{"id":602418,"date":"2024-05-30T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/the-peptidase-da1-cleaves-and-destabilizes-wuschel-to-control-shoot-apical-meristem-size-nature-communications\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T07:43:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T11:43:56","slug":"the-peptidase-da1-cleaves-and-destabilizes-wuschel-to-control-shoot-apical-meristem-size-nature-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/the-peptidase-da1-cleaves-and-destabilizes-wuschel-to-control-shoot-apical-meristem-size-nature-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"The peptidase DA1 cleaves and destabilizes WUSCHEL to control shoot apical meristem size – Nature Communications","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Plant materials and growth conditions<\/h3>\n

All the plant materials were used in Col-0 or Ler background as indicated. The da1-1<\/i>, da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup>, da1-ko1 dar1-1<\/i>, DA1COM<\/i>, 35S:GFP-DA1<\/i>, wus-7<\/i> and pWUS:WUS-GFP<\/i> lines were used in previous studies35<\/a>,36<\/a>,41<\/a>,49<\/a>,56<\/a>,57<\/a>,58<\/a><\/sup>. The seeds of clv1-1<\/i> (NW45), clv2-1<\/i> (NW46), clv3-2<\/i> (N8066) and wus-1<\/i> (N15), were obtained from the Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre (NASC). The da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> clv1-1<\/i>, da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> clv2-1<\/i>, da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> clv3-2<\/i>, da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> wus-1<\/i> and da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> wus-7<\/i> double mutants were generated by crossing da1-1<\/i>Ler<\/i><\/sup> with clv1-1<\/i>, clv2-1<\/i>, clv3-2<\/i>, wus-1<\/i> and wus-7<\/i>, respectively. The pWUS:WUS-GFP; da1-1<\/i> was generated by crossing da1-1<\/i> with pWUS:WUS-GFP<\/i>. The pWUS:WUS-GFP; MYC-DA1-PER8<\/i> was generated by crossing pWUS:WUS-GFP<\/i> with MYC-DA1-PER8<\/i>. All these mutants and double mutants were identified by allele-specific genotyping, transgenic antibiotic resistance screening or GFP signal detection. The primers used above were listed in Supplementary Data 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Seeds were sterilized in 100% isopropanol for 1\u2009min and then 5%(v\/v) sodium hypochlorite for 10\u2009min. After sufficiently washed with sterile water, seeds were dispersed on 1\/2 MS medium containing 1% (w\/v) Suc with 0.9% agar and placed at 4\u00b0C for 3d. For long-day condition, plants were grown in controlled environmental chamber or in green house with 16\u2009h light \/8\u2009h dark. For \u03b2 -estradiol treatment, plants were grown for 7 days in 1\/2MS solid medium and transferred to 1\/2MS solid medium with 20\u2009\u03bcM \u03b2 -estradiol for 12\u2009hours.<\/p>\n

Confocal microscope observation<\/h3>\n

For SAM fluorescence signals detection, the shoot apices were detached and prepared from pWUS:WUS-GFP<\/i>, pWUS:WUS-GFP; da1-1<\/i>, and pWUS:WUS-GFP; MYC-DA1-PER8<\/i> grown under long day condition (16\u2009h light\/ 8\u2009h dark) according to a previous study7<\/a><\/sup>. Samples were observed using a Zeiss LSM 980 confocal microscopy, and the images used for fluorescencing cells counting were taken by meristem confocal sections at suitable location. All the cell numbers with fluorescence signaling were then quantified by Image J.<\/p>\n

Differential interference contrast microscope<\/h3>\n

For shoot meristem size observation, 6-d-old and 9-d-old plants were harvested and cleared in clearing solution (Chloral hydrate 80\u2009g, water 30\u2009ml, Glycerol 10\u2009ml) for 12 hrs. Samples were observed with DIC microscope (Leica DM2500, Germany) and photographed using cooled CCD digital imaging system (Olympus BH2, Japan).<\/p>\n

SAM size measurement<\/h3>\n

For SAM size measurement, the measurement range takes L1 layer as the boundary and the junction of SAM and primordia on both sides as the starting points. The details can be found in Supplementary Fig. 3<\/a>. SAMs were measured using Image J.<\/p>\n

Scanning electron microscopy<\/h3>\n

Samples were fixed in FAA solution with vacuum treatment for 30\u2009min. Fixed samples were dehydrated with a gradual ethanol as 70%, 85%, 95%, and 100% (v\/ v), then dried by critical-point drying (Hitachi HCP-2), and subsequently coated with a gold layer. The sputter-coated samples were ready for observation and imaging using scanning electron microscope (Hitachi S-3000N).<\/p>\n

Quantitative real-time PCR analysis<\/h3>\n

6-d-old aboveground part of Col-0 and da1-1<\/i> were ground in liquid nitrogen, and the RNAprep pure kit was used to extract total RNA following the manufacturer\u2019s instructions (TIANGEN, Cat. No: DP439-H). cDNAs were synthesized using the FastQuant RT Super Mix kit (TIANGEN, Cat. No: KR108). qPCR reactions were assayed on a Lightcycler 480 machine (Roche Applied Science, USA) using 2\u00d7SYBR Green supermix kit (Vazyme, China). All individual reactions were done by three biological replicates, and the data were normalized to the ACTIN2<\/i> gene. All primers were listed in Supplementary Data 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yeast two-hybrid assay<\/h3>\n

The Matchmaker Gold Yeast Two-Hybrid System was employed to perform the yeast two-hybrid assay in yeast strain AH109. AD-DA1<\/i> and DA1-LIM<\/i>\u2009+\u2009C<\/i>–BD<\/i> were used in previous studies4<\/a><\/sup>. The CDSs of WUS<\/i> amplified using primers WUS-BD-F\/R (Supplementary Data 1<\/a>) was inserted into pGBKT7 vector (NcoI and PstI digestion) to get BD-WUS<\/i> constructs using GBclonart Seamless Clone Kit (GB2001-48, Genebank Biosciences). The CDSs of WUS-HD, WUS-DD, WUS-C and WUS-C2 were inserted into pGADT7 vector (ECOR1 and SAC1 digestion) to get AD-WUS-HD, AD-WUS-DD, AD-WUS-C, and AD-WUS-C2 constructs. Primers are listed in the Supplementary Data 1<\/a>. The Different combinations of plasmids as indicated were co-transformed in AH109 and grown on SD\/-Trp\/-Leu plates for 3 days. The protein interactions were then selected by spotting the yeast on SD medium with minus Trp\/Leu\/His\/Ade and grown for 3 or more days.<\/p>\n

In vivo co-immunoprecipitation<\/h3>\n

The genomic sequence of WUS<\/i> was inserted into PMDC32<\/i> (in which the 35\u2009S promotor was cleaved) to generate pWUS:WUS-HA<\/i>. The construct primers are listed in the supplemental Data 1. The respective transgenic Arabidopsis plants of 35<\/i>\u2009S:GFP-DA1<\/i> and pWUS:WUS-HA<\/i> were obtained by agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. pWUS:WUS-HA<\/i>; 35S:GFP-DA1<\/i>; and pWUS:WUS-HA<\/i>; 35S:GFP<\/i> plants came from crossing pWUS-WUS-HA<\/i> with 35S:GFP-DA1<\/i> and 35S:GFP<\/i>, respectively.<\/p>\n

Aboveground part of pWUS:WUS-HA;35<\/i>\u2009S:GFP-DA1<\/i>, and pWUS:WUS-HA;35S:GFP<\/i> 10-d-old plants were ground in liquid nitrogen. Total proteins were isolated with buffer (50\u2009mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 150\u2009mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 5% glycerol, 1\u2009mM EDTA, 1\u00d7 Roche protease inhibitor cocktail) and incubated with GFP-Trap\u00ae_A agarose beads (Chromotek, Cat. No: gta-20) for 1\u2009h with agitation at 4\u2009\u00b0C. Beads were washed four times with wash buffer (50\u2009mM Tris [pH 7.5], 150\u2009mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 0.1% TritonX-100, 1\u2009mM EDTA, and protease inhibitor cocktail). After adding 1\u00d7SDS loading buffer, the beads were heated at 98\u2009\u00b0C for 5\u2009min, and the corresponding proteins were subjected to sepatate in a 10% or 8% (w\/ v) SDS-polyacrylamide gel, and detected with anti-GFP antibody (Abmart, Cat. No: M20004, dilution, 1:5000) and anti-HA antibody (Cwbio, Cat. No: 01239\/34220, dilution, 1:5000).<\/p>\n

In vitro Pull-down assay<\/h3>\n

All the constructs were made by infusion cloning kit (GBclonart Seamless Clone Kit, GB2001-48, Genebank Biosciences). The CDS of WUS<\/i> was infused into pMALC2-MBP<\/i> digested with SalI and HindIII to generate the MBP-WUS<\/i>. The CDSs of DA1<\/i> was cloned into the pGEX4T-1<\/i> vector digested with ECORI and SALI to generate the GST-DA1<\/i>. Plasmids were transferred into E. coli<\/i> BL21 (DE3) cells to expression the tag fused proteins. All proteins were induced with 0.4\u2009mM Isopropyl \u03b2 -D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at different conditions depending on proteins. The bacterial cells were then resuspended with TGH buffer (50\u2009mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 1\u2009mM EGTA, 150\u2009mM NaCl, 1% (v\/v) Triton X-100 and 10%(v\/v) glycerol). The bacterial suspensions were sonicated on ice for 3\u2009min at 20 amplitudes and centrifugated at 12,000\u00d7g<\/i> for 10\u2009min. The different combinations of MBP-WUS and GST-DA1 proteins with MBP agarose beads (NEB, Cat. No: E8037s) were incubated for 1\u2009h at 4\u2009\u00b0C with agitation, respectively. Beads were washed 5 times with washing buffer (50\u2009mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 1\u2009mM EGTA, 150\u2009mM NaCl, 0.5% (v\/v) TritonX-100, 1\u2009mM PMSF and 10% (v\/v) glycerol). After adding 1\u00d7SDS-loading buffer, the beads were heated 5\u2009min at 98\u2009\u00b0C and separated by SDS-PAGE gel. The immunoprecipitates were detected by GST antibody (Abmart, Cat. No: M20007M, 1:5000) and MBP antibody (NEB, Cat. No: #E8032, 1:10,000).<\/p>\n

Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay<\/h3>\n

The CDS of DA1<\/i> was amplified by specific primers YN-DA1-F\/R, fused with the N-terminal fragment of YFP (nYFP), and subcloned into the linearized pGWB414<\/i> vector (digested with XbaI and SalI) using in-fusion enzyme (Genebank Biosciences). The CDS of WUS<\/i> was amplified by specific primers YC-WUS-F\/R, fused with the C-terminal fragment of YFP (cYFP), and subcloned into the linearized pGWB414<\/i> vector (digested with XbaI and SalI) using in-fusion enzyme (Genebank Biosciences). Primers used are listed in the supplemental information (Supplementary Data 1<\/a>). Different combinations of Agrobacterium GV3101 containing the above plasmids were cotransformed into N. benthamiana<\/i> leaves. After 48\u2009h, YFP fluorescence was observed in leaves using an LSM710 confocal laser scanning microscope (Zeiss)<\/p>\n

Cleavage of WUS<\/h3>\n

The 35<\/i>\u2009S:HA-DA1<\/i> and 35<\/i>\u2009S:HA-DA1pep<\/i> constructs were used in previous studies35<\/a>,59<\/a><\/sup>. The cDNA sequences of WUS<\/i> was inserted into pW1211<\/i> and pW1266<\/i> to generate 35<\/i>\u2009S:WUS-FLAG<\/i> and 35<\/i>\u2009S:FLAG-WUS<\/i> by gateway cloning (Invitrogen), respectively. Primers are listed in the Supplementary Data 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The rosettes of da1-kol dar1-1<\/i> were harvested before bolting to prepare protoplast. The ~0.5\u2009mm fragments of leaves were incubated in enzyme solution (0.3% Macerozyme R-10, 10\u2009mM CaCl2, 0.4\u2009M mannitol, 1.25% Cellulose RS, 20\u2009mM MES at pH 5.7, 5\u2009mM \u03b2-Mercatoethanol and 0.1% BSA) for 4 hrs in dark with gentle agitation. After digestion, the W5 solution (154\u2009mM NaCl, 5\u2009mM KCl, 2\u2009mM MES pH 5.7 and 125\u2009mM CaCl2<\/sub>) was added, and followed 10\u201330\u2009s with strongly shaking. By filtering through 40\u2009\u03bcm nylon mesh with three to five washes using W5 solution, the protoplasts were collected by centrifugation at 100 \u00d7 g for 5\u2009min. The protoplasts were washed twice with W5 buffer and resuspended in MMG solution (0.4\u2009M mannitol, 15\u2009mM MgCl2<\/sub>, and 4\u2009mM MES pH 5.7) around 2\u00d7 106 cells mL\u22121<\/sup>. The 35S:HA-DA1<\/i>, 35S:HA-DA1pep<\/i>, 35S:WUS-FLAG<\/i>, and 35S:FLAG-WUS<\/i> plasmids were extracted with Plasmid Maxprep Kit (Vigorous, Cat. No: N001). The combinations of constructs (10\u2009\u03bcg) were added into 300\u2009\u03bcL protoplasts with freshly prepared 330\u2009\u03bcL polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution (0.1\u2009M CaCl2<\/sub>, 0.4\u2009M mannitol, 40% w\/v PEG4000), and incubated for 20\u2009min on bench. The transfected protoplasts were then resuspended in W5 solution and incubated for 12-16 hrs at 28\u2009\u00b0C in the dark. Total proteins were isolated with extraction buffer (50\u2009mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150\u2009mM NaCl, 0.1% Triton, 0.2% NP-40, 5\u2009mM EDTA, and protease inhibitor cocktail). Proteins were detected by western blots with antibody against FLAG (Abmart, Cat. No: M20008, 1:5000) and HA (Cwbio, Cat. No: 01239\/34220, dilution, 1:5000).<\/p>\n

The effect of 6-BA treatment on meristem size<\/h3>\n

For 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) treatment, 100\u2009\u03bcM stock solutions of 6-BA (Sigma-Aldrich) in ddH2<\/sub>O were dissolved in 1\/2MS medium containing 1% (w\/v) Suc with 0.9% agar prewarmed at 50\u2009\u00b0C to a final concentration of 100\u2009nM. For SAM size measurement, seedlings were grown on 1\/2MS solid medium in long-day conditions (16\u2009h light and 8\u2009h dark at 22\u2009\u00b0C) for 3 days, then transferred to 1\/2MS solid medium with 100\u2009nM 6-BA for 3 days or 8.67 days after seed stratification and then transferred to 1\/2MS solid medium with 100\u2009nM 6-BA for 8\u2009h.<\/p>\n

Statistics analysis<\/h3>\n

All data are shown as the mean \u00b1 s.e.m. unless indicated otherwise. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 7 software (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego, CA, USA). All details on statistics have been indicated in figure legends. The exact P-value was included in the figures. No statistical method was used to predetermine sample size. Images were analyzed with ImageJ.<\/p>\n

Reporting summary<\/h3>\n

Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary<\/a> linked to this article.<\/p>\n