Pectin methylesterase gene AtPMEPCRA contributes to physiological adaptation to simulated and spaceflight microgravity in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Pectin is biosynthesized in a highly methylated form and is partially de-methylated by pectin methylesterase (PME) activity. Plant PMEs play a critical role in cell wall remodeling in many physiological processes. Here, we studied Arabidopsis seedlings, which had been exposed to simulated or actual microgravity. Simulated microgravity inhibited total PME activity in Arabidopsis seedlings. We identified that AtPMEPCRA expression played a major role in the microgravity-induced inhibition of PME activity. atpmepcra mutants did not exhibit the enlarged leaf area of Arabidopsis seedlings observed under spaceflight microgravity. The downregulation of AtPMEPCRA expression in response to microgravity was due, in part, to changes in methylation patterns. The sexual offspring of

SUBMITTER: Xu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9118689 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature