Browsing by Author "Sharma, Mohan"

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Arabidopsis target of rapamycin coordinates with transcriptional and epigenetic machinery to regulate thermotolerance
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2021) Sharma, Mohan; Jamsheer, K.M.; Shukla, Brihaspati Narayan; Sharma, Manvi; Awasthi, Prakhar; Mahtha, Sanjeet Kumar; Yadav, Gitanjali; Laxmi, Ashverya
Global warming exhibits profound effects on plant fitness and productivity. To withstand stress, plants sacrifice their growth and activate protective stress responses for ensuring survival. However, the switch between growth and stress is largely elusive. In the past decade, the role of the target of rapamycin (TOR) linking energy and stress signalling is emerging. Here, we have identified an important role of Glucose (Glc)-TOR signalling in plant adaptation to heat stress (HS). Glc via TOR governs the transcriptome reprogramming of a large number of genes involved in heat stress protection. Downstream to Glc-TOR, the E2Fa signalling module regulates the transcription of heat shock factors through direct recruitment of E2Fa onto their promoter regions. Also, Glc epigenetically regulates the transcription of core HS signalling genes in a TOR-dependent manner. TOR acts in concert with p300/CREB HISTONE ACETYLTRANSFERASE1 (HAC1) and dictates the epigenetic landscape of HS loci to regulate thermotolerance. Arabidopsis plants defective in TOR and HAC1 exhibited reduced thermotolerance with a decrease in the expression of core HS signalling genes. Together, our findings reveal a mechanistic framework in which Glc-TOR signalling through different modules integrates stress and energy signalling to regulate thermotolerance.
Balancing growth and defense: Role of target of rapamycin and SNF1-related protein kinase 1 in stress signaling in plants
(John Wiley & Sons, 2021) Sharma, Mohan; Jamsheer, K. Muhammed; Saksena, Harshita B.; Jindal, Sunita; Sharma, Manvi; Singh, Dhriti; Tiwari, Archna; Awasthi, Prakhar; Laxmi, Ashverya
Plants have to maintain the growth and at the same time need to be vigilant about the imminent threat such as pathogen attack and unfavorable growth conditions. It is been observed that the energy status of the plant is an important determinant of the response to stress factors. The Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) and SNF1-Related Protein Kinase 1 (SnRK1) are serine/threonine kinases that originated early in the eukaryotic evolution, work as energy gauges in all eukaryotic lineages. During favorable growth conditions, the nutrient abundance activates TOR, which promotes growth through activation of general protein translation and cell cycle progression. The stress conditions can severely limit energy production, which can activate SnRK1 signaling. By inhibiting TOR kinase and through other effector proteins, the SnRK1 pathway enables the plants to survive in unfavorable growth conditions. The past decade opened a floodgate of studies regarding TOR and SnRK1 interaction regulating growth-defense trade-offs and stress mitigation. This also opened avenues for the utilization of these pathways for crop improvement. This chapter will succinctly summarize the current knowledge in this field and discuss the future direction of research.
The FCS-LIKE ZINC FINGER 6 and 10 are involved in regulating osmotic stress responses in Arabidopsis
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2019) Jamsheer, K Muhammed; Singh, Dhriti; Sharma, Mohan; Sharma, Manvi; Jindal, Sunita; Mannully, Chanchal T.; Shukla, Brihaspati N.; Laxmi, Ashverya
The TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN-SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 1 (TOR-SnRK1) arms race is a key regulator of plant growth in response to energy fluctuations and stress. Recently, we have identified that two members of the FCS-LIKE ZINC FINGER (FLZ) protein family, FLZ6 and 10, repress SnRK1 signaling and thereby involved in the activation of the TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that FLZ6 and 10 are also involved in the regulation of osmotic stress responses. Downregulation of FLZ6 and 10 results in enhanced expression of stress-responsive genes and better resilience towards osmotic stress at the seedling stage. These results indicate that FLZ6 and 10 are involved in the regulation of stress mitigation in plants through directly affecting SnRK1 signaling.
Glucose-regulated HLP1 acts as a key molecule in governing thermomemory
(American Society of Plant Biologists, 2019) Sharma, Mohan; Banday, Zeeshan Zahoor; Shukla, Brihaspati N.; Laxmi, Ashverya
Induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in response to heat stress (HS) is indispensable for conferring thermotolerance. Glucose, a fundamental signaling and metabolic molecule, provides energy to stressed seedlings to combat stress. The recovery of stressed plants from detrimental HS in response to glucose is largely mediated by HSPs, but the mechanistic basis of this thermotolerance is not well defined. In this study, we show that glucose has a prominent role in providing thermotolerance. Glucose-mediated thermotolerance involves HSP induction via the TOR-E2Fa signaling module. Apart from HSPs, TOR-E2Fa also regulates the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ortholog of human Hikeshi, named HIKESHI-LIKE PROTEIN1 (HLP1). Expression of proHLP1::GUS in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) after heat stress coincides with TOR-E2Fa expression, substantiating a role for TOR-E2Fa-HLP1 in providing thermotolerance. We also demonstrate that glucose along with heat could induce proliferation activity in the SAM after HS recovery, which was arrested by the TOR inhibitor AZD-8055. Molecular and physiological studies suggest that HS-activated HSFA1s also positively regulate HLP1 transcription, suggesting convergence of the glucose and HS signaling pathways. Loss of functional HLP1 causes HS hypersensitivity, while HLP1 overexpressors (OEs) display increased thermotolerance. HLP1 binds to the promoters of glucose-regulated HS responsive genes and promotes chromatin acetylation. In addition, glucose modifies the chromatin landscape at thermomemory-related loci by promoting H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3). Glucose-primed accumulation of H3K4me3 at thermomemory-associated loci is mediated through HLP1. These findings reveal the novel function of glucose-regulated HLP1 in mediating thermotolerance/thermomemory response.
A glucose-target of rapamycin signaling axis integrates environmental history of heat stress through maintenance of transcription-associated epigenetic memory in Arabidopsis
(Oxford University Press, 2022) Sharma, Mohan; Sharma, Manvi; Jamsheer, Muhammed K; Laxmi, Ashverya
In nature, plants cope with adversity and have established strategies that recall past episodes and enable them to better cope with stress recurrences by establishing a 'stress memory'. Emerging evidence suggests that Glucose (Glc) and Target of Rapamycin (TOR), central regulators of plant growth have remarkable functions in stress adaptation. However, whether TOR modulates a stress memory response is so far unknown. Global transcriptome profiling identified that Glc through TOR regulates the expression of numerous genes involved in thermomemory. Priming of TOR overexpressors with mild heat showed better stress endurance, whereas TOR RNAi showed reduced thermomemory. This thermomemory is linked with histone methylation at specific sites of heat stress (HS) genes. TOR promotes long-term accumulation of H3K4me3 on thermomemory-associated gene promoters, even when transcription of those genes reverts to their basal level. Our results suggest that ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX 1 (ATX1), an H3K4 methyltransferase already shown to regulate H3K4me3 levels at the promoters of HS recovery genes, is a direct target of TOR signaling. The TOR activating E2Fa binds to the promoter of ATX1, regulates its expression which ultimately regulates thermomemory. Collectively, our findings reveal a mechanistic framework in which Glc-TOR signaling determines the integration of stress and energy signaling to regulate thermomemory.
Jasmonic acid coordinates with light, glucose and auxin signalling in regulating branching angle of Arabidopsis lateral roots
(John Wiley & Sons, 2022) Sharma, Manvi; Sharma, Mohan; Jamsheer, K. Muhammed; Laxmi, Ashverya
The role of jasmonates (JAs) in primary root growth and development and in plant response to external stimuli is already known. However, its role in lateral root (LR) development remains to be explored. Our work identified methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as a key phytohormone in determining the branching angle of Arabidopsis LRs. MeJA inclines the LRs to a more vertical orientation, which was dependent on the canonical JAR1-COI1-MYC2,3,4 signalling. Our work also highlights the dual roles of light in governing LR angle. Light signalling enhances JA biosynthesis, leading to erect root architecture; whereas, glucose (Glc) induces wider branching angles. Combining physiological and molecular assays, we revealed that Glc antagonizes the MeJA response via TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) signalling. Moreover, physiological assays using auxin mutants, MYC2-mediated transcriptional activation of LAZY2, LAZY4 and auxin biosynthetic gene CYP79B2,and asymmetric distribution of DR5::GFP and PIN2::GFP pinpointed the role of an intact auxin mechanism required by MeJA for vertical growth of LRs. We also demonstrated that light perception and signalling are indispensable for inducing vertical angles by MeJA. Thus, our investigation highlights antagonism between light and Glc signalling and how they interact with JA-auxin signals to optimize the branching angle of LRs.
MEDIATOR SUBUNIT17 integrates jasmonate and auxin signaling pathways to regulate thermomorphogenesis
(Oxford University Press, 2022) Agrawal, Rekha; Sharma, Mohan; Dwivedi, Nidhi; Maji, Sourobh; Thakur, Pallabi; Junaid, Alim; Fajkus, Jiří; Laxmi, Ashverya; Thakur, Jitendra K.
Plant adjustment to environmental changes involves complex crosstalk between extrinsic and intrinsic cues. In the past two decades, extensive research has elucidated the key roles of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR4 (PIF4) and the phytohormone auxin in thermomorphogenesis. In this study, we identified a previously unexplored role of jasmonate (JA) signaling components, the Mediator complex, and their integration with auxin signaling during thermomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Warm temperature induces expression of JA signaling genes including MYC2, but, surprisingly, this transcriptional activation is not JA dependent. Warm temperature also promotes accumulation of the JA-signaling receptor CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1) and degradation of the JA-signaling repressor JASMONATE-ZIM-DOMAIN PROTEIN9 (JAZ9), which probably leads to de-repression of MYC2, enabling it to contribute to the expression of MEDIATOR SUBUNIT17 (MED17). In response to warm temperature, MED17 occupies the promoters of thermosensory genes including PIF4, YUCCA8 (YUC8), INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID INDUCIBLE19 (IAA19), and IAA29. Moreover, MED17 facilitates enrichment of H3K4me3 on the promoters of PIF4, YUC8, IAA19, and IAA29 genes. Interestingly, both occupancy of MED17 and enrichment of H3K4me3 on these thermomorphogenesis-related promoters are dependent on PIF4 (or PIFs). Altered accumulation of COI1 under warm temperature in the med17 mutant suggests the possibility of a feedback mechanism. Overall, this study reveals the role of the Mediator complex as an integrator of JA and auxin signaling pathways during thermomorphogenesis.
A negative feedback loop of TOR signaling balances growth and stress-response trade-offs in plants
(Cell Press, 2022) Jamsheer, Muhammed K; Jindal, Sunita; Sharma, Mohan; Awasthi, Prakhar; S, Sreejath; Sharma, Manvi; Mannully, Chanchal Thomas; Laxmi, Ashverya
TOR kinase is a central coordinator of nutrient-dependent growth in eukaryotes. Maintaining optimal TOR signaling is critical for the normal development of organisms. In this study, we describe a negative feedback loop of TOR signaling helping in the adaptability of plants in changing environmental conditions. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we show that the plant-specific zinc finger protein FLZ8 acts as a regulator of TOR signaling in Arabidopsis. In sugar sufficiency, TOR-dependent and -independent histone modifications upregulate the expression of FLZ8. FLZ8 negatively regulates TOR signaling by promoting antagonistic SnRK1α1 signaling and bridging the interaction of SnRK1α1 with RAPTOR1B, a crucial accessory protein of TOR. This negative feedback loop moderates the TOR-growth signaling axis in the favorable condition and helps in the activation of stress signaling in unfavorable conditions, establishing its importance in the adaptability of plants.
Role of sugar and auxin crosstalk in plant growth and development
(John Wiley & Sons, 2022) Mishra, Bhuwaneshwar Sharan; Sharma, Mohan; Laxmi, Ashverya
Under the natural environment, nutrient signals interact with phytohormones to coordinate and reprogram plant growth and survival. Sugars are important molecules that control almost all morphological and physiological processes in plants, ranging from seed germination to senescence. In addition to their functions as energy resources, osmoregulation, storage molecules, and structural components, sugars function as signaling molecules and interact with various plant signaling pathways, such as hormones, stress and light to modulate growth and development according to fluctuating environmental conditions. Auxin, being an important phytohormone, is associated with almost all stages of the plant's life cycle and also plays a vital role in response to the dynamic environment for better growth and survival. In the previous years, substantial progress has been made that showed a range of common responses mediated by sugars and auxin signaling. This review discusses how sugar signaling affects auxin at various levels from its biosynthesis to perception and downstream gene activation. On the same note, the review also highlights the role of auxin signaling in fine-tuning sugar metabolism and carbon partitioning. Furthermore, we discussed the crosstalk between the two signaling machineries in the regulation of various biological processes, such as gene expression, cell cycle, development, root system architecture and shoot growth. In conclusion, the review emphasized the role of sugar and auxin crosstalk in the regulation of several agriculturally important traits. Thus, engineering of sugar and auxin signaling pathways could potentially provide new avenues to manipulate for agricultural purposes.
Understanding the intricate web of phytohormone signalling in modulating root system architecture
(MDPI AG, 2021) Sharma, Manvi; Singh, Dhriti; Saksena, Harshita B.; Sharma, Mohan; Tiwari, Archna; Awasthi, Prakhar; Botta, Halidev Krishna; Shukla, Brihaspati Narayan; Laxmi, Ashverya
Root system architecture (RSA) is an important developmental and agronomic trait that is regulated by various physical factors such as nutrients, water, microbes, gravity, and soil compaction as well as hormone-mediated pathways. Phytohormones act as internal mediators between soil and RSA to influence various events of root development, starting from organogenesis to the formation of higher order lateral roots (LRs) through diverse mechanisms. Apart from interaction with the external cues, root development also relies on the complex web of interaction among phytohormones to exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects to improve crop performance. However, there are considerable gaps in understanding the interaction of these hormonal networks during various aspects of root development. In this review, we elucidate the role of different hormones to modulate a common phenotypic output, such as RSA in Arabidopsis and crop plants, and discuss future perspectives to channel vast information on root development to modulate RSA components.
Understanding the role of phytohormones in governing heat, cold, and freezing stress response
(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Sharma, Mohan; Saksena, Harshita B.; Botta, Halidev Krishna; Laxmi, Ashverya
Plants are exposed to rapid fluctuations in the environmental temperature and respond differently to temperature stress through fine-tuning genetic, biochemical, and physiological changes. Plants utilize several signaling pathways including stress and phytohormone signalings to cope with high and low temperature stresses. Emerging studies have documented the role of growth and development related phytohormones, such as auxin, cytokinin, brassinosteroids, gibberellic acid, and strigolactones, in temperature stress responses. Apart from functioning in biotic stress, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid participate in alleviating temperature stress. Abscisic acid and ethylene have also been reported to be major players in regulating abiotic stresses. Changes in global temperature in recent years have drastically affected the crop productivity. Therefore manipulation of certain factors in the stress and phytohormone signaling pathways can lead to the development of crops tolerant to severe temperature stresses, thereby minimizing yield loss during harsh climatic conditions. In this chapter, we shed light on how different hormone signaling pathways facilitate plants to adapt under stressful temperatures, thereby providing them with better stress resilience and survival potential.