Molecular basis of plant DCL4 action that outcompetes DCL2 - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #plant biology
- #gene silencing
- #RNA interference
- Small RNAs regulate eukaryotic development and immunity, with distinct DICER-LIKE (DCL) proteins producing different small RNAs in plants.
- DCL4 outcompetes DCL2 in plants, which is crucial for optimal gene expression and plant growth, though the mechanism was unclear.
- The second double-stranded-RNA-binding domain (dsRBD2) of DCL4 interacts with DRB4, a cofactor essential for DCL4's function, influencing small RNA biogenesis.
- DRB4 affects the production of 21- and 22-nucleotide small interfering RNAs from TAS loci and coding transcripts.
- Seed plant DCL2 proteins lack dsRBD2, but adding dsRBD2 to DCL2 enhances its activity, leading to excessive small interfering RNA production and growth defects.
- The dsRBD2-DRB4 module is key to DCL4's ability to outcompete DCL2, preventing harmful gene silencing.