Polymorphisms in cis-elements confer SAUR26 gene expression difference for thermo-response natural variation in Arabidopsis

New Phytol. 2021 Mar;229(5):2751-2764. doi: 10.1111/nph.17078. Epub 2020 Dec 4.

Abstract

The SAUR26 subfamily genes play an important role in conferring variations of thermo-responsiveness of growth architecture among natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression variations are critical for their activity variations, but how expression variations are generated is unknown. We identified genetic loci for gene expression variations through expression genome-wide association study (eGWAS) and investigated their mechanisms through molecular analyses. We found that cis elements are the major determinants for expression variations of SAUR26, SAUR27, and SAUR28. Polymorphisms in the promoter region likely impact PIF4 regulation while those at the 3'UTR affect mRNA stability to generate variations in SAUR26 expression levels. These polymorphisms also differentially affect the mRNA stability of SAUR26 at two temperatures. This study reveals two mechanisms involving cis elements in generating gene expression diversity, which is likely important for local adaptations in Arabidopsis natural accessions.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; SAUR; SAUR26; 3′UTR; PIF4; mRNA stability; temperature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • At3g03850 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins