The microRNA390/TAS3 pathway mediates in symbiotic nodulation and lateral root growth

HOBECKER, KAREN VANESA; REYNOSO, MAURICIO ALBERTO; BUSTOS SANMAMED, PILAR; WEN, JIANGQI; MYSORE, KIRANKUMAR S; CRESPI, MARTIN; BLANCO, FLAVIO ANTONIO; ZANETTI, MAR?A EUGENIA

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY.

AMER SOC PLANT BIOLOGISTS

Año: 2017

0032-0889

Legume roots form two types of post-embryonic organs, lateral roots and symbiotic nodules. Nodule formation is the result of the interaction of legumes with rhizobia, and requires the mitotic activation and differentiation of root cells, as well as an independent, but coordinated, program that allows infection by rhizobia. MicroRNA390 (miR390) is an evolutionarily conserved miRNA that targets the non-coding Trans Acting Short Interference RNA3 (TAS3). Cleavage of TAS3 by ARGONAUTE7 results in the production of tasiRNAs, which target mRNAs encoding the AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2), ARF3 and ARF4. Here, we show that activation of the miR390/TAS3 regulatory module by overexpression of miR390 in Medicago truncatula promotes lateral root growth, but prevents nodule organogenesis, rhizobial infection and the induction of two key nodulation genes, the Nodulation signaling Pathway 1 (NSP1) and NSP2. Accordingly, inactivation of the miR390/TAS3 module, either by expression of a miR390 target mimicry construct or mutations in ARGONAUTE7, enhances nodulation and rhizobial infection, alters the spatial distribution of the nodules and increases the percentage of nodules with multiple meristems. Our results revealed a key role of the miR390/TAS3 pathway in legumes as a modulator of lateral root organs, playing opposite roles in lateral root and nodule development.