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A cytoplasmic osmosensing mechanism mediated by molecular crowding-sensitive DCP5
Zhenyu Wang1, Qiuhua Yang1, Dan Zhang1
1New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Engineering and Molecular Design, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 31, 2024
Summary
Arabidopsis Decapping 5 (DCP5) acts as a cytoplasmic osmosensor, detecting hyperosmolarity via molecular crowding. This protein forms stress granules, reprogramming gene expression for plant osmotic adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Plants face constant osmotic stress from their environment.
- The mechanisms by which plant cells sense osmotic changes are not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the molecular components involved in cytoplasmic osmosensing in plants.
- To understand how plant cells adapt to changes in external osmolarity.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the function of Arabidopsis Decapping 5 (DCP5) as a potential osmosensor.
- Analyzed DCP5's interaction with molecular crowding and its role in phase separation.
- Characterized the formation of DCP5-enriched osmotic stress granules (DOSGs) under hyperosmotic conditions.
Main Results:
- DCP5 functions as a cytoplasmic osmosensor, responding to extracellular hyperosmolarity.
- DCP5 contains a plant-specific intramolecular crowding sensor (ICS) that changes conformation and drives phase separation.
- Hyperosmolarity induces rapid, reversible assembly of DCP5 into DOSGs, sequestering mRNA and proteins.
Conclusions:
- DCP5 mediates a novel cytoplasmic osmosensing mechanism in plants, utilizing molecular crowding sensitivity.
- DOSGs reprogram the translatome and transcriptome, facilitating plant adaptation to osmotic stress.
- Hyperosmotic stress granules may have a sensory function in plants.
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