Regulation of a maize HD–ZIP IV transcription factor by a non‐conventional RDR2‐dependent small RNA. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klein‐Cosson, Catherine; Chambrier, Pierre; Rogowsky, Peter M.; Vernoud, Vanessa
• Is Part Of: Plant journal. Volume 81:Number 5(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 747
• Page End: 758
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Plant molecular biology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12771
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7412

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tpj12771-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Small non‐coding RNAs are versatile riboregulators that control gene expression at the transcriptional or post‐transcriptional level, governing many facets of plant development. Here we present evidence for the existence of a 24 nt small RNA (named small1) that is complementary to the 3′ UTR of <italic>OCL1</italic> (<italic>Outer Cell Layer1</italic>), the founding member of the maize HD–ZIP IV gene family encoding plant‐specific transcription factors that are mainly involved in epidermis differentiation and specialization. The biogenesis of small1 depends on DICER‐like 3 (DCL3), RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) and RNA polymerase IV, components that are usually required for RNA‐dependent DNA‐methylation. Unexpectedly, GFP sensor experiments in transient and stable transformation systems revealed that small1 may regulate its target at the post‐transcriptional level, mainly through translational repression. This translational repression is attenuated in an <italic>rdr2</italic> mutant background in which small1 does not accumulate. Our experiments further showed the possible involvement of a secondary stem‐loop structure present in the 3′ UTR of <italic>OCL1</italic> for efficient target repression, suggesting the existence of several regulatory mechanisms affecting OCL1 mRNA stability and translation.</p> </abstract>