Unwinding BRAHMA Functions in Plants

Abstract

The ATP-dependent Switch/Sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex (CRC) regulates the transcription of many genes by destabilizing interactions between DNA and histones. In plants, BRAHMA (BRM), one of the two catalytic ATPase subunits of the complex, is the closest homolog of the yeast and animal SWI2/SNF2 ATPases. We summarize here the advances describing the roles of BRM in plant development as well as its recently reported chromatin-independent role in pri-miRNA processing in vitro and in vivo. We also enlighten the roles of plant-specific partners that physically interact with BRM. Three main types of partners can be distinguished: (i) DNA-binding proteins such as transcription factors which mostly cooperate with BRM in developmental processes, (ii) enzymes such as kinases or proteasome-related proteins that use BRM as substrate and are often involved in response to abiotic stress, and (iii) an RNA-binding protein which is involved with BRM in chromatin-independent pri-miRNA processing. This overview contributes to the understanding of the central position occupied by BRM within regulatory networks controlling fundamental biological processes in plants.

Role of sugar and auxin crosstalk in plant growth and development

“…However, the molecular mechanisms of how sugars and auxin mediated transcriptional changes are linked to growth and developmental responses are poorly understood. In recent years, compelling studies have shown that in addition to transcription factors, chromatin and epigenetic based mechanisms are important regulators of transcriptional changes underlying growth and developmental plasticity (Huai et al 2018; Jia et al 2020; Li et al 2015; Thouly et al 2020; Xi et al 2020). Mediator complexes are also central players of the transcriptional machinery whose function is to recruit transcription factors and cofactors to the site of active transcription (Agrawal et al 2021).…”

Bromodomain-containing proteins BRD1, BRD2, and BRD13 are core subunits of SWI/SNF complexes and vital for their genomic targeting in Arabidopsis

“…A typical SWI/SNF complexes have been found to be vital for plant development and responses to environmental stimuli, mainly through the transcriptional regulation of key genes (Han et al, 2015;Li et al, 2016;Archacki et al, 2017). These complexes are required for leaf development, embryo development, root stem cell niche maintenance, flowering time regulation, cotyledon separation, the juvenile-to-adult phase transition, photomorphogenesis, inflorescence and flower development, and abiotic stress and hormone responses (Hurtado et al, 2006;Archacki et al, 2013Archacki et al, , 2009Farrona et al, 2004;Li et al, 2015;Yang et al, 2015;Sarnowska et al, 2016;Xu et al, 2016;Thouly et al, 2020;Wagner and Meyerowitz, 2002).…”

Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Salinity Tolerance in Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) Using Transcriptome Analyses

“…Transcriptional regulators play essential roles in transcriptional reprogramming during development, physiological and stress responses. The SNF2 protein is a critical component of the chromatin remodeling complex [ 68 ]. The involvement of SNF2 has been shown in response to abiotic stress.…”