TY - JOUR
T1 - SEEDSTICK is a master regulator of development and metabolism in the Arabidopsis seed coat
AU - Battaglia, Raffaella
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - The role of secondary metabolites in the determination of cell identity has been an area of particular interest over recent
years, and studies strongly indicate a connection between cell fate and the regulation of enzymes involved in secondary
metabolism. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the maternally derived seed coat plays pivotal roles in both the protection of the
developing embryo and the first steps of germination. In this regard, a characteristic feature of seed coat development is
the accumulation of proanthocyanidins (PAs - a class of phenylpropanoid metabolites) in the innermost layer of the seed
coat. Our genome-wide transcriptomic analysis suggests that the ovule identity factor SEEDSTICK (STK) is involved in the regulation of several metabolic processes, providing a strong basis for a connection between cell fate determination,
development and metabolism. Using phenotypic, genetic, biochemical and transcriptomic approaches, we have focused
specifically on the role of STK in PA biosynthesis. Our results indicate that STK exerts its effect by direct regulation of the
gene encoding BANYULS/ANTHOCYANIDIN REDUCTASE (BAN/ANR), which converts anthocyanidins into their corresponding 2,3-cis-flavan-3-ols. Our study also demonstrates that the levels of H3K9ac chromatin modification directly correlate with the active state of BAN in an STK-dependent way. This is consistent with the idea that MADS-domain proteins control the expression of their target genes through the modification of chromatin states. STK might thus recruit or regulate histone modifying factors to control their activity. In addition, we show that STK is able to regulate other BAN regulators. Our study demonstrates for the first time how a floral homeotic gene controls tissue identity through the regulation of a wide range of processes including the accumulation of secondary metabolites.
AB - The role of secondary metabolites in the determination of cell identity has been an area of particular interest over recent
years, and studies strongly indicate a connection between cell fate and the regulation of enzymes involved in secondary
metabolism. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the maternally derived seed coat plays pivotal roles in both the protection of the
developing embryo and the first steps of germination. In this regard, a characteristic feature of seed coat development is
the accumulation of proanthocyanidins (PAs - a class of phenylpropanoid metabolites) in the innermost layer of the seed
coat. Our genome-wide transcriptomic analysis suggests that the ovule identity factor SEEDSTICK (STK) is involved in the regulation of several metabolic processes, providing a strong basis for a connection between cell fate determination,
development and metabolism. Using phenotypic, genetic, biochemical and transcriptomic approaches, we have focused
specifically on the role of STK in PA biosynthesis. Our results indicate that STK exerts its effect by direct regulation of the
gene encoding BANYULS/ANTHOCYANIDIN REDUCTASE (BAN/ANR), which converts anthocyanidins into their corresponding 2,3-cis-flavan-3-ols. Our study also demonstrates that the levels of H3K9ac chromatin modification directly correlate with the active state of BAN in an STK-dependent way. This is consistent with the idea that MADS-domain proteins control the expression of their target genes through the modification of chromatin states. STK might thus recruit or regulate histone modifying factors to control their activity. In addition, we show that STK is able to regulate other BAN regulators. Our study demonstrates for the first time how a floral homeotic gene controls tissue identity through the regulation of a wide range of processes including the accumulation of secondary metabolites.
KW - Seed development, metabolism
KW - Seed development, metabolism
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/62300
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25521508
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004856
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004856
M3 - Article
SN - 1553-7404
VL - 10
SP - N/A-N/A
JO - PLoS Genetics
JF - PLoS Genetics
ER -