The long intergenic noncoding RNA ARES modulates root architecture in Arabidopsis

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of gene expression in plants. They have been linked to a wide range of molecular mechanisms, including epigenetics, miRNA activity, RNA processing and translation, and protein localization or stability. In Arabidopsis, characterized lncRNAs have been implicated in several physiological contexts, including plant development and the response to the environment. Here we searched for lncRNA loci located nearby key genes involved in root development and identified the lncRNAARES (AUXIN REGULATOR ELEMENT DOWNSTREAM SOLITARYROOT) downstream of the lateral root master geneIAA14/SOLITARYROOT (SLR). AlthoughARES andIAA14 are co-regulated during development, the knockdown and knockout ofARES did not affectIAA14 expression. However, in response to exogenous auxin,ARES knockdown impairs the induction of its other neighboring gene encoding the transcription factor NF-YB3. Furthermore, knockdown/out ofARES results in a root developmental phenotype in control conditions. Accordingly, a transcriptomic analysis revealed that a subset ofARF7-dependent genes is deregulated. Altogether, our results hint at the lncRNAARES as a novel regulator of the auxin response governing lateral root development, likely by modulating gene expression intrans.
Source: IUBMB Life - Category: Research Authors: Tags: SPECIAL ISSUE Source Type: research