Molecular characterization of a new protein complex in plants essential for heterochromatin silencing and genome stability.
Final Report Abstract
Plants develop through the activity of meristems, which contain pools of self-renewing stem cells that continuously provide new cells for the formation of all tissues and organs. Maintenance of these stem cell populations is essential for successful plant growth and development. This project was built on previous work in Arabidopsis thaliana in which we identified a novel protein complex consisting of three proteins named MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEM (MAIN), MAINTENANCE OF MERISTEMS LIKE 1 (MAIL1) und PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 7 (PP7L, previsouly named MIPP), which is essential for root growth and maintenance of genome stability in the meristem. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of these processes, we used three complimentary approaches: First, by searching for interaction partners of PP7L we identified the translation elongation complex eEF1B and characterised its role during plant development and stress response. Second, we performed a suppressor screen for the pp7l mutant to find new components of the pathway that leads to the root growth defect. So far, at least four recessive mutations were identified whose molecular characterisation will be part of a follow-up project. Third, we analysed loss of function mutants for the RNA processing factor MERISTEM DEFECTIVE (MDF) and discovered its essential role for correct pre-mRNA splicing and for coordination of cell division with stress response. The obtained results provide fundamental new insight into the mechanisms that enable plants to maintain genome stability in meristems and to support growth during stress and fluctuating conditions.
Publications
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PP7L is essential for MAIL1‐mediated transposable element silencing and primary root growth. The Plant Journal, 102(4), 703-717.
de Luxán‐Hernández, Cloe; Lohmann, Julia; Hellmeyer, Wiebke; Seanpong, Senoch; Wöltje, Kerstin; Magyar, Zoltan; Pettkó‐Szandtner, Aladár; Pélissier, Thierry; De Jaeger, Geert; Hoth, Stefan; Mathieu, Olivier & Weingartner, Magdalena
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MDF is a conserved splicing factor and modulates cell division and stress response inArabidopsis. Life Science Alliance, 6(1), e202201507.
de Luxán-Hernández, Cloe; Lohmann, Julia; Tranque, Eduardo; Chumova, Jana; Binarova, Pavla; Salinas, Julio & Weingartner, Magdalena
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Arabidopsis translation factor eEF1Bγ impacts plant development and is associated with heat-induced cytoplasmic foci. Journal of Experimental Botany, 74(8), 2585-2602.
Lohmann, Julia; de Luxán-Hernández, Cloe; Gao, Yang; Zoschke, Reimo & Weingartner, Magdalena
