Research Achievements

February 14, 2017  PRESS RELEASE

New Peptide Hormone Aids Waterproof Barrier Formation in Plant Roots

Nagoya University researchers identify peptide hormones needed for formation and maintenance of plant root barrier to preserve ion homeostasis and adapt to harsh soil conditions.

press released on February 14, 2017

 

Figure: Vascular plants have evolved a physical barrier that prevents passive apoplastic diffusion of ions and water across the endodermal cells that surround the vascular bundles. This hydrophobic barrier embedded within the walls of endodermal cells is called the Casparian strip. © Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi

 

Nagoya, Japan - Plant growth and development relies on the movement of mineral ions from the soil to the transport system of root cells (xylem tissue) and subsequent transfer to the shoot. Because this process usually occurs against a concentration gradient, passive diffusion is prevented and homeostasis ensured by the presence of a waterproof lignin-rich barrier known as the Casparian strip that surrounds xylem and phloem tissue in a ring. Several proteins were known to be necessary for Casparian strip formation, including the receptor kinase GSO1/SGN3.

 

Now, work at Nagoya University has identified peptide hormone ligands within the center of the root that bind the GSO1/SGN3 receptor and regulate Casparian strip assembly in response to developmental and environmental cues. The study was reported in Science.

 

Genes encoding the precursors of peptide hormones are present in multiple copies in plant genomes, and the pre-peptides carry a conserved domain. Armed with this knowledge, the researchers used a screening process to identify two peptides, which they named Casparian strip integrity factor (CIF)1 and CIF2, from a wider peptide family that were needed for complete Casparian strip formation in the roots of the model plant Arabidopsis. CIF1 and CIF2 expression was limited to the central section of the root (the stele) containing the xylem and phloem.

 

Knockdown of the genes encoding CIF1 and CIF2 resulted in a "leaky" barrier that allowed movement of an experimental dye into the xylem. This phenotype resembled that seen in plants with mutations in the gene encoding the GSO1/SGN3 receptor.

 

"Lignin autofluorescence and live-cell imaging revealed disruption of the barrier in the absence of the peptide ligands or receptor," corresponding author Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi says, "while the addition of synthetic CIF1 to the ligand mutant, but not the receptor mutant, restored barrier integrity as binding of the receptor-ligand encouraged lignin deposition." CIF peptides were also shown to be necessary for maintenance as well as formation of the Casparian strip.

 

The ligand mutant was more sensitive to high iron levels in the soil than wild-type, showing stunted growth and bronzing of the leaves which was overcome by the addition of synthetic CIF1. These growth defects likely reflect the high iron observed in the xylem sap of these mutants, indicative of barrier leakage.

 

"Interestingly, CIF1 and CIF2 gene expression was up-regulated by high iron levels, particularly under high acidity" Matsubayashi says. "This reveals an active strategy by higher plants to overcome adverse growth conditions."

 

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The article, "A peptide hormone required for Casparian strip diffusion barrier formation in Arabidopsis roots" was published in Science at DOI: 10.1126/science.aai9057

 

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Authors: Takuya Nakayama, Assistant Prof. Hidefumi Shinohara, Mina Tanaka, Koki Baba, Dr. Mari Ogawa-Ohnishi, Prof. Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University

 

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Related Links: 

Y. Matsubayashi's Lab., Group of Intercellular Signaling Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University

 

Lab.'s overview at official site of Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University 

 

NU Research, "Discovery of a new plant hormone that perseives and compensates for "hunger" " (Mar. 22, 2015)

 

unite: research seeds for needs, Nagoya University, "Peptide ligand-receptor pair involved in plant growth and development"

 

Media Coverage:

EurekAlert!

AlphaGalileo

Asia Research News

Science Daily

Phys.org

Seed Quest

Health Medicinet

Technology Network 

Scienmag

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Funding: Supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) 25221105 and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas 15H05957 (Y.M.) and by JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas 26113520 and 16H01234 and Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) 25840111 (H.S.).

 

 

 

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