S 1 basic leucine zipper transcription factors shape plant architecture by controlling C/N partitioning to apical and lateral organs
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Plants exhibit an immense plasticity in their architecture. While the impact of hormonal regulation is well-characterised, the importance of sugar-signalling has just recently emerged. Here, we addressed which sugar-signalling components mediate the trade-off between growth of apical versus lateral meristems and how they control organ sink-strength. Thereby, we unravelled a novel developmental function of the sugar-controlled S 1 basic-leucine-zipper (S 1 -bZIP) transcription factors in establishing global source-sink interactions. Applying comprehensive molecular, analytical, and genetic approaches, we demonstrate that S 1 -bZIPs operate in a redundant manner to control tissue-specific expression of defined SWEET sugar-transporters and the GAT1_2.1 glutaminase. By these means, S 1 -bZIPs control carbohydrate (C)-channelling from source leaves to apical shoot and root organs and tune systemic organic nitrogen (N)-supply to restrict lateral organ formation by C/N depletion. Knowledge of the underlying mechanisms controlling plant C/N partitioning is of pivotal importance for breeding strategies to generate plants with desired architectural and nutritional characteristics.
Authors: Philipp Kreisz, Alicia M. Hellens, Christian Fröschel, Markus Krischke, Daniel Maag, Regina Feil, Theresa Wildenhain, Jan Draken, Gabriel Braune, Leon Erdelitsch, Laura Cecchino, Tobias C. Wagner, Peter Ache, Martin J. Mueller, Dirk Becker, John E. Lunn, Johannes Hanson, Christine A. Beveridge, Franziska Fichtner, Francois F. Barbier, Christoph Weiste
Institutions: University of Würzburg, The University of Queensland, ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Institut des Sciences des Plantes de Montpellier
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, University of Queensland, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Umeå Universitet, Department of Education and Training, Université de Montpellier, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Australian Research Council, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture
OpenAlex ID: W4391528041