Histone methylation readers MRG1/MRG2 interact with the transcription factor TCP14 to positively modulate cytokinin sensitivity in Arabidopsis

Fan Wang; Xixi Cai; Huizhe Wei; Linghao Zhang; Aiwu Dong; Wei Su

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2023.02.011

Volume 50 Issue 8

Aug. 2023

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Article Navigation > Journal of Genetics and Genomics > 2023 > 50(8): 589-599

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Histone methylation readers MRG1/MRG2 interact with the transcription factor TCP14 to positively modulate cytokinin sensitivity in Arabidopsis

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.02.011

State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China

Funds:

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31970530, 31930017, and 31671263).

Received Date: 2022-10-24
Revised Date: 2023-02-13
Accepted Date: 2023-02-15
Publish Date: 2023-03-02

Abstract

Abstract

Cytokinins influence many aspects of plant growth and development. Although cytokinin biosynthesis and signaling have been well studied in planta, little is known about the regulatory effects of epigenetic modifications on the cytokinin response. Here, we reveal that mutations to Morf Related Gene (MRG) proteins MRG1/MRG2, which are readers of trimethylated histone H3 lysine 4 and lysine 36 (H3K4me3 and H3K36me3), result in cytokinin hyposensitivity during various developmental processes, including callus induction and root and seedling growth inhibition. Similar to the mrg1 mrg2 mutant, plants with a defective AtTCP14, which belongs to the TEOSINTE BRANCHED, CYCLOIDEA, AND PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factor family, are insensitive to cytokinin. Furthermore, the transcription of several genes related to cytokinin signaling pathway is altered. Specifically, the expression of Arabidopsis thaliana HISTIDINE-CONTAINING PHOSPHOTRANSMITTER PROTEIN 2 (AHP2) decreases significantly in the mrg1 mrg2 and tcp14-2 mutants. We also confirm the interaction between MRG2 and TCP14 in vitro and in vivo. Thus, MRG2 and TCP14 can be recruited to AHP2 after recognizing H3K4me3/H3K36me3 markers and promote the histone-4 lysine-5 acetylation to further enhance AHP2 expression. In summary, our research elucidate a previously unknown mechanism mediating the effects of MRG proteins on the magnitude of the cytokinin response.
- Arabidopsis,
- Cytokinin response,
- Histone methylation reader,
- TCP transcription factors,
- Transcription regulation

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References(64)

References

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