Emerging functions of chromatin modifications in auxin biosynthesis in response to environmental alterations

Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3

Plant Growth Regulation

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-018-0453-x

REVIEW PAPER

Emerging functions of chromatin modifications in auxin biosynthesis

in response to environmental alterations

Bich Hang Do1

 · Vu Thi Bach Phuong2

 · Gia‑Buu Tran3

 · Nguyen Hoai Nguyen4

Received: 31 May 2018 / Accepted: 12 November 2018

© Springer Nature B.V. 2018

Abstract

Auxin is one of the most important hormone groups in plants. It has been documented to play various functions in plant

growth and development. In this phytohormone group, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is widely considered as a main natural

auxin. To date, many lines of evidence have revealed that the alterations of ambient environment such as light and temperature

conditions can affect the IAA biosynthesis which consequently redirects the growth and development of the plants so that

they can adapt to the new environmental conditions. Current studies have shown the large impact of chromatin modifica￾tions in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Previous studies have elucidated different epigenetic factors in the

regulation of auxin signaling pathway in the plants. This review aimed to provide a precise and systemic overview of the

chromatin modifications at the auxin biosynthesis gene loci, namely YUCCA (YUC) genes, and their effects on the expres￾sion of these genes. Based on these emerging data, we propose different hypothetical models demonstrating the functions

of epigenetic factors as well as chromatin modifications in the regulation of YUC genes which can subsequently determine

the auxin accumulation in the plants.

Keywords Auxin biosynthesis · Chromatin modifications · Environmental alterations · H2A.Z · IAA · PIF · YUCCA

(YUC)

Introduction

From the first discovery during 1930s, auxin has been widely

studied and documented to play various functions in plant

growth and development such as embryogenesis, cell elon￾gation, root growth, root gravitropism, hypocotyl elongation,

leaf morphology, flowering, and development of flowers and

fruits (Rayle and Cleland 1992; Collett et al. 2000; Aloni

et al. 2006; Fukaki and Tasaka 2009; Scarpella et al. 2010;

Peer et al. 2011; Mashiguchi et al. 2011; Petricka et al. 2012;

Enders and Strader 2015; Velasquez et al. 2016; Hernández￾Madrigal et al. 2018). Generally, auxin is biosynthesized at

the shoot and can be polarly transported to root via differ￾ent pathways (Peer et al. 2011; Enders and Strader 2015).

Besides, some studies have elucidated that auxin can be also

locally biosynthesized to regulate plant growth in response

to different environmental changes (Ikeda et al. 2009; Pinon

et al. 2013; Chen et al. 2016; Liu et al. 2016). Because of

its crucial functions in the regulation of plant growth and

development, the biosynthesis of auxin is regulated and/or

influenced by many endogenous and exogenous factors (Bru￾mos et al. 2014; Enders and Strader 2015; Kasahara 2016).

The changes of growth environment can effectively alter the

auxin biosynthesis to redirect the growth and development

of the plants so that they adapt to the new conditions. For

examples, after the seed germination, seedlings need to grow

out from the soil so that they can use their leaves to catch the

sunlight for photosynthesis. During this time, the hypocotyl

* Nguyen Hoai Nguyen

[email protected]

1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University,

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2 Department of Plant Biotechnology and Biotransformation,

Faculty of Biology-Biotechnology, University of Science,

Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City,

227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City,

Vietnam

3 Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology

and Food-technology, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh

City, 12 Nguyen Van Bao Street, Ward 4, Go Vap District,

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

4 Faculty of Biotechnology, Ho Chi Minh City

Open University, 97 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3,

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam