Gypsy retrotransposon-derived maize lncRNA GARR2 modulates gibberellin response

Area of Science:

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Transcriptomics

Background:

• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression and biological processes.
• Gibberellin (GA) is a crucial plant hormone controlling growth and development.
• The role of lncRNAs in GA response pathways is largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize lncRNAs involved in GA response in maize.
• To investigate the function of specific GA-responsive lncRNAs (GARRs) in plant height regulation.

Main Methods:

• Strand-specific and ribosomal-depleted RNA sequencing to profile lncRNAs in maize.
• Differential expression analysis to identify GA-responsive lncRNAs (GARRs).
• Genetic editing and molecular assays (RNA pull-down) to determine GARR2 function and interactions.

Main Results:

• Identified 445 GA-responsive lncRNAs (GARRs) in maize.
• Discovered four shared GARRs, including GARR2, derived from a retrotransposon.
• GARR2 editing altered GA pathway gene expression, endogenous GA levels, and auxin response, impacting plant phenotype.
• Identified ZmUPL1 as a potential GARR2 interaction target.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs, particularly GARR2, play significant roles in modulating GA response in maize.
• GARR2 influences plant height by affecting GA and auxin pathways.
• This research provides insights for developing ideotype plant varieties based on GA knowledge.