In Arabidopsis thaliana Cd differentially impacts on hormone genetic pathways in the methylation defective ddc mutant compared to wild type

Sci Rep. 2021 May 26;11(1):10965. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90528-5.

Abstract

DNA methylation plays an important role in modulating plant growth plasticity in response to stress, but mechanisms involved in such control need further investigation. We used drm1 drm2 cmt3 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, defective in DNA methylation, to explore metabolic pathways downstream epigenetic modulation under cadmium (Cd) stress. To this aim, a transcriptomic analysis was performed on ddc and WT plants exposed to a long-lasting (21 d) Cd treatment (25/50 µM), focusing on hormone genetic pathways. Growth parameters and hormones amount were also estimated. Transcriptomic data and hormone quantification showed that, under prolonged Cd treatment, level and signalling of growth-sustaining hormones (auxins, CKs, GAs) were enhanced and/or maintained, while a decrease was detected for stress-related hormones (JA, ABA, SA), likely as a strategy to avoid the side effects of their long-lasting activation. Such picture was more effective in ddc than WT, already at 25 µM Cd, in line with its better growth performance. A tight relationship between methylation status and the modulation of hormone genetic pathways under Cd stress was assessed. We propose that the higher genome plasticity conferred to ddc by DNA hypomethylated status underlies its prompt response to modulate hormones genetic pathways and activity and assure a flexible growth.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cadmium / pharmacology*
  • Cytokinins / biosynthesis
  • Cytokinins / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / deficiency
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / genetics
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Methyltransferases / deficiency
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Methyltransferases / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Plant Growth Regulators / genetics*
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • Soil Pollutants / pharmacology
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics
  • Transcriptome / drug effects

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Cytokinins
  • DNA, Plant
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Plant
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Cadmium
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases
  • Methyltransferases
  • CMT3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DRM1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DRM2 protein, Arabidopsis