Open AccessThe nitrate-inducible NAC transcription factor NAC056 controls nitrate assimilation and promotes lateral root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana
Author(s) -
Peipei Xu,
Wei Ma,
Jinbo Hu,
Weiming Cai
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.587
H-Index - 233
eISSN - 1553-7404
pISSN - 1553-7390
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010090
Subject(s) - biology , arabidopsis thaliana , arabidopsis , lateral root , transcription factor , nitrate , assimilation (phonology) , microbiology and biotechnology , nitrogen assimilation , botany , genetics , gene , mutant , ecology , linguistics , philosophy
Nitrate can affect many aspects of plant growth and development, such as promoting root growth and inhibiting the synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, the mechanisms underlying such effects and how plants can integrate nitrate signals and root growth needs further exploration. Here, we identified a nitrate-inducible NAC family transcription factor (TF) NAC056 which promoted both nitrate assimilation and root growth in Arabidopsis . NAC056 is a nuclear-localized transcription activator, which is predominantly expressed in the root system and hypocotyl. Using the yeast one-hybrid assay, we identified the NAC056-specific binding sequence (NAC56BM), T [T/G/A] NCTTG. We further showed that the nac056 mutant compromised root growth. NAC056 overexpression promotes LR Initiation and nitrate deficiency tolerance. Using RNA sequencing analysis and in vitro biochemical experiment, we found NAC056 regulated the expression of genes required for NO 3 − assimilation, directly targeting the key nitrate assimilation gene NIA1 . In addition, mutation of NIA1 suppresses LR development and nitrate deficiency tolerance in the 35S:: NAC056 transgenic plants. Therefore, NAC056 mediates the response of plants to environmental nitrate signals to promote root growth in Arabidopsis.