TY - JOUR

T1 - NBR1-mediated selective autophagy of ARF7 modulates root branching

AU - Ebstrup, Elise

AU - Ansbøl, Jeppe

AU - Paez-Garcia, Ana

AU - Culp, Henry

AU - Chevalier, Jonathan

AU - Clemmens, Pauline

AU - Coll, Núria S.

AU - Moreno-Risueno, Miguel A.

AU - Rodriguez, Eleazar

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Auxin dictates root architecture via the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family of transcription factors, which control lateral root (LR) formation. In Arabidopsis, ARF7 regulates the specification of prebranch sites (PBS) generating LRs through gene expression oscillations and plays a pivotal role during LR initiation. Despite the importance of ARF7 in this process, there is a surprising lack of knowledge about how ARF7 turnover is regulated and how this impacts root architecture. Here, we show that ARF7 accumulates in autophagy mutants and is degraded through NBR1-dependent selective autophagy. We demonstrate that the previously reported rhythmic changes to ARF7 abundance in roots are modulated via autophagy and might occur in other tissues. In addition, we show that the level of co-localization between ARF7 and autophagy markers oscillates and can be modulated by auxin to trigger ARF7 turnover. Furthermore, we observe that autophagy impairment prevents ARF7 oscillation and reduces both PBS establishment and LR formation. In conclusion, we report a novel role for autophagy during development, namely by enacting auxin-induced selective degradation of ARF7 to optimize periodic root branching.

AB - Auxin dictates root architecture via the Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family of transcription factors, which control lateral root (LR) formation. In Arabidopsis, ARF7 regulates the specification of prebranch sites (PBS) generating LRs through gene expression oscillations and plays a pivotal role during LR initiation. Despite the importance of ARF7 in this process, there is a surprising lack of knowledge about how ARF7 turnover is regulated and how this impacts root architecture. Here, we show that ARF7 accumulates in autophagy mutants and is degraded through NBR1-dependent selective autophagy. We demonstrate that the previously reported rhythmic changes to ARF7 abundance in roots are modulated via autophagy and might occur in other tissues. In addition, we show that the level of co-localization between ARF7 and autophagy markers oscillates and can be modulated by auxin to trigger ARF7 turnover. Furthermore, we observe that autophagy impairment prevents ARF7 oscillation and reduces both PBS establishment and LR formation. In conclusion, we report a novel role for autophagy during development, namely by enacting auxin-induced selective degradation of ARF7 to optimize periodic root branching.

KW - ARF7

KW - Autophagy

KW - Auxin

KW - Lateral Root

KW - NBR1

U2 - 10.1038/s44319-024-00142-5

DO - 10.1038/s44319-024-00142-5

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38684906

AN - SCOPUS:85191800461

VL - 25

SP - 2571

EP - 2591

JO - E M B O Reports

JF - E M B O Reports

SN - 1469-221X

ER -