title: Mutations in the Type II protein arginine methyltransferase AtPRMT5 result in pleiotropic developmental defects in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Human PROTEIN ARGININE METHYLTRANSFERASE5 (PRMT5) encodes a type II protein arginine (Arg) methyltransferase and its homologs in animals and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe) are known to regulate RNA processing, signal transduction, and gene expression. However, PRMT5 homologs in higher plants have not yet been reported and the biological roles of these proteins in plant development remain elusive. Here, using conventional biochemical approaches, we purified a plant histone Arg methyltransferase from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) that was nearly identical to AtPRMT5, an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homolog of human PRMT5. AtPRMT5 methylated histone H4, H2A, and myelin basic protein in vitro. Western blot using symmetric dimethyl histone H4 Arg 3-specific antibody and thin-layer chromatography analysis demonstrated that AtPRMT5 is a type II enzyme. Mutations in AtPRMT5 caused pleiotropic developmental defects, including growth retardation, dark green and curled leaves, and FlOWERING LOCUS C (FLC)-dependent delayed flowering. Therefore, the type II protein Arg methyltransferase AtPRMT5 is involved in promotion of vegetative growth and FLC-dependent flowering time regulation in Arabidopsis.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
authors.forename: Yanxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Falong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jixian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Xiangfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D006657:Histones; D001120:Arginine; C524490:PRMT5 protein, Arabidopsis; D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases