The polyadenylation factor FIP1 is important for plant development and root responses to abiotic stresses

Abstract

Root development and its response to environmental changes is crucial for whole plant adaptation. These responses include changes in transcript levels. Here, we show that the alternative polyadenylation (APA) of mRNA is important for root development and responses. Mutations in FIP1, a component of polyadenylation machinery, affects plant development, cell division and elongation, and response to different abiotic stresses. Salt treatment increases the amount of poly(A) site usage within the coding region and 5 0 untranslated regions (5 0 -UTRs), and the lack of FIP1 activity reduces the poly(A) site usage within these non-canonical sites. Gene ontology analyses of transcripts displaying APA in response to salt show an enrichment in ABA signaling, and in the response to stresses such as salt or cadmium (Cd), among others. Root growth assays show that fip1-2 is more tolerant to salt but is hypersensitive to ABA or Cd. Our data indicate that FIP1-mediated alternative polyadenylation is important for plant development and stress responses.

Wide‐ranging transcriptome remodelling mediated by alternative polyadenylation in response to abiotic stresses in Sorghum

“…In particular, levels of non‐canonical mRNAs derived from the use of poly(A) sites outside 3´UTRs increased substantially under all three stress conditions, with a corresponding decrease in the levels of canonical mRNAs. In Arabidopsis, the levels of non‐canonical mRNAs increased in response to hypoxia (de Lorenzo et al , ) and salt stress (Tellez‐Robledo et al , ). This reflects a degree of evolutionary conservation in the effects of abiotic stresses on APA.…”

“…As indicated in the preceding paragraph, stress induces a large shift in the levels of different mRNA isoforms, such that the overall levels of canonical isoforms are reduced. In addition, an Arabidopsis mutant with much lower expression of a core poly(A) complex subunit ( FIP1 ) is more tolerant of elevated salt concentrations than its wild‐type parent (Tellez‐Robledo et al , ). Moreover, this mutant does not show the stress‐associated increases in non‐canonical mRNA levels that are seen in wild‐type Arabidopsis, an observation that supports the model that the production of non‐canonical mRNAs plays important roles in both transcriptome remodelling and the overall physiological responses of plants to stress.…”

Alternative Polyadenylation and Salicylic Acid Modulate Root Responses to Low Nitrogen Availability

“…Although polyadenylation typically occurs at the end of the 3 -UTR (and actually defines it), polyadenylation may also occur within introns, protein-coding regions, and 5 -UTRs, which are termed as non-canonical. The levels of mRNA isoforms with non-canonical polyadenylation increase in response to abiotic stresses [12][13][14], suggesting a role of these non-canonical mRNA isoforms during the plant response to these stresses. For example, in Arabidopsis, an increase in mRNA isoforms with 3 ends in coding regions and 5 -UTRs is seen in response to hypoxia [14].…”

“…For example, in Arabidopsis, an increase in mRNA isoforms with 3 ends in coding regions and 5 -UTRs is seen in response to hypoxia [14]. Similarly, elevated salt concentrations are accompanied by increased levels of non-canonical mRNA isoforms [12]. Interestingly, this elevated non-canonical polyadenylation is partially dependent on FIP1 (factor interacting with poly(A) polymerase 1) activity [12].…”

Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting Using the D-Root Device and Optimization for Scarce and/or Non-Accessible Root Cell Populations

“…In nature, roots grow mainly below the soil in darkness; however, the majority of the transcriptomic analyses of cell types during development or under different environmental conditions have been performed with the roots grown in the presence of light [6][7][8]. Root illumination generates a stress that affects growth, hormonal signaling, abiotic responses, or nutrient starvation adaptation compared with roots grown in the dark [9,10]. Particularly, light signaling in roots affects auxin biosynthesis and transport, as this hormone has been proposed as a potential integrator of light signaling and root development [9,11,12].…”