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Research article
Reuben Tayengwa
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0563-470X
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
The 29-member Arabidopsis AHL gene family is classified into three main classes based on nucleotide and protein sequence evolutionary differences. These differences include the presence or absence of introns, type and/or number of conserved AT-hook and PPC domains. AHL gene family members are divided into two phylogenetic clades, Clade-A and Clade-B. A majority of the 29 members remain functionally uncharacterized. Furthermore, the biological significance of the DNA and peptide sequence diversity, observed in the conserved motifs and domains found in the different AHL types, is a subject area that remains largely unexplored.
Results
Transgenic plants overexpressing AtAHL20 flowered later than the wild type. Transcript accumulation analyses showed that 35S:AtAHL20 plants contained reduced FT, TSF, AGL8 and SPL3 mRNA levels. Similarly, overexpression of AtAHL20’s orthologue in Camelina sativa, Arabidopsis’ closely related Brassicaceae family member species, conferred a late-flowering phenotype via suppression of CsFT expression. In addition, 35S:AtAHL20 seedlings exhibited suppressed hypocotyl length and enhanced water stress tolerance. However, overexpression of an aberrant AtAHL20 gene harboring a missense mutation in the AT-hook domain’s highly conserved R-G-R core motif abolished the late-flowering phenotype. Data from targeted yeast-two-hybrid assays showed that AtAHL20 interacted with itself and several other Clade-A Type-I AHLs which have been previously implicated in flowering-time regulation: AtAHL22, AtAHL27 and AtAHL29.
Conclusion
We showed via gain-function analysis that AtAHL20 is a negative regulator of FT expression, as well as other downstream flowering time regulating genes. A similar outcome in Camelina sativa transgenic plants overexpressing CsAHL20 suggest that this is a conserved function. Additionally, overexpression of AtAHL20 resulted in shorter hypocotyls and enhanced drought stress tolerance compared to wild-type plants. Our results demonstrate that AtAHL20 is a negative regulator of transition to flowering and hypocotyl elongation, but a positive regulator of drought stress tolerance.
Keywords
AHL, AHL20, Arabidopsis, At-hook, flowering, FT, hypocotyl, water-stress
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 09 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Nov, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 24 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Oct, 2020
Version 1
Posted 15 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 05 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 05 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 08 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 06 Jul, 2020
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PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC Plant Biology.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Reuben Tayengwa
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0563-470X
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 09 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Nov, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 24 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Oct, 2020
Version 1
Posted 15 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 05 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 05 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 08 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 06 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Plant Biology.
Background
The 29-member Arabidopsis AHL gene family is classified into three main classes based on nucleotide and protein sequence evolutionary differences. These differences include the presence or absence of introns, type and/or number of conserved AT-hook and PPC domains. AHL gene family members are divided into two phylogenetic clades, Clade-A and Clade-B. A majority of the 29 members remain functionally uncharacterized. Furthermore, the biological significance of the DNA and peptide sequence diversity, observed in the conserved motifs and domains found in the different AHL types, is a subject area that remains largely unexplored.
Results
Transgenic plants overexpressing AtAHL20 flowered later than the wild type. Transcript accumulation analyses showed that 35S:AtAHL20 plants contained reduced FT, TSF, AGL8 and SPL3 mRNA levels. Similarly, overexpression of AtAHL20’s orthologue in Camelina sativa, Arabidopsis’ closely related Brassicaceae family member species, conferred a late-flowering phenotype via suppression of CsFT expression. In addition, 35S:AtAHL20 seedlings exhibited suppressed hypocotyl length and enhanced water stress tolerance. However, overexpression of an aberrant AtAHL20 gene harboring a missense mutation in the AT-hook domain’s highly conserved R-G-R core motif abolished the late-flowering phenotype. Data from targeted yeast-two-hybrid assays showed that AtAHL20 interacted with itself and several other Clade-A Type-I AHLs which have been previously implicated in flowering-time regulation: AtAHL22, AtAHL27 and AtAHL29.
Conclusion
We showed via gain-function analysis that AtAHL20 is a negative regulator of FT expression, as well as other downstream flowering time regulating genes. A similar outcome in Camelina sativa transgenic plants overexpressing CsAHL20 suggest that this is a conserved function. Additionally, overexpression of AtAHL20 resulted in shorter hypocotyls and enhanced drought stress tolerance compared to wild-type plants. Our results demonstrate that AtAHL20 is a negative regulator of transition to flowering and hypocotyl elongation, but a positive regulator of drought stress tolerance.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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