title: SUI-family genes encode phosphatidylserine synthases and regulate stem development in rice.
abstract: In vascular plants, the regulation of stem cell niche determines development of aerial shoot which consists of stems and lateral organs. Intercalary meristem (IM) controls internode elongation in rice and other grasses, however little attention has been paid to the underlying mechanism of stem cell maintenance. Here, we investigated the stem development in rice and showed that the Shortened Uppermost Internode 1 (SUI1) family of genes are pivotal for development of rice stems. We demonstrated that SUI-family genes regulate the development of IM for internode elongation and also the cell expansion of the panicle stem rachis in rice. The SUI-family genes encoded base-exchange types of phosphatidylserine synthases (PSSs), which possessed enzymatic activity in a yeast complementary assay. Overexpression of SUI1 and SUI2 caused outgrowths of internodes during vegetative development, and we showed that expression patterns of Oryza Sativa Homeobox 15 (OSH15) and Histone4 were impaired. Furthermore, genome-wide gene expression analysis revealed that overexpression and RNA knockdown of SUI-family genes affected downstream gene expression related to phospholipid metabolic pathways. Moreover, using Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry, we analyzed PS contents in different genetic backgrounds of rice and showed that the quantity of very long chain fatty acids PS is affected by transgene of SUI-family genes. Our study reveals a new mechanism conveyed by the SUI1 pathway and provides evidence to link lipid metabolism with plant stem cell maintenance.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Hengfu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chengwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhongchi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D010717:CDPdiacylglycerol-Serine O-Phosphatidyltransferase / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D005875:Gibberellins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C007842:gibberellic acid; D010717:CDPdiacylglycerol-Serine O-Phosphatidyltransferase