Biology subjects

Terrile, M. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Terrile, M. C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

The DC1 domain protein Vacuoleless Gametophytes positively regulates salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Vacuoleless Gametophytes (VLG) is a DC1 domain-containing protein initially characterized as essential for the development of both female and male gametophytes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, VLG regulates stamen development through the involvement in lignin and jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathways. In this work, we report that VLG is also involved in salt stress tolerance in A. thaliana. Under salt stress, VLG-knock-down plants exhibited reduced germination, root elongation, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigment content, along with diminished expression of key salt-responsive genes. Conversely, these plants accumulated higher anthocyanins, and reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2-) compared to wilt type, indicating impaired oxidative stress control. In contrast, VLG-overexpressing plants showed a salt stress resistant phenotype with enhanced biomass and increased expression of salt-responsive genes under saline conditions. Together, these findings uncover an unexpected role for VLG as a positive regulator of salt tolerance, expanding the functional scope of DC1 domain proteins beyond reproductive development and providing new insights into plant mechanisms of abiotic stress resilience.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Nitric Oxide Modulates Auxin Signaling through TIR1 S-Nitrosylation During Thermomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

Auxin, a central hormone coordinating plant growth, integrates both environmental and developmental signals to regulate cell expansion, division, and organ patterning. Among these environmental cues, elevated ambient temperatures trigger a suite of developmental adaptations collectively known as thermomorphogenesis. In this study, we identify nitric oxide (NO) as a key mediator in the temperature-dependent regulation of auxin signaling. Our results show that warm temperatures (28-29 {degrees}C) enhance auxin-induced NO accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we demonstrate that NO is required for proper thermomorphogenic responses in aerial tissues. This redox signal promotes the stabilization and nuclear localization of the F-box auxin receptor TIR1, a crucial step for the activation of downstream auxin responses. Specifically, tir1-1 seedlings expressing a non-nitrosylatable TIR1 variant mutated at the Cys140 residue exhibit impaired hypocotyl elongation and hyponasty under warm conditions compared to seedlings complemented with wild-type TIR1. These results highlight the functional relevance of the TIR1 Cys140 residue, a known target for S-nitrosylation, in coordinating thermomorphogenic responses. In contrast, the absence of TIR1 S-nitrosylation restricts primary root elongation at 22 {degrees}C but does not affect the growth-promoting effects of warm temperatures. Our findings uncover a novel redox-dependent regulatory layer in auxin signaling, where S-nitrosylation of TIR1 may modulate its stability and subcellular localization in a temperature- and organ-specific manner. This mechanism allows differential growth responses between shoot and root organs and highlights the complexity of hormonal and redox interplay during plant adaptation to elevated temperatures.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The DC1 domain protein Vacuoleless Gametophytes regulates stamen development in Arabidopsis

Vacuoleless Gametophytes (VLG) is a DC1 domain protein that was initially characterized as essential for early female and male gametophytes development in Arabidopsis. However, VLG expression was also detected in stamens, pistils and other sporophytic tissues, implying a broader role for this protein. As homozygous insertional VLG lines resulted unviable, we generated Arabidopsis amiRNA VLG knock-down plants to study the role of VLG in sporophyte development. The phenotypic characterization of VLG knock-down plants showed reduced seed set and indehiscent anthers with shorter filaments and stigma exsertion. Moreover, amiRNA VLG knock-down plants displayed unbroken stomia and septa, markedly reduced endothecium lignification, diminished ROS accumulation, and lower transcript levels of genes involved in jasmonic acid and lignin biosynthesis. The indehiscent phenotype was rescued by exogenous application of either jasmonic acid or H2O2. Altogether, our results suggest that VLG is involved in lignin and jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathways, and that proper levels of VLG are required in the process that leads to stomium breakage and anther dehiscence. Our findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying stamen development and provide new insights into the roles of a DC1 domain protein in plant reproduction. Key MessageVacuoleless Gametophytes participates in anther dehiscence through a process that involves JA, ROS and lignin accumulation.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The water-soluble chitosan derivative, N-methylene phosphonic chitosan, is an effective fungicide against the phytopathogen Fusarium eumartii

Chitosan has been considered an environmental-friendly polymer. However, its use in agriculture has not been extended yet due to its relatively low solubility in water. In an attempt to improve such chemical characteristics, a chitosan-derivative prepared by adding a phosphonic group to chitosan N-methylene phosphonic chitosan, NMPC, was obtained from shrimp fishing industry waste from Argentinean Patagonia. This study showed that NMPC had a fungicidal effect on the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii (F. eumartii). NMPC inhibited F. eumartti mycelial growth and spore germination with low IC50 values. In vivo studies showed that NMPC affected fungal membrane permeability, ROS production, and cell death. NMPC also exerted antifungal effects against two other phytopathogens, Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora infestans. NMPC did not affect tomato cell viability at the same doses applied to these phytopathogens. Furthermore, the selective cytotoxicity of NMPC could give it added value in its application as an antimicrobial agent in agriculture.

microbiology↗