A miR169 isoform regulates specific NF‐YA targets and root architecture in Arabidopsis. Issue 4 (17th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sorin, Céline; Declerck, Marie; Christ, Aurélie; Blein, Thomas; Ma, Linnan; Lelandais‐Brière, Christine; Njo, Maria Fransiska; Beeckman, Tom; Crespi, Martin; Hartmann, Caroline
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 202:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 1197
• Page End: 1211
• Publication Date: 2014-02-17
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12735
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="nph12735-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="nph12735-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>In plants, roots are essential for water and nutrient acquisition. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate their target mRNAs by transcript cleavage and/or inhibition of protein translation and are known as major post‐transcriptional regulators of various developmental pathways and stress responses. In <italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</italic>, four isoforms of miR169 are encoded by 14 different genes and target diverse mRNAs, encoding subunits A of the NF‐Y transcription factor complex. These miRNA isoforms and their targets have previously been linked to nutrient signalling in plants.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>By using mimicry constructs against different isoforms of miR169 and miR‐resistant versions of <italic>NF‐YA</italic> genes we analysed the role of specific miR169 isoforms in root growth and branching.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We identified a regulatory node involving the particular miR169defg isoform and <italic>NF‐YA2</italic> and <italic>NF‐YA10</italic> genes that acts in the control of primary root growth. The specific expression of <italic>MIM169defg</italic> constructs altered specific cell type numbers and dimensions in the root meristem. Preventing miR169defg‐regulation of <italic>NF‐YA2</italic> indirectly affected laterial root initiation. We also showed that the miR169defg isoform affects NF‐YA<italic>2</italic> transcripts both at mRNA stability and translation levels.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We propose that a specific miR169 isoform and the <italic>NF‐YA</italic>2 target control root architecture in Arabidopsis.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>