Location of a possible miRNA processing site in SmD3/SmB nuclear bodies in Arabidopsis

Plant Cell Physiol. 2007 Sep;48(9):1243-53. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcm099. Epub 2007 Aug 3.

Abstract

There has been much recent research on the contribution of microRNA (miRNA) in plant organogenesis and hormone action. In plants, it has been reported that Dicer-like 1 (DCL1), HYPONASTIC LEAVES1 (HYL1) and SERRATE (SE) are involved in the production of miRNAs. The means by which miRNAs are processed and transported is not well understood in detail, however. In this study, we investigated the intracellular localization and intermolecular interaction of these molecules using imaging techniques, including bimolecular fluorescence complementation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer techniques, making use of various enhanced fluorescent proteins. We found that DCL1, HYL1 and SE formed bodies which localized in the nuclei. We were also able to locate the miRNA primary transcript using an MS2-tagged method on these bodies. It appears very likely that the observed DCL1-HYL1-SE nuclear body is involved in miRNA production. Co-expression of SmD3 or SmB proteins revealed the localization of DCL1-HYL1-SE complexes in the SmD3/SmB nuclear bodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / ultrastructure
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / analysis*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / analysis*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Cell Nucleus / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / analysis*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / chemistry*
  • Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease III / analysis*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism
  • Ribonuclease III / ultrastructure
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • HYL1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SE protein, Arabidopsis
  • Serrate-Jagged Proteins
  • DCL1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Ribonuclease III