Trifurcate feed-forward regulation of age-dependent cell death involving miR164 in Arabidopsis

Science. 2009 Feb 20;323(5917):1053-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1166386.

Abstract

Aging induces gradual yet massive cell death in higher organisms, including annual plants. Even so, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are barely known, despite the long-standing interest in this topic. Here, we demonstrate that ORE1, which is a NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factor, positively regulates aging-induced cell death in Arabidopsis leaves. ORE1 expression is up-regulated concurrently with leaf aging by EIN2 but is negatively regulated by miR164. miR164 expression gradually decreases with aging through negative regulation by EIN2, which leads to the elaborate up-regulation of ORE1 expression. However, EIN2 still contributes to aging-induced cell death in the absence of ORE1. The trifurcate feed-forward pathway involving ORE1, miR164, and EIN2 provides a highly robust regulation to ensure that aging induces cell death in Arabidopsis leaves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Apoptosis*
  • Arabidopsis / cytology
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Plant Leaves / cytology
  • Plant Leaves / physiology*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • EIN2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • MIRN164 microRNA, Arabidopsis
  • MicroRNAs
  • ORE1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Plant
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Transcription Factors