Project description:We investigated the morphological roots decisions of Arabidopsis in a NO3- heterogeneous medium. To do so, we used the Split-Root System which is an experimental set up to assess root decisions in nutrient heterogeneous medium. Split-root plants have been subjected to three different treatments. ‘Control KNO3’ plants received KNO3 on both sides of the root system (C.NO3) and ‘Control KCl’ plants received KCl on both sides (C.KCl) as a nitrogen deprivation treatment. 'Split' plants received KNO3 on one side (Sp.NO3) and KCl on the other side (Sp.KCl) of the root system to assess the root decision-making in a heterogeneous environment. We observed that the total lateral roots length in the Sp.NO3 and C.KCl compartments is induced as compared to C.NO3 and Sp.KCl compartments. This corresponds to a root proliferation response in strategic territories to compensate the nitrogen deprivation. To decipher the molecular basis of this morphological root response on day 4 after the beginning of the split-root treatment, we used a transcriptomic approach on roots at 2hours, 8 hours and 2 days after the beginning of the treatment. From our microarrays data, we have identified a global set of 150 genes for which the expression pattern match with the lateral roots responses. Among them, we selected 8 early marker genes of the root decisions, which allowed us to show that the shoots and the NO3- itself are essential for the decision. Finally, we tested the role of the cytokinins phytohormones as a NO3--derived systemic signal in the root decision. Interestingly, we have demonstrated that the systemic cytokinins are involved into the decision of inducing maker genes expression and making lateral roots in the Sp.NO3 compartment specifically.
Project description:We analyzed global transcriptional changes in both shoots and roots of root-flooded Arabidopsis seedlings by microarrays. We also interpreted the significance of the systemic communication between roots and shoots by functional classification of affected genes. We performed genetic analysis with an ethylene signaling mutant, ein2-5, to correlate systemic flooding responses with ethylene signaling. We identified a class of genes that were up- or downregulated in shoots, but not affected in roots, under hypoxic conditions. A comprehensive managing program of carbohydrate metabolism was observed, providing an example of how systemic communications might facilitate the survival of plants under flooding. A proportion of long-distance hypoxic regulation was altered in ein2-5. Time course experiments (0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 12h for Columbia; 0.5, 3, and 6h for ein2-5). Tissues from root-flooded seedlings vs. Tissues from un-flooded seedlings. Biological replicates: 4 replicates for each time point, independently grown, treated, and harvested. One replicate per array. 2 of 4 replicates are dye-swapped.
Project description:Plants uptake nitrogen (N) from the soil mainly in the form of nitrate. However, nitrate is often distributed heterogeneously in natural soil. Plants, therefore, have a systemic long-distance signaling mechanism by which N-starvation on one side of the root leads to a compensatory N uptake on the other N-rich side. This systemic N acquisition response is triggered by a root-to-shoot mobile peptide hormone, C-terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP), originating from the N-starved roots, but the molecular nature of the descending shoot-to-root signal remains elusive. Here, we show that phloem-specific polypeptides that are induced in leaves upon perception of root-derived CEP act as descending long-distance mobile signals translocated to each root. These shoot-derived polypeptides, which we named CEP Downstream 1 (CEPD1) and CEPD2, upregulate the expression of the nitrate transporter gene NRT2.1 in roots specifically when nitrate is present in the rhizosphere. Arabidopsis plants deficient in this pathway show impaired systemic N-acquisition response accompanied with N-deficiency symptoms. These fundamental mechanistic insights should provide a conceptual framework for understanding systemic nutrient acquisition responses in plants. We prepared total RNA from vascular tissues of wild type, CEP1-treated wild type, and cepr1-1 mutant, and used a microarray analysis to identify genes specifically induced by CEP1.
Project description:We investigated the morphological roots decisions of Arabidopsis in a NO3- heterogeneous medium. To do so, we used the Split-Root System which is an experimental set up to assess root decisions in nutrient heterogeneous medium. Split-root plants have been subjected to three different treatments. ‘Control KNO3’ plants received KNO3 on both sides of the root system (C.NO3) and ‘Control KCl’ plants received KCl on both sides (C.KCl) as a nitrogen deprivation treatment. 'Split' plants received KNO3 on one side (Sp.NO3) and KCl on the other side (Sp.KCl) of the root system to assess the root decision-making in a heterogeneous environment. We observed that the total lateral roots length in the Sp.NO3 and C.KCl compartments is induced as compared to C.NO3 and Sp.KCl compartments. This corresponds to a root proliferation response in strategic territories to compensate the nitrogen deprivation. To decipher the molecular basis of this morphological root response on day 4 after the beginning of the split-root treatment, we used a transcriptomic approach on roots at 2hours, 8 hours and 2 days after the beginning of the treatment. From our microarrays data, we have identified a global set of 150 genes for which the expression pattern match with the lateral roots responses. Among them, we selected 8 early marker genes of the root decisions, which allowed us to show that the shoots and the NO3- itself are essential for the decision. Finally, we tested the role of the cytokinins phytohormones as a NO3--derived systemic signal in the root decision. Interestingly, we have demonstrated that the systemic cytokinins are involved into the decision of inducing maker genes expression and making lateral roots in the Sp.NO3 compartment specifically. 36 samples were analyzed. They correspond to three biological repeats of the C.NO3, Sp.NO3, Sp.KCl and C.KCl root samples (12 samples) that we have collected at 2hours, 8 hours and 2 days (12 samples x 3 time points) after the beginning of the split-root treatment. We analyzed the normalized microarrays data by using a three way ANOVA. The three factors of the ANOVA are 1) presence/absence of NO3-, 2) split/control and 3) time. The measures of the significance of each probe were done by the Q-value method (q<0.2, panova<0.001). The genes differentially expressed between the C.NO3 and Sp.NO3 samples, and the C.KCl and Sp.KCl samples were determined by the post-hoc Tukey test (p<0.05).
Project description:We analyzed global transcriptional changes in both shoots and roots of root-flooded Arabidopsis seedlings by microarrays. We also interpreted the significance of the systemic communication between roots and shoots by functional classification of affected genes. We performed genetic analysis with an ethylene signaling mutant, ein2-5, to correlate systemic flooding responses with ethylene signaling. We identified a class of genes that were up- or downregulated in shoots, but not affected in roots, under hypoxic conditions. A comprehensive managing program of carbohydrate metabolism was observed, providing an example of how systemic communications might facilitate the survival of plants under flooding. A proportion of long-distance hypoxic regulation was altered in ein2-5.
Project description:Cell-type specific transcriptional profiles were generated by FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) sorting of roots that express cell-type specific GFP-reporters. Five different GFP-reporter lines were utilized allowing us to obtain transcriptional profiles for cells in all radial zones of the root. FACS cell populations were isolated from roots grown under standard conditions or roots that had been transfered to -Fe media for 24 hours. Little is known about how developmental cues affect the way cells interpret their environment. Here we characterize the transcriptional response of different cell layers and developmental stages of the Arabidopsis root to high salinity and find that transcriptional responses are highly constrained by developmental parameters. These transcriptional changes lead to the differential regulation of specific biological functions in subsets of cell-layers, several of which correspond to observable physiological changes. We show that known stress pathways primarily control semi-ubiquitous responses and use mutants that disrupt epidermal patterning to reveal cell-layer specific and inter-cell-layer effects. By performing a similar analysis using iron-deprivation we identify common cell-type specific stress responses and environment-independent biological functions that define each cell type. Experiment Overall Design: To gain a genome-scale understanding of the role that developmental processes play in regulating stimulus response, we examined the effect of -Fe stress on gene expression along the radial axis of the root. Cell identity is the main variable that changes along the radial axis with the epidermis representing the outermost tissue layer and the stele representing the inner most layer. 5 different GFP reporter lines were used to isolate specific populations of cells from the Arabidopsis root using FACS sorting of protoplasted cells. GFP-reporter lines were exposed to iron deficient (-Fe) conditions (0.3mM Ferrozine in MS media containing no ferrous sulfate) for 24 hours before hand.
Project description:Unlike the situation in animals, the final morphology of the plant body is highly modulated by the environment. During Arabidopsis development, intrinsic factors provide the framework for basic patterning processes. CLASS III HOMEODOMAIN LEUCINE ZIPPER (HD‐ZIPIII) transcription factors are involved in embryo, shoot and root patterning and during vegetative growth regulate several polarity set‐up processes such as in leaves and the vascular system. Here we show that besides being involved in basic patterning, HD‐ZIPIII transcription factors also have a critical role in controlling elongation growth that is induced when plants experience shade. By using a ChIP‐Seq approach, we have identified several direct target genes of the HD‐ZIPIII transcription factor REVOLUTA (REV). We show that REV acts upstream of auxin biosynthesis and directly regulates several HAT transcription factors that control shade avoidance responses in Arabidopsis. Plants in which HD‐ZIPIII genes are mutated show altered responses to shade revealing that the basic patterning machinery also regulates adaptive development. Thus, HD-ZIPIII transcription factors contribute to shade signaling and act upstream of both auxin and HAT activation. A. thaliana REVOLUTA ChIP-seq w control
Project description:To gain a genome-scale understanding of the role that developmental processes play in regulating stimulus response, we examined the effect of -Fe stress on gene expression along the longitudinal axis of the root. Since roots grow from stem cells located near the tip, the position of cells along the longitudinal axis can be used as a proxy for developmental time, with distance from the root tip correlating with increased differentiation. To estimate the role developmental stage plays in regulating salt response, roots were dissected into four longitudinal zones (LZ data set) after transfer to standard or -Fe media and transcriptionally profiled. Little is known about how developmental cues affect the way cells interpret their environment. Here we characterize the transcriptional response of different cell layers and developmental stages of the Arabidopsis root to high salinity and find that transcriptional responses are highly constrained by developmental parameters. These transcriptional changes lead to the differential regulation of specific biological functions in subsets of cell-layers, several of which correspond to observable physiological changes. We show that known stress pathways primarily control semi-ubiquitous responses and use mutants that disrupt epidermal patterning to reveal cell-layer specific and inter-cell-layer effects. By performing a similar analysis using iron-deprivation we identify common cell-type specific stress responses and environment-independent biological functions that define each cell type. Keywords: root developmental zone analysis