulation involves the SCFTIR1/AFB-mediated proteolysis of the Aux/IAA family of transcriptional regulators. With the recent finding that the TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE1 (TIR1)/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (AFB) proteins also function as auxin receptors, a potentially complete, and surprisingly simple, signaling pathway from perception to transcriptional response is now before us. However, understanding how this seemingly simple pathway controls the myriad of specific auxin responses remains a daunting challenge, and compelling evidence exists for SCFTIR1/AFB-independent auxin signaling pathways.