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ROS regulated reversible protein phase separation synchronizes plant flowering
Xiaozhen Huang1,2, Shudong Chen1,2,3, Weiping Li4
1State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Nature Chemical Biology
|February 26, 2021
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can trigger protein phase separation in plant stem cells. This process helps control gene expression for developmental timing, such as flowering transition.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Molecular biology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential in aerobic organisms but can be dangerous.
- Localized ROS accumulation primes stem cell differentiation, but the mechanism is unknown.
- Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is developmentally produced in plant shoot apical meristems (SAMs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ROS influence stem cell differentiation and developmental timing.
- To investigate the role of protein phase separation in mediating ROS effects on gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tomato shoot apical meristem (SAM).
- Analyzed the protein TERMINATING FLOWER (TMF) and its redox-sensing capabilities.
- Examined the process of reversible protein phase separation and its effect on gene expression.
Main Results:
- Developmentally produced H2O2 in SAM triggers reversible protein phase separation of TMF.
- Cysteine residues in TMF sense redox state, forming disulfide bonds that drive phase separation.
- Phase-separated TMF sequesters the ANANTHA gene promoter, repressing floral gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Redox-regulated protein phase separation provides a mechanism for controlling gene expression in response to developmental cues.
- This process allows aerobic organisms flexibility in gene regulation for developmental processes like flowering.
- TMF-mediated transcriptional condensation is a novel mechanism linking ROS signaling to developmental timing.
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