title: The protein kinase TOUSLED facilitates RNAi in Arabidopsis.
abstract: RNA silencing is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism triggered by double-stranded RNA that is processed into 21- to 24-nt small interfering (si)RNA or micro (mi)RNA by RNaseIII-like enzymes called Dicers. Gene regulations by RNA silencing have fundamental implications in a large number of biological processes that include antiviral defense, maintenance of genome integrity and the orchestration of cell fates. Although most generic or core components of the various plant small RNA pathways have been likely identified over the past 15 years, factors involved in RNAi regulation through post-translational modifications are just starting to emerge, mostly through forward genetic studies. A genetic screen designed to identify factors required for RNAi in Arabidopsis identified the serine/threonine protein kinase, TOUSLED (TSL). Mutations in TSL affect exogenous and virus-derived siRNA activity in a manner dependent upon its kinase activity. By contrast, despite their pleiotropic developmental phenotype, tsl mutants show no defect in biogenesis or activity of miRNA or endogenous trans-acting siRNA. These data suggest a possible role for TSL phosphorylation in the specific regulation of exogenous and antiviral RNA silencing in Arabidopsis and identify TSL as an intrinsic regulator of RNA interference.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21+/WCU program), PMBBRC, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Mohammad Nazim
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, UPR2357, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dunoyer
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, UPR2357, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21+/WCU program), PMBBRC, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Salina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21+/WCU program), PMBBRC, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21+/WCU program), PMBBRC, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea Department of Plant Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, UPR2357, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex, France Department of Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), 8092 Zurich, Switzerland kimjy@gnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Voinnet
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21+/WCU program), PMBBRC, Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea kimjy@gnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae-Yean
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; C084661:tousled protein, Arabidopsis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases