title: The Nitrification Inhibitor Methyl 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Propionate Modulates Root Development by Interfering with Auxin Signaling via the NO/ROS Pathway.
abstract: Methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (MHPP) is a root exudate that functions as a nitrification inhibitor and as a modulator of the root system architecture (RSA) by inhibiting primary root (PR) elongation and promoting lateral root formation. However, the mechanism underlying MHPP-mediated modulation of the RSA remains unclear. Here, we report that MHPP inhibits PR elongation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) by elevating the levels of auxin expression and signaling. MHPP induces an increase in auxin levels by up-regulating auxin biosynthesis, altering the expression of auxin carriers, and promoting the degradation of the auxin/indole-3-acetic acid family of transcriptional repressors. We found that MHPP-induced nitric oxide (NO) production promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in root tips. Suppressing the accumulation of NO or ROS alleviated the inhibitory effect of MHPP on PR elongation by weakening auxin responses and perception and by affecting meristematic cell division potential. Genetic analysis supported the phenotype described above. Taken together, our results indicate that MHPP modulates RSA remodeling via the NO/ROS-mediated auxin response pathway in Arabidopsis. Our study also revealed that MHPP significantly induced the accumulation of glucosinolates in roots, suggesting the diverse functions of MHPP in modulating plant growth, development, and stress tolerance in plants.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Ruling
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Qi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3103-162X
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2335-0252
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.).
authors.forename: Yiyong
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2695-8199
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China (Y.L., R.W., P.Z., Q.L., J.X.);Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China (Q.C.); andCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China (Y.Z.) xujin@xtbg.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1994-631X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000378:metabolism; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018519:Meristem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D058465:Nitrification; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053147:Plant Exudates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005961:Glucosinolates; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C451260:PIN4 protein, Arabidopsis; D010636:Phenols; D053147:Plant Exudates; D011422:Propionates; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C535177:methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C030737:indoleacetic acid