Cell production and differentiation for the acquisition of specific functions are key features of living systems. The dynamic network of cellular microtubules provides the necessary platform to accommodate processes associated with the transition of cells through the individual phases of cytogenesis. Here, we show that the plant hormone cytokinin fine-tunes the activity of the microtubular cytoskeleton during cell differentiation and counteracts microtubular rearrangements driven by the hormone auxin. The endogenous upward gradient of cytokinin activity along the longitudinal growth axis in Arabidopsis thaliana roots correlates with robust rearrangements of the microtubule cytoskeleton in epidermal cells progressing from the proliferative to the differentiation stage. Controlled increases in cytokinin activity result in premature re-organization of the microtubule network from transversal to an oblique disposition in cells prior to their differentiation, whereas attenuated hormone perception delays cytoskeleton conversion into a configuration typical for differentiated cells. Intriguingly, cytokinin can interfere with microtubules also in animal cells, such as leukocytes, suggesting that a cytokinin-sensitive control pathway for the microtubular cytoskeleton may be at least partially conserved between plant and animal cells.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace * MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- kořeny rostlin genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- mikrotubuly genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proliferace buněk * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The diverse forms of today's dominant vascular plant flora are generated by the sustained proliferative activity of sporophyte meristems at plants' shoot and root tips, a trait known as indeterminacy [1]. Bryophyte sister lineages to the vascular plants lack such indeterminate meristems and have an overall sporophyte form comprising a single small axis that ceases growth in the formation of a reproductive sporangium [1]. Genetic mechanisms regulating indeterminacy are well characterized in flowering plants, involving a feedback loop between class I KNOX genes and cytokinin [2, 3], and class I KNOX expression is a conserved feature of vascular plant meristems [4]. The transition from determinate growth to indeterminacy during evolution was a pre-requisite to vascular plant diversification, but mechanisms enabling the innovation of indeterminacy are unknown [5]. Here, we show that class I KNOX gene activity is necessary and sufficient for axis extension from an intercalary region of determinate moss shoots. As in Arabidopsis, class I KNOX activity can promote cytokinin biosynthesis by an ISOPENTENYL TRANSFERASE gene, PpIPT3. PpIPT3 promotes axis extension, and PpIPT3 and exogenously applied cytokinin can partially compensate for loss of class I KNOX function. By outgroup comparison, the results suggest that a pre-existing KNOX-cytokinin regulatory module was recruited into vascular plant shoot meristems during evolution to promote indeterminacy, thereby enabling the radiation of vascular plant shoot forms.
BACKGROUND: Cytokinin is a negative regulator of root growth, and a reduction of the cytokinin content or signalling causes the formation a larger root system in model plants, improves their growth under drought and nutrient limitation and causes increased accumulation of elements in the shoot. Roots are an important but understudied target of plant breeding. Here we have therefore explored whether root enhancement by lowering the cytokinin content can also be achieved in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) plants. RESULTS: Transgenic plants overexpressing the CKX2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana encoding a cytokinin-degrading cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase showed higher CKX activity and a strongly reduced cytokinin content. Cytokinin deficiency led to the formation of a larger root system under different growth conditions, which was mainly due to an increased number of lateral and adventitious roots. In contrast, shoot growth was comparable to wild type, which caused an enhanced root-to-shoot ratio. Transgenic plants accumulated in their leaves higher concentrations of macro- and microelements including P, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Mo and Mn. They formed more chlorophyll under Mg- and S-deficiency and accumulated a larger amount of Cd and Zn from contaminated medium and soil. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the usefulness of ectopic CKX gene expression to achieve root enhancement in oilseed rape and underpin the functional relevance of a larger root system. Furthermore, the lack of major developmental consequences on shoot growth in cytokinin-deficient oilseed rape indicates species-specific differences of CKX gene and/or cytokinin action.
- MeSH
- biodegradace * MeSH
- Brassica napus genetika růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- chlorofyl analýza metabolismus MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
- kadmium analýza metabolismus MeSH
- kořeny rostlin růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- listy rostlin chemie metabolismus MeSH
- oxidoreduktasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- půda chemie MeSH
- zinek analýza metabolismus MeSH
- živiny analýza metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Mutual interactions of the phytohormones, cytokinins and auxin determine root or shoot identity during postembryonic de novo organogenesis in plants. However, our understanding of the role of hormonal metabolism and perception during early stages of cell fate reprogramming is still elusive. Here we show that auxin activates root formation, whereas cytokinins mediate early loss of the root identity, primordia disorganisation and initiation of shoot development. Exogenous and endogenous cytokinins influence the initiation of newly formed organs, as well as the pace of organ development. The process of de novo shoot apical meristem establishment is accompanied by accumulation of endogenous cytokinins, differential regulation of genes for individual cytokinin receptors, strong activation of AHK4-mediated signalling and induction of the shoot-specific homeodomain regulator WUSCHEL. The last is associated with upregulation of isopentenyladenine-type cytokinins, revealing higher shoot-forming potential when compared with trans-zeatin. Moreover, AHK4-controlled cytokinin signalling negatively regulates the root stem cell organiser WUSCHEL RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 in the root quiescent centre. We propose an important role for endogenous cytokinin biosynthesis and AHK4-mediated cytokinin signalling in the control of de novo-induced organ identity.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis cytologie embryologie genetika MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- homeodoménové proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- meristém cytologie embryologie MeSH
- organogeneze rostlin fyziologie MeSH
- proteinkinasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny huseníčku genetika metabolismus MeSH
- receptory buněčného povrchu genetika metabolismus MeSH
- signální transdukce fyziologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Transporter genes and cytokinins are key targets for crop improvement. These genes are active during the development of the seed and its establishment as a strong sink. However, during germination, the seed transitions to being a source for the developing root and shoot. To determine if the sucrose transporter (SUT), amino acid permease (AAP), Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET), cell wall invertase (CWINV), cytokinin biosynthesis (IPT), activation (LOG) and degradation (CKX) gene family members are involved in both the sink and source activities of seeds, we used RT-qPCR to determine the expression of multiple gene family members, and LC-MS/MS to ascertain endogenous cytokinin levels in germinating Pisum sativum L. We show that genes that are actively expressed when the seed is a strong sink during its development, are also expressed when the seed is in the reverse role of being an active source during germination and early seedling growth. Cytokinins were detected in the imbibing seeds and were actively biosynthesised during germination. We conclude that, when the above gene family members are targeted for seed yield improvement, a downstream effect on subsequent seed germination or seedling vigour must be taken into consideration.
- MeSH
- buněčná stěna enzymologie MeSH
- cytokininy biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- hrách setý genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- invertasa biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- klíčení genetika MeSH
- proteiny přenášející monosacharidy biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
- regulátory růstu rostlin genetika MeSH
- semena rostlinná genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- semenáček genetika MeSH
- tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
- transportní systémy aminokyselin biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Together with auxins, cytokinins are the main plant hormones involved in many different physiological processes. Given this knowledge, cytokinin levels can be manipulated by genetic modification in order to improve agronomic parameters of cereals in relation to, for example, morphology, yield, and tolerance to various stresses. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivar Golden Promise was transformed using the cytokinin dehydrogenase 1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCKX1) under the control of mild root-specific β-glucosidase promoter from maize. Increased cytokinin degradation activity was observed positively to affect the number and length of lateral roots. The impact on morphology depended upon the recombinant protein's subcellular compartmentation. While assumed cytosolic and vacuolar targeting of AtCKX1 had negligible effect on shoot growth, secretion of AtCKX1 protein to the apoplast had a negative effect on development of the aerial part and yield. Upon the application of severe drought stress, all transgenic genotypes maintained higher water content and showed better growth and yield parameters during revitalization. Higher tolerance to drought stress was most caused by altered root morphology resulting in better dehydration avoidance.
- MeSH
- aklimatizace genetika fyziologie MeSH
- biotechnologie MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- fyziologický stres MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
- ječmen (rod) genetika růst a vývoj fyziologie MeSH
- kořeny rostlin fyziologie MeSH
- metabolické sítě a dráhy MeSH
- období sucha MeSH
- oxidoreduktasy genetika MeSH
- proteiny huseníčku genetika fyziologie MeSH
- regulátory růstu rostlin genetika metabolismus MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- rostlinné geny MeSH
- rostlinné proteiny genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- upregulace MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Sedentary plant-parasitic cyst nematodes are biotrophs that cause significant losses in agriculture. Parasitism is based on modifications of host root cells that lead to the formation of a hypermetabolic feeding site (a syncytium) from which nematodes withdraw nutrients. The host cell cycle is activated in an initial cell selected by the nematode for feeding, followed by activation of neighboring cells and subsequent expansion of feeding site through fusion of hundreds of cells. It is generally assumed that nematodes manipulate production and signaling of the plant hormone cytokinin to activate cell division. In fact, nematodes have been shown to produce cytokinin in vitro; however, whether the hormone is secreted into host plants and plays a role in parasitism remained unknown. Here, we analyzed the spatiotemporal activation of cytokinin signaling during interaction between the cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, and Arabidopsis using cytokinin-responsive promoter:reporter lines. Our results showed that cytokinin signaling is activated not only in the syncytium but also in neighboring cells to be incorporated into syncytium. An analysis of nematode infection on mutants that are deficient in cytokinin or cytokinin signaling revealed a significant decrease in susceptibility of these plants to nematodes. Further, we identified a cytokinin-synthesizing isopentenyltransferase gene in H. schachtii and show that silencing of this gene in nematodes leads to a significant decrease in virulence due to a reduced expansion of feeding sites. Our findings demonstrate the ability of a plant-parasitic nematode to synthesize a functional plant hormone to manipulate the host system and establish a long-term parasitic interaction.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis * genetika metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- hlístice fyziologie MeSH
- interakce hostitele a parazita fyziologie MeSH
- molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
- nemoci rostlin parazitologie MeSH
- sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
- signální transdukce * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
Auxin and cytokinin belong to the 'magnificent seven' plant hormones, having tightly interconnected pathways leading to common as well as opposing effects on plant morphogenesis. Tremendous progress in the past years has yielded a broad understanding of their signalling, metabolism, regulatory pathways, transcriptional networks, and signalling cross-talk. One of the rapidly expanding areas of auxin and cytokinin research concerns their RNA regulatory networks. This review summarizes current knowledge about post-transcriptional gene silencing, the role of non-coding RNAs, the regulation of translation, and alternative splicing of auxin- and cytokinin-related genes. In addition, the role of tRNA-bound cytokinins is also discussed. We highlight the most recent publications dealing with this topic and underline the role of RNA processing in auxin- and cytokinin-mediated growth and development.
- MeSH
- alternativní sestřih * MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- kyseliny indoloctové metabolismus MeSH
- nekódující RNA metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u rostlin * MeSH
- regulátory růstu rostlin genetika metabolismus MeSH
- RNA interference * MeSH
- vývoj rostlin MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Plant growth depends on stem cell niches in meristems. In the root apical meristem, the quiescent center (QC) cells form a niche together with the surrounding stem cells. Stem cells produce daughter cells that are displaced into a transit-amplifying (TA) domain of the root meristem. TA cells divide several times to provide cells for growth. SHORTROOT (SHR) and SCARECROW (SCR) are key regulators of the stem cell niche. Cytokinin controls TA cell activities in a dose-dependent manner. Although the regulatory programs in each compartment of the root meristem have been identified, it is still unclear how they coordinate one another. Here, we investigate how PHABULOSA (PHB), under the posttranscriptional control of SHR and SCR, regulates TA cell activities. The root meristem and growth defects in shr or scr mutants were significantly recovered in the shr phb or scr phb double mutant, respectively. This rescue in root growth occurs in the absence of a QC. Conversely, when the modified PHB, which is highly resistant to microRNA, was expressed throughout the stele of the wild-type root meristem, root growth became very similar to that observed in the shr; however, the identity of the QC was unaffected. Interestingly, a moderate increase in PHB resulted in a root meristem phenotype similar to that observed following the application of high levels of cytokinin. Our protoplast assay and transgenic approach using ARR10 suggest that the depletion of TA cells by high PHB in the stele occurs via the repression of B-ARR activities. This regulatory mechanism seems to help to maintain the cytokinin homeostasis in the meristem. Taken together, our study suggests that PHB can dynamically regulate TA cell activities in a QC-independent manner, and that the SHR-PHB pathway enables a robust root growth system by coordinating the stem cell niche and TA domain.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- buněčné dělení genetika MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- DNA vazebné proteiny genetika MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny růst a vývoj MeSH
- homeodoménové proteiny biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- homeostáza MeSH
- kořeny rostlin genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- meristém genetika růst a vývoj MeSH
- nika kmenových buněk genetika MeSH
- proteiny huseníčku biosyntéza genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
- transkripční faktory genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
Increased endogenous plant cytokinin (CK) content through transformation with an isopentyl transferase (ipt) gene has been associated with improved plant stress tolerance. The objective of this study is to determine amino acid changes associated with elevated CK production in ipt transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Wisconsin 38). Nontransformed (WT) and transformed tobacco plants with ipt gene controlled by senescence-activated promoter (SAG) were exposed to zinc soil contamination (tested levels Zn1=250, Zn2=500, Zn3=750 mg kg(-1) soil). The Zn effect on plant stress metabolism resulted in changes in levels of selected free amino acids playing an important role in adaptation to stress and plant senescence (alanine, leucine, proline, methionine and γ-aminobutyrate) and differed for transformed and nontransformed tobacco plants. Analyses of amino acids confirmed that SAG tobacco plants had improved zinc tolerance compared with the WT plants. The enhanced Zn tolerance of SAG plants was associated with the maintenance of accumulation of proline, methionine and γ-aminobutyrate. The concentrations of leucine and alanine did not show significant differences between plant lines.
- MeSH
- aminokyseliny analýza metabolismus MeSH
- čas MeSH
- cytokininy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fyziologická adaptace účinky léků MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu toxicita MeSH
- promotorové oblasti (genetika) MeSH
- tabák genetika metabolismus fyziologie MeSH
- zinek toxicita MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
