Transcriptional stimulation of rate-limiting components of the autophagic pathway improves plant fitness

0488777 - ÚEB 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Minina, E. A. - Moschou, P. N. - Vetukuri, R. R. - Sanchez-Vera, V. - Cardoso, C. - Liu, Q. - Elander, P. H. - Dalman, K. - Beganovic, M. - Lindberg Yilmaz, J. - Marmon, S. - Shabala, L. - Suarez, M. - Ljung, K. - Novák, Ondřej - Shabala, S. - Stymne, S. - Hofius, D. - Bozhkov, P. V.
Transcriptional stimulation of rate-limiting components of the autophagic pathway improves plant fitness.
Journal of Experimental Botany. Roč. 69, č. 6 (2018), s. 1415-1432. ISSN 0022-0957. E-ISSN 1460-2431
Institutional support: RVO:61389030
Keywords : Aging * ATG genes * Autophagy * Autophagy-related ubiquitin-like conjugation systems * Biomass * Oil content * Ratelimiting components of autophagic flux * Seed yield * Stress resistance * Transcriptional regulation
OECD category: Genetics and heredity (medical genetics to be 3)
Impact factor: 5.360, year: 2018

Autophagy is a major catabolic process whereby autophagosomes deliver cytoplasmic content to the lytic compartment for recycling. Autophagosome formation requires two ubiquitin-like systems conjugating Atg12 with Atg5, and Atg8 with lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), respectively. Genetic suppression of these systems causes autophagy-deficient phenotypes with reduced fitness and longevity. We show that Atg5 and the E1-like enzyme, Atg7, are rate-limiting components of Atg8PE conjugation in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of ATG5 or ATG7 stimulates Atg8 lipidation, autophagosome formation, and autophagic flux. It also induces transcriptional changes opposite to those observed in atg5 and atg7 mutants, favoring stress resistance and growth. As a result, ATG5- or ATG7-overexpressing plants exhibit increased resistance to necrotrophic pathogens and oxidative stress, delayed aging and enhanced growth, seed set, and seed oil content. This work provides an experimental paradigm and mechanistic insight into genetic stimulation of autophagy in planta and shows its efficiency for improving plant productivity.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0283320