Redox changes during the cell cycle in the embryonic root meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana

Ambra De Simone, Rachel Hubbard, Natanael Viñegra De La Torre, Yazhini Velappan, Michael Wilson, Michael J. Considine, Wim J.J. Soppe, Christine H. Foyer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)
113 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize redox changes in the nuclei and cytosol occurring during the mitotic cell cycle in the embryonic roots of germinating Arabidopsis seedlings, and to determine how redox cycling was modified in mutants with a decreased capacity for ascorbate synthesis.

Results: Using an in vivo reduction-oxidation (redox) reporter (roGFP2), we show that transient oxidation of the cytosol and the nuclei occurred at G1 in the synchronized dividing cells of the Arabidopsis root apical meristem, with reduction at G2 and mitosis. This redox cycle was absent from low ascorbate mutants in which nuclei were significantly more oxidized than controls. The cell cycle-dependent increase in nuclear size was impaired in the ascorbate-deficient mutants, which had fewer cells per unit area in the root proliferation zone. The transcript profile of the dry seeds and size of the imbibed seeds was strongly influenced by low ascorbate but germination, dormancy release and seed aging characteristics were unaffected.

Innovation: These data demonstrate the presence of a redox cycle within the plant cell cycle and that the redox state of the nuclei is an important factor in cell cycle progression.

Conclusions: Controlled oxidation is a key feature of the early stages of the plant cell cycle. However, sustained mild oxidation restricts nuclear functions and impairs progression through the cell cycle leading to fewer cells in the root apical meristem. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 1505-1519.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1505-1519
Number of pages15
JournalAntioxidants and Redox Signaling
Volume27
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Dec 2017

Keywords

  • antioxidant
  • ascorbate
  • cell cycle
  • germination
  • redox regulation
  • root apical meristem
  • seed dormancy
  • transcript profiling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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