Specification of female germline by microRNA orchestrated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis

Jian Huang, Lei Zhao, Shikha Malik, Benjamin R. Gentile, Va Xiong, Tzahi Arazi, Heather A. Owen, Jiří Friml and Dazhong Zhao ()
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Jian Huang: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Lei Zhao: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Shikha Malik: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Benjamin R. Gentile: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Va Xiong: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Tzahi Arazi: Institute of Plant Sciences, ARO, Volcani Center
Heather A. Owen: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Jiří Friml: Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria
Dazhong Zhao: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Germline determination is essential for species survival and evolution in multicellular organisms. In most flowering plants, formation of the female germline is initiated with specification of one megaspore mother cell (MMC) in each ovule; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this key event remains unclear. Here we report that spatially restricted auxin signaling promotes MMC fate in Arabidopsis. Our results show that the microRNA160 (miR160) targeted gene ARF17 (AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR17) is required for promoting MMC specification by genetically interacting with the SPL/NZZ (SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE) gene. Alterations of auxin signaling cause formation of supernumerary MMCs in an ARF17- and SPL/NZZ-dependent manner. Furthermore, miR160 and ARF17 are indispensable for attaining a normal auxin maximum at the ovule apex via modulating the expression domain of PIN1 (PIN-FORMED1) auxin transporter. Our findings elucidate the mechanism by which auxin signaling promotes the acquisition of female germline cell fate in plants.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6

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