TWS1, a Novel Small Protein, Regulates Various Aspects of Seed and Plant Development.
Small proteins have long been overlooked due to their poor annotation and the experimental challenges they pose. However, in recent years, their role in various processes has started to emerge, opening new research avenues. Here, we present the isolation and characterization of two allelic mutants, twisted seed1-1 (tws1-1) and tws1-2, which exhibit an array of developmental and biochemical phenotypes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds. We have identified AT5G01075 as the subtending gene encoding a small protein of 81 amino acids localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. TWS1 is strongly expressed in seeds, where it regulates both embryo development and accumulation of storage compounds. TWS1 loss-of-function seeds exhibit increased starch, sucrose, and protein accumulation at the detriment of fatty acids. TWS1 is also expressed in vegetative and reproductive tissues, where it is responsible for proper epidermal cell morphology and overall plant growth. At the cellular level, TWS1 is responsible for cuticle deposition on epidermal cells and organization of the endomembrane system. Finally, we show that TWS1 is a single-copy gene in Arabidopsis, and it is specifically conserved among angiosperms.
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.) elisa.fiume@versailles.inra.fr loic.lepiniec@versailles.inra.fr.
Elisa
0000-0001-6788-0231
E
Fiume
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.).
Virginie
V
Guyon
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.).
Carine
C
Remoué
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.).
Enrico
E
Magnani
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.).
Martine
0000-0001-8620-6357
M
Miquel
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.).
Damaris
0000-0003-0804-4369
D
Grain
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (E.F., V.G., C.R., E.M., M.M., D.G., L.L.); Biogemma, Centre de Recherche de Chappes, 63720 Chappes, France (V.G.); and Génétique Quantitative et Évolution Le Moulon, INRA, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France (C.R.) elisa.fiume@versailles.inra.fr loic.lepiniec@versailles.inra.fr.
Loïc
0000-0002-5845-3323
L
Lepiniec
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C000623009:TWS1 protein, Arabidopsis; D002244:Carbon