Regulation of Phosphate Homeostasis by MicroRNA in Arabidopsis

Overview

Journal Plant Cell

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties Biology
Cell Biology

Date 2006 Jan 3

PMID 16387831

Citations 328

Authors

Tzyy-Jen Chiou

Kyaw Aung

Shu-I Lin

Chia-Chune Wu

Su-Fen Chiang

Chun-Lin Su

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this study, we reveal a mechanism by which plants regulate inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis to adapt to environmental changes in Pi availability. This mechanism involves the suppression of a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme by a specific microRNA, miR399. Upon Pi starvation, the miR399 is upregulated and its target gene, a ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme, is downregulated in Arabidopsis thaliana. Accumulation of the E2 transcript is suppressed in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing miR399. Transgenic plants accumulated five to six times the normal Pi level in shoots and displayed Pi toxicity symptoms that were phenocopied by a loss-of-function E2 mutant. Pi toxicity was caused by increased Pi uptake and by translocation of Pi from roots to shoots and retention of Pi in the shoots. Moreover, unlike wild-type plants, in which Pi in old leaves was readily retranslocated to other developing young tissues, remobilization of Pi in miR399-overexpressing plants was impaired. These results provide evidence that miRNA controls Pi homeostasis by regulating the expression of a component of the proteolysis machinery in plants.

Citing Articles

Genome-wide identification and analysis of phosphate utilization related genes (PURs) reveal their roles involved in low phosphate responses in Brassica napus L.

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The long non-coding RNA MSTRG.32189-PcmiR399b- module regulates phosphate accumulation and disease resistance to in pear.

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A multiplex microfluidic device to detect miRNAs for diagnosis of plant growth status.

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Chiang C, Yayen J, Chiou T Quant Plant Biol. 2025; 6:e3.

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