Plant 22-nt siRNAs mediate translational repression and stress adaptation

Huihui Wu, Bosheng Li, Hiro-oki Iwakawa, Yajie Pan, Xianli Tang, Qianyan Ling-hu, Yuelin Liu, Shixin Sheng, Li Feng, Hong Zhang, Xinyan Zhang, Zhonghua Tang, Xinli Xia, Jixian Zhai and Hongwei Guo ()
Additional contact information
Huihui Wu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Bosheng Li: Southern University of Science and Technology
Hiro-oki Iwakawa: The University of Tokyo
Yajie Pan: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xianli Tang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Qianyan Ling-hu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Yuelin Liu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Shixin Sheng: Southern University of Science and Technology
Li Feng: Southern University of Science and Technology
Hong Zhang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xinyan Zhang: Peking University
Zhonghua Tang: Northeast Forestry University
Xinli Xia: Beijing Forestry University
Jixian Zhai: Southern University of Science and Technology
Hongwei Guo: Southern University of Science and Technology

Nature, 2020, vol. 581, issue 7806, 89-93

Abstract: Abstract Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are essential for proper development and immunity in eukaryotes1. Plants produce siRNAs with lengths of 21, 22 or 24 nucleotides. The 21- and 24-nucleotide species mediate cleavage of messenger RNAs and DNA methylation2,3, respectively, but the biological functions of the 22-nucleotide siRNAs remain unknown. Here we report the identification and characterization of a group of endogenous 22-nucleotide siRNAs that are generated by the DICER-LIKE 2 (DCL2) protein in plants. When cytoplasmic RNA decay and DCL4 are deficient, the resulting massive accumulation of 22-nucleotide siRNAs causes pleiotropic growth disorders, including severe dwarfism, meristem defects and pigmentation. Notably, two genes that encode nitrate reductases—NIA1 and NIA2—produce nearly half of the 22-nucleotide siRNAs. Production of 22-nucleotide siRNAs triggers the amplification of gene silencing and induces translational repression both gene specifically and globally. Moreover, these 22-nucleotide siRNAs preferentially accumulate upon environmental stress, especially those siRNAs derived from NIA1/2, which act to restrain translation, inhibit plant growth and enhance stress responses. Thus, our research uncovers the unique properties of 22-nucleotide siRNAs, and reveals their importance in plant adaptation to environmental stresses.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2231-y

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