Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382561
Research Project: Discovery of Plant Genetic Mechanisms Controlling Microbial Recruitment to the Root Microbiome

Location: Plant Gene Expression Center

Title: Loss of Arabidopsis matrix metalloproteinase-5 affects root development and root bacterial communities during drought stress

Author
item MISHRA, LAXMI - University Of Umea
item KIM, SUNG-YONG - University Of Umea
item Caddell, Daniel
item Coleman-Derr, Devin
item FUNK, CHRISTIANE - University Of Umea

Submitted to: Physiologia Plantarum
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2020
Publication Date: 12/8/2020
Citation: Mishra, L., Kim, S., Caddell, D.F., Coleman-Derr, D.A., Funk, C. 2021. Loss of Arabidopsis matrix metalloproteinase-5 affects root development and root bacterial communities during drought stress. Physiologia Plantarum. 172(2):1045-1058. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13299.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13299

Interpretive Summary: Proteases play an important role in physiological processes such as cell proliferation, organogenesis, tissue wound healing and apoptosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endo-peptidases that in mammals are known to be involved in remodeling of the extracellular matrix in developmental and pathological processes. Here we explore the role of one such metalloprotease in governing drought response in Arabidopsis,and the impact it has on microbiome composition in the roots.

Technical Abstract: In this study, we report At5-MMP of Arabidopsis thaliana to be important for root development and root bacterial communities. At5-MMP is mainly localized in the root vasculature and lateral root, an At5-MMP T-DNA insertion mutant (mmp5 KO) showed reduced root growth and a lower number of root apexes, causing reduced water uptake from the soil. Subsequently, mmp5 KO is sensitive to drought stress. Inhibited auxin transport was accompanied with resistance to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The content of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) was lower in roots of mmp5 KO than in wild type. Genes responsive to ABA as well as genes encoding enzymes of the proline biosynthesis were expressed to a lower extend in mmp5 KO than in wild type. Moreover, drought stress modulated root-associated bacterial communities of mmp5 KO; the number of Actinobacteria increased. Therefore, At5-MMP modulates auxin/ABA signaling rendering the plant sensitive to drought stress and recruiting differential root bacterial communities.