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PMID: 15024409 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Genetic and functional diversification of small RNA pathways in plants.

PLoS biology ·Vol. 2 ·No. 5 ·2004-05-00 ·Pages E104

Xie Z, Johansen LK, Gustafson AM, Kasschau KD, Lellis AD, Zilberman D, Jacobsen SE, Carrington JC

Abstract

Multicellular eukaryotes produce small RNA molecules (approximately 21-24 nucleotides) of two general types, microRNA (miRNA) and short interfering RNA (siRNA). They collectively function as sequence-specific guides to silence or regulate genes, transposons, and viruses and to modify chromatin and genome structure. Formation or activity of small RNAs requires factors belonging to gene families that encode DICER (or DICER-LIKE [DCL]) and ARGONAUTE proteins and, in the case of some siRNAs, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) proteins. Unlike many animals, plants encode multiple DCL and RDR proteins. Using a series of insertion mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, unique functions for three DCL proteins in miRNA (DCL1), endogenous siRNA (DCL3), and viral siRNA (DCL2) biogenesis were identified. One RDR protein (RDR2) was required for all endogenous siRNAs analyzed. The loss of endogenous siRNA in dcl3 and rdr2 mutants was associated with loss of heterochromatic marks and increased transcript accumulation at some loci. Defects in siRNA-generation activity in response to turnip crinkle virus in dcl2 mutant plants correlated with increased virus susceptibility. We conclude that proliferation and diversification of DCL and RDR genes during evolution of plants contributed to specialization of small RNA-directed pathways for development, chromatin structure, and defense.

MeSH Terms
Arabidopsis/genetics Chromatin/chemistry Cytosine/chemistry DNA Methylation Evolution, Molecular Exons Genes, Plant Green Fluorescent Proteins/chemistry Heterochromatin/chemistry Histones/chemistry Immunoblotting Introns Methylation MicroRNAs/chemistry Models, Genetic Molecular Sequence Data Mutation Plants/virology RNA/chemistry RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry,metabolism RNA, Viral/genetics RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/chemistry Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry Software
Chemicals
Chromatin Heterochromatin Histones MicroRNAs RNA, Small Interfering RNA, Viral Recombinant Fusion Proteins Green Fluorescent Proteins RNA Cytosine RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
Authors & Affiliations
8 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Xie Zhixin
Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.
Johansen Lisa K
Gustafson Adam M
Kasschau Kristin D
Lellis Andrew D
Zilberman Daniel
Jacobsen Steven E
Carrington James C
Conflict of Interest

The authors have declared that no conflicts of interest exist.

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Article Info
Journal
PLoS biology
Abbr.
PLoS Biol
ISSN
1545-7885
DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.0020104
Published
2004-05-00
Epub
2004-00-24
Pages
E104
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101183755
PMCID
PMC350667
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R37 GM060398 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · R37 AI043288 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · R21 AI043288 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM060398 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · R01 AI043288 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM60398 · United States
NIAID NIH HHS · AI43288 · United States
PHS HHS · F32A1051097 · United States
Databases
GENBANK
AF501743
RefSeq
NM_101348, NM_111200, NM_114260, NM_114810, NM_117183
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0020104 PMC Full Text View journal details
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