SiHDA9 interacts with SiHAT3.1 and SiHDA19 to repress dehydration responses through H3K9 deacetylation in foxtail millet

Kumar, V.; Singh, B.; Sharma, N.; Muthamilarasan, M.; Sawant, S. V.; Prasad, M.

doi:10.1101/2023.02.16.528817

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.02.16.528817

SiHDA9 interacts with SiHAT3.1 and SiHDA19 to repress dehydration responses through H3K9 deacetylation in foxtail millet

Kumar, V.·Singh, B.·Sharma, N.·Muthamilarasan, M.·Sawant, S. V.·Prasad, M.

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Abstract

Drought stress affects the growth and productivity of plants, where C4 plants can advantageously perceive and respond to the stress for their survival and reproduction. Epigenetic modifications play a prominent role in conferring drought tolerance in C4 plants; however, the molecular links between histone modifiers and their regulation are unclear. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide H3K9ac enrichment in foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and analyzed their role in regulating the expression of drought-responsive genes. The presence of H3K9ac on these genes were identified through the comparative analysis of dehydration tolerant (cv. IC4) and sensitive (IC41) cultivars of foxtail millet. A histone deacetylase, SiHDA9, showed significant upregulation in the sensitive cultivar during dehydration stress. SiHDA9 overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana conferred higher sensitivity to dehydration/drought stress than WT plants. We found that SiHDA9 physically interacts with SiHAT3.1 and SiHDA19. This complex is recruited through the SiHAT3.1 recognition sequence on the upstream of drought-responsive genes (SiRAB18, SiRAP2.4, SiP5CS2, SiRD22, SiPIP1;4, and SiLHCB2.3) to decrease H3K9 acetylation levels. The modulations in H3K9ac levels cause repression of gene expression and induce drought-sensitivity in the sensitive cultivar. Overall, the study provides mechanistic insights into SiHDA9-mediated regulation of drought stress response in foxtail millet.

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Kumar, V., Singh, B., Sharma, N., Muthamilarasan, M., Sawant, S. V., Prasad, M.. 2023-02-18. SiHDA9 interacts with SiHAT3.1 and SiHDA19 to repress dehydration responses through H3K9 deacetylation in foxtail millet. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.16.528817

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