An H3K27me3 demethylase-HSFA2 regulatory loop orchestrates transgenerational thermomemory in Arabidopsis

Cell Res. 2019 May;29(5):379-390. doi: 10.1038/s41422-019-0145-8. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

Global warming has profound effects on plant growth and fitness. Plants have evolved sophisticated epigenetic machinery to respond quickly to heat, and exhibit transgenerational memory of the heat-induced release of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). However, how thermomemory is transmitted to progeny and the physiological relevance are elusive. Here we show that heat-induced HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (HSFA2) directly activates the H3K27me3 demethylase RELATIVE OF EARLY FLOWERING 6 (REF6), which in turn derepresses HSFA2. REF6 and HSFA2 establish a heritable feedback loop, and activate an E3 ubiquitin ligase, SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING 3 (SGS3)-INTERACTING PROTEIN 1 (SGIP1). SGIP1-mediated SGS3 degradation leads to inhibited biosynthesis of trans-acting siRNA (tasiRNA). The REF6-HSFA2 loop and reduced tasiRNA converge to release HEAT-INDUCED TAS1 TARGET 5 (HTT5), which drives early flowering but attenuates immunity. Thus, heat induces transmitted phenotypes via a coordinated epigenetic network involving histone demethylases, transcription factors, and tasiRNAs, ensuring reproductive success and transgenerational stress adaptation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / chemistry
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Demethylation
  • Flowers / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • HSFA2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • REF6 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SGS3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone Demethylases
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases