Modulation of Arabidopsis root growth by specialized triterpenes

Author(s):Show less -

Bai, Yuechen ^{[1, 2]} ; Fernandez-Calvo, Patricia ^{[1, 2]} ; Ritter, Andres ^{[1, 2]} ; Huang, Ancheng C. ^[3] ; Morales-Herrera, Stefania ^{[1, 2, 4, 5]} ; Bicalho, Keylla U. ^{[1, 6]} ; Karady, Michal ^{[7, 8]} ; Pauwels, Laurens ^{[1, 2]} ; Buyst, Dieter ^[9] ; Njo, Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; Ljung, Karen ^[10] ; Martins, Jose C. ^[9] ; Vanneste, Steffen ^{[1, 2, 11]} ; Beeckman, Tom ^{[1, 2]} ; Osbourn, Anne ; Goossens, Alain ^{[1, 2]} ; Pollier, Jacob ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Univ Ghent, Dept Plant Biotechnol & Bioinformat, Technol Pk 71, B-9052 Ghent - Belgium

^[2] VIB Ctr Plant Syst Biol, Technol Pk 71, B-9052 Ghent - Belgium

^[3] John Innes Ctr, Dept Metab Biol, Norwich Res Pk, Norwich NR4 7UH, Norfolk - England

^[4] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Lab Mol Cell Biol, Kasteelpk Arenberg 31, B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

^[5] VIB Ctr Microbiol, Kasteelpk Arenberg 31, B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

^[6] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Organ Chem, Inst Chem, BR-14800060 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[7] Czech Acad Sci, Inst Expt Bot, Lab Growth Regulators, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-78371 Olomouc - Czech Republic

^[8] Palacky Univ, Fac Sci, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-78371 Olomouc - Czech Republic

^[9] Univ Ghent, Dept Organ Chem, B-9000 Ghent - Belgium

^[10] Swedish Univ Agr Sci, Umea Plant Sci Ctr, Dept Forest Genet & Plant Physiol, S-90183 Umea - Sweden

^[11] Univ Ghent, Lab Plant Growth Anal, Global Campus, Incheon 21985 - South Korea

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NEW PHYTOLOGIST; v. 230, n. 1 JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Plant roots are specialized belowground organs that spatiotemporally shape their development in function of varying soil conditions. This root plasticity relies on intricate molecular networks driven by phytohormones, such as auxin and jasmonate (JA). Loss-of-function of the NOVEL INTERACTOR OF JAZ (NINJA), a core component of the JA signaling pathway, leads to enhanced triterpene biosynthesis, in particular of the thalianol gene cluster, in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. We have investigated the biological role of thalianol and its derivatives by focusing on Thalianol Synthase (THAS) and Thalianol Acyltransferase 2 (THAA2), two thalianol cluster genes that are upregulated in the roots of ninja mutant plants. THAS and THAA2 activity was investigated in yeast, and metabolite and phenotype profiling of thas and thaa2 loss-of-function plants was carried out. THAA2 was shown to be responsible for the acetylation of thalianol and its derivatives, both in yeast and in planta. In addition, THAS and THAA2 activity was shown to modulate root development. Our results indicate that the thalianol pathway is not only controlled by phytohormonal cues, but also may modulate phytohormonal action itself, thereby affecting root development and interaction with the environment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/10911-1 - Combinatorial biosynthesis of triterpenes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana systems using P450 enzymes on friedelin substrate
• Grantee: Keylla Utherdyany Bicalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor