RNA-binding proteins contribute to small RNA loading in plant extracellular vesicles

Nat Plants. 2021 Mar;7(3):342-352. doi: 10.1038/s41477-021-00863-8. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Abstract

Plants use extracellular vesicles (EVs) to transport small RNAs (sRNAs) into their fungal pathogens and silence fungal virulence-related genes through a phenomenon called 'cross-kingdom RNAi'. It remains unknown, however, how sRNAs are selectively loaded into EVs. Here, we identified several RNA-binding proteins in Arabidopsis, including Argonaute 1 (AGO1), RNA helicases (RHs) and annexins (ANNs), which are secreted by exosome-like EVs. AGO1, RH11 and RH37 selectively bind to EV-enriched sRNAs but not to non-EV-associated sRNAs, suggesting that they contribute to the selective loading of sRNAs into EVs. Conversely, ANN1 and ANN2 bind to sRNAs non-specifically. The ago1, rh11 rh37 and ann1 ann2 mutants showed reduced secretion of sRNAs in EVs, demonstrating that these RNA-binding proteins play an important role in sRNA loading and/or stabilization in EVs. Furthermore, rh11 rh37 and ann1 ann2 showed increased susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea, suggesting that RH11, RH37, ANN1 and ANN2 positively regulate plant immunity against B. cinerea.

MeSH terms

  • Annexins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / immunology
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Botrytis
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Plant Diseases / genetics
  • Plant Diseases / immunology
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tetraspanins / metabolism

Substances

  • AGO1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Annexins
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Argonaute Proteins
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Plant
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tetraspanins
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases

Supplementary concepts

  • Botrytis cinerea