Browsing by Author "Sharma, Deepika"

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Arabidopsis MPK3 and MPK6 regulates D-Glucose signaling and interacts with G-Protein, RGS1
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Bhagat, Prakash Kumar; Sharma, Deepika; Verma, Deepanjali; Singh, Kirti; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Sugar as a signaling molecule has attracted lots of attention. Even though several kinases have been shown to play a crucial role in the sugar signaling and response to exogenous D-glucose (Glc), the information on the involvement of MAP kinase cascade in sugar signaling has remain largely unexplored. In this report we demonstrate that MAP kinase signaling is essential for sensitivity to higher concentrations of D-Glc in Arabidopsis. We found that D-Glc activates MAP kinases, MPK3 and MPK6 in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The mutants of mpk3 and mpk6 display hyposensitivity to 6% D-Glc during seed germination, cotyledon greening and root growth. Interestingly, the altered sensitivity to increased D-Glc is severely enhanced by addition of 1% Sucrose in the media. Our study also deciphered the role of one of the Glc sensor proteins, RGS1 that interacts and gets phosphorylated at its C-terminal domain by MPK3 and MPK6. Overall our study provides a new insight on the involvement of MAP kinases in association with G-proteins that might regulate sugar signaling and sugar responsive growth and development in Arabidopsis.
Dynamic phosphorylation of miRNA biogenesis factor HYL1 by MPK3 involving nuclear–cytoplasmic shuttling and protein stability in Arabidopsis
(MDPI AG, 2022) Bhagat, Prakash Kumar; Verma, Deepanjali; Singh, Kirti; Badmi, Raghuram; Sharma, Deepika; Sinha, Alok Krishna
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of the prime regulators of gene expression. The recruitment of hyponastic leaves 1 (HYL1), a double-stranded RNA binding protein also termed as DRB1, to the microprocessor complex is crucial for accurate primary-miRNA (pri-miRNA) processing and the accumulation of mature miRNA in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the present study, we investigated the role of the MAP kinase-mediated phosphorylation of AtHYL1 and its sub-cellular activity. AtMPK3 specifically phosphorylates AtHYL1 at the evolutionarily conserved serine-42 present at the Nterminal regions and plays an important role in its nuclear–cytosolic shuttling. Additionally, we identified that AtHYL1 is cleaved by trypsin-like proteases into an N-terminal fragment, which renders its subcellular activities. We, for the first time, report that the dimerization of AtHYL1 not only takes place in the nucleus, but also in the cytosol, and the C-terminal of AtHYL1 has a role in regulating its stability, as well as its subcellular localization. AtHYL1 is hyper-phosphorylated in mpk3 mutants, leading to higher stability and reduced degradation. Our data show that AtMPK3 is a negative regulator of AtHYL1 protein stability and that the AtMPK3-induced phosphorylation of AtHYL1 leads to its protein degradation.
HY5 and ABI5 transcription factors physically interact to fine tune light and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2021) Bhagat, Prakash Kumar; Verma, Deepanjali; Sharma, Deepika; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Plants undergo numerous transitions during their life-cycle and have developed a very complex network of signaling to integrate information from their surroundings to effectively survive in the ever-changing environment. Light signaling is one of the crucial factors that govern the plant growth and development from the very first step of that is from seedling germination to the flowering. Similarly, Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling transduces the signals from external unfavorable condition to the internal developmental pathways and is crucial for regulation of seed maturation, dormancy germination and early seedling development. These two fundamental factors coordinately regulate plant wellbeing, but the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive this regulation are poorly understood. Here, we identified that two bZIP transcription factors, ELONGATED HYPOCOTYLE 5 (HY5), a positive regulator of light signaling and ABA-INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5), a positive regulator of ABA signaling interacts and integrates the two pathways together. Our phenotypic data suggest that ABI5 may act as a negative regulator during photomorphogenesis in contrast, HY5 acts as a positive regulator of ABA signaling in an ABA dependent manner. We further showed that over-expression of HY5 leads to ABA-hypersensitive phenotype and late flowering phenotype. Taken together, our data provides key insights regarding the mechanism of interaction between ABI5-HY5 that fine tunes the stress and developmental response in Arabidopsis.
MAP kinase as regulators for stress responses in plants: An overview
(John Wiley & Sons, 2021) Sharma, Deepika; Verma, Neetu; Pandey, Chandana; Verma, Deepanjali; Bhagat, Prakash Kumar; Noryang, Stanzin; Singh, Kirti; Tayyeba, Sumaira; Banerjee, Gopal; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Living cells adapt to various kind of stresses by perceiving changes in the extracellular environment and communicating these changes from outside of the cell to the inside and ultimately to the nucleus where expression of a specific set of genes occurs in order to provide appropriate response to the stress. Plant cells have evolved several signaling cascades to accomplish this signal transduction. One of the major mechanisms is the cascade of protein phosphorylation by specific Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade. This cascade comprises of three kinase modules, a MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK/MAKKK/MEKK/MAP3K), a MAPK kinase (MAPKK/MKK/MEK/MAP2K) and a MAPK, which are sequentially activated by an event of protein phosphorylation. In plants, MAPKs are large signaling families of proteins, which have been shown to be involved in cross-talk with various abiotic and biotic stress responses forming complex networks in cells. Abiotic stresses such as heat, cold, changing light intensities, heavy metals and salinity, and biotic stress such as pathogen attack are key factors, which affect growth and development of plants. In response to these stresses, MAPK signaling cascade regulate growth of plants by transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation such as protein–protein interactions. In this chapter, we discuss the latest findings and insights in relation to the role of all the modules, MAPKKK, MAPKK, and MAPKs of different MAPK signaling cascades in various abiotic and biotic stresses in plants.
Novel microRNAs regulating ripening-associated processes in banana fruit
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2020) Lakhwani, Deepika; Sanchita; Pandey, Ashutosh; Sharma, Deepika; Asif, Mehar H.; Trivedi, Prabodh K.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression and regulate various physiological and developmental processes in plants. During fruit ripening phase, several physiological and biochemical variations take place resulting changes in colour and texture, softening and production of aroma volatiles. A number of pathways leading to cell wall hydrolysis, ethylene signaling, biosynthesis of fatty acids, esters and a number of secondary plant products play important role during fruit ripening. However, detailed analysis of various processes regulated by miRNAs has not been studied in detailed in a number of fruits. In this study, we sequenced small RNA libraries from ripe and un-ripe fruit of Banana (Musa acuminata), an important and staple food crop, to identify miRNAs regulating fruit ripening. Our analysis identifed a number of novel miRNAs which are diferentially expressed during fruit ripening. These novel miRNAs were analyzed for their precursors, chromosome localization and targets. Some of these miRNAs were identifed to target genes involved in miRNA biogenesis, fruit softening and aroma biosynthesis. This study advances our knowledges in the area of fruit ripening process regulated by miRNAs.
Phosphorylation of AGO1a by MAP kinases is required for miRNA mediated resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae infection in rice
(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Singh, Kirti; Sharma, Deepika; Bhagat, Prakash Kumar; Tayyeba, Sumaira; Noryang, Stanzin; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Bacterial leaf blight is a devastating disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) which causes severe crop loss in rice. The molecular mechanism that initiates defense against such pathogens remains unexplored. Reports have suggested crucial role of several miRNAs in regulating immune responses in plants. Argonaute (AGO) proteins have been implicated in imparting immunity against pathogens by using small RNAs as guide molecules. Here, we show that phosphorylation of rice AGO1a by MAP kinases is required for miRNA expression regulation during Xoo infection. AGO1a is induced in response to pathogen infection and is under the control of SA signaling pathway. The pathogen responsive MAP kinases MPK3, MPK4 and MPK6, interact with AGO1a in planta and can phosphorylate the protein in vitro. Overexpression of AGO1a extends disease resistance against Xoo in rice and leads to a higher accumulation of miRNAs. Conversely, overexpression of a non phosphorylatable mutant protein aggravates disease susceptibility and remarkably suppresses the miRNA expression levels. At a molecular level, phosphorylation of AGO1a by MAP kinase is required for increased accumulation of miRNAs during pathogen challenge. Taken together, the data suggests that OsAGO1a is a direct phosphorylation target of MAP kinases and this phosphorylation is crucial for its role in imparting disease resistance.
Phosphorylation of PIF3 by MPK6 is required for coordinated regulation of miRNA biogenesis and hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis
(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Sharma, Deepika; Singh, Dhanraj; Singh, Kirti; Dwivedi, Aditi; Ranjan, Aashish; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Light is one of the most important environmental factors that affect overall growth and development in plants. PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) are negative regulators of photomorphogenesis. PIFs mediate light responses by interacting with downstream molecular partners and are essential regulators for hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis. Light induce activation of phytochromes (phys), promotes rapid phosphorylation, ubiquitination and degradation of PIFs. However the kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of PIFs and the signaling mechanism governing the adaptive changes leading to hypocotyl elongation to differential light intensities is not well understood. Here, we report interaction and phosphorylation of PIF3 by a mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MPK6) both in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylation was significantly abolished when all the PIF3 putative phosphorylation sites were mutated to alanine. Further, we found that PIF3 directly binds to the bHLH binding domain in the promoter of RL responsive miRNA, miR163. Interestingly, phosphorylation status of PIF3 substantially affects the binding of PIF3 and mutated proteins to miR163 promoter. Further, overexpression of PIF3 affects the expression of red light (RL) responsive miRNAs and downstream genes involved in hypocotyl elongation and seedling development. These results suggest that MPK6-PIF3 module functions upstream of RL-responsive miRNAs and PIF3-regulated genes involved in photomorphogenesis, thus interconnecting these pathways together.
Traversing the links between heavy metal stress and plant signaling
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2018) Jalmi, Siddhi K.; Bhagat, Prakash K.; Verma, Deepanjali; Noryang, Stanzin; Tayyeba, Sumaira; Singh, Kirti; Sharma, Deepika; Sinha, Alok Krishna
Plants confront multifarious environmental stresses widely divided into abiotic and biotic stresses, of which heavy metal stress represents one of the most damaging abiotic stresses. Heavy metals cause toxicity by targeting crucial molecules and vital processes in the plant cell. One of the approaches by which heavy metals act in plants is by over production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) either directly or indirectly. Plants act against such overdose of metal in the environment by boosting the defense responses like metal chelation, sequestration into vacuole, regulation of metal intake by transporters, and intensification of antioxidative mechanisms. This response shown by plants is the result of intricate signaling networks functioning in the cell in order to transmit the extracellular stimuli into an intracellular response. The crucial signaling components involved are calcium signaling, hormone signaling, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling that are discussed in this review. Apart from signaling components other regulators like microRNAs and transcription factors also have a major contribution in regulating heavy metal stress. This review demonstrates the key role of MAPKs in synchronously controlling the other signaling components and regulators in metal stress. Further, attempts have been made to focus on metal transporters and chelators that are regulated by MAPK signaling.
Variety-specific transcript accumulation during reproductive stage in drought- stressed rice
(John Wiley & Sons, 2022) Gour, Pratibha; Kansal, Shivani; Agarwal, Priyanka; Mishra, Bhuwaneshwar Sharan; Sharma, Deepika; Mathur, Saloni; Raghuvanshi, Saurabh
The divergence of natural stress tolerance mechanisms between species is an intriguing phenomenon. To study it in rice, a comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out in ‘heading’ stage tissue (flag leaf, panicles and roots) of Nagina 22 (N22; drought-tolerant) and IR64 (drought-sensitive) plants subjected to field drought. Interestingly, N22 showed almost double the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than IR64. Many DEGs colocalized within drought-related QTLs responsible for grain yield and drought tolerance and also associated with drought tolerance and critical drought-related plant traits such as leaf rolling, trehalose content, sucrose and cellulose content. Besides, co-expression analysis of the DEGs revealed several ‘hub’ genes known to actively regulate drought stress response. Strikingly, 1366 DEGs, including 21 ‘hub’ genes, showed a distinct opposite regulation in the two rice varieties under similar drought conditions. Annotation of these variety-specific DEGs (VS-DEGs) revealed that they are distributed in various biological pathways. Furthermore, 103 VS-DEGs were found to physically interact with over 1300 genes, including 32 that physically interact with other VS-DEGs as well. The promoter region of these genes have sequence variations among the two rice varieties, which might be in part responsible for their unique expression pattern.