Qi-Qi Hu
Jian-Qin Shu
Wen-Min Li
Guang-Zhi Wang- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
The plant root is an important storage organ that stores indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from the apical meristem, as well as nitrogen, which is obtained from the external environment. IAA and nitrogen act as signaling molecules that promote root growth to obtain further resources. Fluctuations in the distribution of nitrogen in the soil environment induce plants to develop a set of strategies that effectively improve nitrogen use efficiency. Auxin integrates the information regarding the nitrate status inside and outside the plant body to reasonably distribute resources and sustainably construct the plant root system. In this review, we focus on the main factors involved in the process of nitrate- and auxin-mediated regulation of root structure to better understand how the root system integrates the internal and external information and how this information is utilized to modify the root system architecture.
Introduction
Plant roots integrate signals relating to the internal and external environment of the plant and provide a vascular system that delivers the necessary nutrients, water, and hormones to various organs and tissues for growth, development, and reproduction (Jing and Strader, 2019). Typically, the root system comprises two types of roots: primary roots (PRs), derived from an embryonic radicle; and secondary roots, including lateral roots (LRs) and adventitious roots (ARs), that develop postembryonically from pericycle cells of the existing mature roots and aerial tissues such as shoots, stems, and leaves (Nibau et al., 2008; Bellini et al., 2014).
Postembryonic root growth mainly occurs in the distal tip in a region known as the root apical meristem, which comprises a group of stem cells that surround a distinct central region, termed the quiescent center (QC; Van Den Berg et al., 1997; Benfey and Scheres, 2000; Clowes, 2010). The QC consists of four mitotically inactive cells that maintain the identities of the surrounding stem cells by inhibiting the differentiation of initial stem cells. At the mid-heart stage, initial stem cells commence asymmetric division to form specific cells. A small group of initial stem cells display a repetitive division pattern (generating one initial cell and one daughter cell), gather together to form the root pro-meristem, and subsequently activate radial division patterns in other files of the derived daughter cells (Dolan et al., 1993; Scheres et al., 1994). The radially organized cells are located in concentric cylinders that are established during embryogenesis and preserved during postembryonic root growth, and further differentiate into specific root cells (Dolan et al., 1993). The process of LR formation begins via asymmetric transverse divisions and periclinal and anticlinal divisions by pericycle founder cells of the PRs; consequently, LRs and PRs exhibit an analogous morphology (Dolan et al., 1993; Dubrovsky et al., 2001; Casimiro et al., 2003). The cellular origins of multiple tissue-derived ARs remain obscure; however, they are thought to be mostly related to the founder cells generated in the cambium, phloem, and pericycle (Haissig, 1974).
Asymmetric cell divisions and subsequent LR initiation, primordium development, emergence, and elongation are under genetic control, with auxin representing the major regulator of the abovementioned processes (Takatsuka and Umeda, 2014). The plant-specific GRAS family of transcription factors (TFs) SCARECROW (SCR) and SHORT ROOT (SHR) act in parallel with the APETALA2 (AP2)-domain TFs PLETHORA1 (PLT1) and PLT2 to define stem cell niches by organizing QC cells and maintaining the activities of root stem cells (Aida et al., 2004). Furthermore, an SHR-interacting protein, SHRUBBY (SHBY), has been identified as a key link between the SHR/SCR and PLT pathways in the regulation of PR stem cell maintenance and radial patterning (Koizumi and Gallagher, 2013). Concomitant with auxin accumulation in root tips, genes encoding cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), such as CDKB2;1, CDKB2;2, and CYCD6;1 (a D-type cyclin) that act downstream of the SHR and SCR network facilitate the asymmetric division of cortex/endodermis initial cells (Sozzani et al., 2010). Additionally, the dynamic distribution of auxin that spans the root meristem underlies PLT gene expression gradients, from high levels in the QC to low levels in the stele, which translates into differing and concentration-dependent cellular responses (Galinha et al., 2007).
The large root surface area represented by LRs and ARs can be optimized for nutrient acquisition by improving the ability of the roots to detect nutrient fluctuation signals in the external environment (Lopez-Bucio, 2003; Bisseling and Scheres, 2014). Mineral nutrition availability is an important parameter affecting secondary root development. Nitrate, the main source of nitrogen for plants, activates local and systemic signaling pathways within the root that further regulate cell division and cell differentiation processes, thus exerting a profound impact on root system architecture (RSA; Lopez-Bucio, 2003). Although healthy secondary roots represent a means for unlimited resource acquisition, restricted nitrogen availability severely constrains this resource exploration behavior. Moreover, auxin signaling plays a key role in the adaptation to internal nitrate fluctuations and is important for the precise regulation of root structures (Vidal et al., 2010). Accordingly, in this review, we focus on how auxin and nitrate signaling influences RSA.
Auxin Synthesis and Transport
Auxin is generally synthesized in young aerial tissues, such as cotyledons and developing leaves; however, studies have shown that the de novo synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the predominant form of auxin, also occurs in roots (Ljung et al., 2005). IAA can be synthesized via either a tryptophan (Trp)-dependent or Trp-independent pathway (Mano and Nemoto, 2012; Korasick et al., 2013; Olatunji et al., 2017). The Trp-dependent pathway is divided into four branches according to the main intermediate metabolites, that is, indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA; Stepanova et al., 2008; Tao et al., 2008; Yamada et al., 2009; Zhao, 2012), indole-3-acetamide (IAM; Pollmann et al., 2009), indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx; Hull et al., 2000; Mikkelsen et al., 2004; Nafisi et al., 2007), and tryptamine (TAM; Zhao et al., 2001; Tao et al., 2008). Although root-specific IAA biosynthesis remains active in plants that lack shoots, auxin levels are significantly reduced, suggesting that IAA transport from source (shoot) to sink (root) tissues is necessary for IAA concentration gradient formation in root tips (Ljung et al., 2005). Nevertheless, that the LR primordium density is increased in shoot-excised seedlings suggests that root-derived IAA generated from IAM plays a compensatory role, at least to some extent, in maintaining auxin levels (Swarup et al., 2008). However, Chen et al. (2014) demonstrated that root-derived auxin plays an indispensable role in normal root development. YUCCA (YUC) genes encode flavin-containing monooxygenases, the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of IPA to IAA (Cao et al., 2019). Accordingly, the PR length of the yucQ mutant (with five simultaneously inactivated YUC genes) is considerably reduced compared with that of its wild-type (WT) counterpart. This yucQ root phenotype can be rescued by the addition of auxin to the growth media or by expressing one of the five inactivated YUC genes in the root, but not in shoots (Chen et al., 2014). WEAK ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE8 (WEI8) and TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE RELATED2 (TAR2) genes encode tryptophan aminotransferases, enzymes that catalyze the conversion of Trp to IPA in the first step of the IPA pathway (Stepanova et al., 2008). The grafting of WT shoots onto wei8 tar2 double mutant roots did not prevent root meristem degeneration; however, in the reciprocal grafting experiment, double mutant shoots did not alter the phenotype of WT roots (Brumos et al., 2018). This implies that root-derived auxin is sufficient for maintaining root meristem activity, which challenges the classic view that most auxin is produced in apical tissues and is then transported to root tips via the phloem. However, Bhalerao et al. (2002) demonstrated that the removal of the shoot apical meristem inhibits LR emergence, but has little effect on LR initiation. Interestingly, the authors showed that LR primordium initiation is triggered through an IAA concentration gradient established in the root before a detectable leaf-derived auxin pulse reached the root tips (Bhalerao et al., 2002). In addition, the application of exogenous IAA to the shoots of wei8 tar2 double mutants cannot prevent the degeneration of LR, PR, and AR meristems, even though auxin is still transported to the root tips to catalyze LR and AR formation. However, exogenous IAA application to roots helps to preserve root meristem activity in wei8 tar2 seedlings, thereby further confirming that root-derived auxin is essential for maintaining stem cell function (Brumos et al., 2018). In Arabidopsis, repeated programmed cell death in the LR cap drives the regular release of root-derived auxin into the elongation zone (oscillation zone), which contributes to the spatiotemporal regulation of lateral organs (Xuan et al., 2016). IAA accumulation in the elongation zone triggers AUX/IAA degradation and the activation of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORs (ARFs), leading to a peak in the expression levels of the auxin reporter DIRECT REPEAT5 (DR5), a synthetic promoter construct that acts as a readout for auxin activity. However, ARF activation induces AUX/IAA transcription, thus repressing ARF and DR5 promoter activities. ARF activation at regular intervals (i.e., oscillation frequency) and auxin responses, as measured by DR5 signal intensity (i.e., oscillation amplitude), determine pre-branch site formation (Xuan et al., 2020).
In plants, two distinct but connected (via the phloem) transport systems enable auxin transport from the shoot to the root cap. A rapid and uncontrolled bulk flow of nutrients in the phloem carries most of the IAA from apical tissues to the root, while another slower and transporter protein-controlled cell-to-cell mechanism, known as polar auxin transport (PAT), redistributes auxin in a more precise manner (Petrasek and Friml, 2009). Auxin transporters localized to the plasma membrane include auxin influx proteins [e.g., AUXIN RESISTANT1 (AUX1) and LIKE-AUX1 (LAX) family members] and efflux proteins [e.g., PIN-FORMED (PIN) and ATP-BINDING CASSETTE B4 (ABCB)/P-GLYCOPROTEIN (PGP) family members; Gälweiler et al., 1998; Geisler and Murphy, 2006; Peret et al., 2012; Cho and Cho, 2013]. Non-protonated auxin molecules generally enter cells by passive diffusion. Due to a chemiosmotic H+ gradient and an outside-positive membrane potential between the neutral cytoplasm and the acidic apoplast, some auxin anions (IAA−) can be co-transported across the plasma membrane with protons (2H+) through AUX/LAX proteins. In the more neutral cytoplasm, IAA (pKa=4.75) exists almost exclusively in a de-protonated form that can exit the cell only through polar PIN or nonpolar ABCB efflux carriers. PAT results mainly from asymmetric (polar) positioning of PIN proteins. Rootward auxin flow is maintained by the action of basally localized PIN1, PIN3, and PIN7 in stele cells. In addition, laterally localized PIN3 and PIN7 in columella cells transport root- and shoot-derived auxin to the epidermis, where apically localized PIN2 transports shootward-bound auxin to the elongation zone; however, some laterally localized PINs (PIN1, PIN3, and PIN7) in endodermal cells recycle some auxin from external cell files back into the vascular system, resulting in the formation of a local auxin gradient or auxin maxima in pericycle cells, which triggers asymmetric cell division before LR initiation (Petrasek and Friml, 2009; Grieneisen et al., 2012; Marhavy et al., 2014; Adamowski and Friml, 2015). These polar routes are further supported by AUX1, which regulates LR development by facilitating IAA loading into the leaf protophloem, IAA unloading from columella cells, and the import of IAA into the developing LR primordium (LRP; Marchant et al., 2002).
Auxin Signal Perception and Transmission
As IAA passes through the plasma membrane, the AUXIN-BINDING PROTEIN 1 (ABP1) receptor and nuclear receptors belonging to the TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR1/AFB1–3) protein family recognize and bind to this intracellular hormone leading to the activation of downstream signaling cascades (Brown and Jones, 1994; Dharmasiri et al., 2005b). The inactivation of ABP1 can reportedly impair root meristem activity and stem cell maintenance, implying that ABP1 mediates root growth by controlling the mitotic activity of meristematic and stem cells (Tromas et al., 2009). ABP1 inactivation leads to decreased expression of D-type cyclin and/or increased accumulation of RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED (RBR) mRNA levels, thereby disrupting the G1/S-phase transition and contributing to the arrest of cell division (Tromas et al., 2009). In root cells, following the binding of auxin to ABP1, the Arabidopsis SPIKE1 (SPK1) transmembrane protein activates Rho-like GTPase from plants 6 (ROP6) and its effector ROP interactive CRIB motif-containing protein 1 (RIC1), which inhibits PIN2 endocytosis by stabilizing actin filaments (Robert et al., 2010; Chen et al., 2012; Lin et al., 2012). The cycling of PIN proteins between the plasma membrane and endosomes regulates their activity, thereby contributing to the spatial distribution of auxin in roots and the modulation of root growth and LR formation. However, the role of ABP1 in auxin perception is controversial. Neither abp1 mutant – abp1-c1 and abp1-TD1 (a 5-bp deletion and a T-DNA insertion in the first exon of ABP1, respectively) – displays any obvious developmental defect. In addition, the expression levels of a set of auxin-inducible genes (IAA3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19) were similar between WT and abp1 plants irrespective of the presence of auxin (Gao et al., 2015). Furthermore, whether ABP1 and SKP1 directly interact remains to be determined (Lin et al., 2012).
The SCFTIR1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is composed of three subunits, namely, a SKP1-like protein (ASK1 or ASK2), a cullin protein (CUL1), and an F-box protein (TIR1; Ciechanover, 1998). The auxin receptor T1R1 recruits AUX/IAA transcriptional repressors to the SCFTIR1 complex for ubiquitination and degradation, thus acting as a positive regulator of auxin signaling (Maraschin Fdos et al., 2009). Auxin binds to both TIR1 and AUX/IAA proteins to stabilize the SCFTIR1-AUX/IAA interaction (Dharmasiri et al., 2005a). Gray et al. (2001) demonstrated that SCFTIR1 interacts with IAA7/AXR2 and IAA17/AXR3 in an auxin-dependent manner. Moreover, the twisted horseshoe-shaped fold formed by the TIR1 leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain contains a myo-inositol hexakisphosphate 6 (InsP6) co-factor that binds to auxin/auxin analogs and AUX/IAA peptide substrates (Gray et al., 2001; Tan et al., 2007). Auxin signal transduction is mediated by the ubiquitination of AUX/IAA proteins recruited by the TIR1/AFB1-3 receptors. The TIR1 and AFB1, AFB2, and AFB3 genes have similar sequences and perform overlapping functions in plant embryogenesis and development (Dharmasiri et al., 2005b). The levels of activity of these four proteins are different, with TIR1 and AFB2 being the dominant auxin receptors in seedling roots. The tir1-1 afb2 double mutant is more resistant to auxin than the tir1-1 single mutant; however, the auxin response of tir1 afb1, tir1 afb3, and tir1 afb1 afb3 mutants is similar to that of tir1 seedlings, indicating that TIR1 and AFB2 contribute more than AFB1 and AFB3 to the auxin response of roots (Parry et al., 2009). The nuclear-localized TIR1 auxin receptor is necessary for LR formation (Arase et al., 2012). Both tir1-1 and afb2-3 single mutants produced 50% fewer ARs compared with WT plants, while an additive effect was observed with the tir1-1 afb2-3 double mutant. TIR1 and AFB2 recruit and form a co-complex with at least three AUX/IAA proteins (IAA6, IAA9, and IAA17). This results in the release of ARF6 and ARF8, which control the expression of GH3.3, GH3.5, and GH3.6, thereby modulating jasmonic acid (JA) homeostasis and stimulating AR initiation (Lakehal et al., 2019).
MicroRNAs are short, endogenously expressed, non-translated RNA-RNA duplexes derived from stem-loop regions of longer genome-encoded RNA precursors (pri-miRNAs) that have been cleaved twice by the RNase III enzyme DICER-Like 1 (DCL1). Although they were first identified as regulators of the timing of postembryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans in 1993 (Lee et al., 1993), it is now known that miRNAs are key components of multiple regulatory networks in plants as well as other organisms. In plants, miRNAs bind to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and cleave target mRNAs through sequence complementarity, resulting in the repression of target genes (Jones-Rhoades et al., 2006; Trevisan et al., 2012). For example, miR167 targets ARF6 and 8, and miR160 targets ARF10, 16, and 17, thus downregulating their transcriptional levels (Gutierrez et al., 2009), while miR393 regulates TIR1 and AFB3 receptor activity (Parry et al., 2009). Exogenous IAA application induces miR393b expression in plants. The overexpression of miR393 reduces TIR1 transcript levels, consequently enhancing auxin resistance, whereas TIR1 overexpression results in auxin sensitivity, suggesting that miR393 is a negative regulator of auxin perception (Chen et al., 2011). In soybean (Glycine max L.), auxin receptors encoded by GmTIR1/AFB3, orthologs of Arabidopsis TIR1/AFB3, positively regulate rhizobia infection and nodule development. The knockdown mutant of soybean miR393 shows a significant increase in rhizobia infection and nodule number resulting from the accumulation of GmTIR1/AFB3 transcript levels (Cai et al., 2017). In Arabidopsis, the expression of miR393 and AFB3 is induced by N metabolites and nitrate, respectively (Vidal et al., 2010). These observations suggest that the integration of signals relating to internal and external N availability by the unique N-responsive miR393/AFB3 module plays a role in auxin responses.
Modulation of the RSA by Nitrate–Auxin Signaling
Nitrogen, mainly in the form of nitrate absorbed through the roots, is necessary for plants to complete their life cycle. Nitrate is not only a source of N but also an important signaling molecule with roles in many biological processes (Crawford, 1995). The regulation of RSA by nitrate requires the coordinated activity of local and systemic signaling pathways that communicate the plant N status to different tissues and organs (Alvarez et al., 2012).
The local nitrate response is also known as the primary nitrate response (PNR) as some genes involved in nitrate perception, assimilation, and transport respond to local nitrate stimulation within minutes, without de novo protein synthesis (Medici and Krouk, 2014). In addition to sensing local nitrate availability, plants must also integrate internal N demand signals of various regions to coordinate the overall resource allocation and regulate the growth and development of the root system, a process known as long-distance (or systemic) nitrate response (Forde, 2002). As a typical example, roots are known to preferentially colonize nitrate-rich soil areas in heterogeneous environments. Under conditions where one part of the root is exposed to low-nitrate conditions (<0.05mM) while another experiences high-nitrate availability (>10mM), roots in the nitrate-deficient patches may continue to signal nitrate deficiency to other regions, as if placing all roots in the same environment. This sustained signaling strengthens local nitrate sensitivity in the roots, which may explain why roots are well-developed in nitrate-rich patches (Figure 1). In this process, the distribution of auxin in root tissues responds to fluctuations in nitrate availability, which, in turn, affects the establishment of local auxin maxima or local auxin gradients, thus triggering a series of processes that modulate the RSA.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the nitrate–auxin crosstalk under heterogeneous nitrate availability. When the external nitrate concentration is low (<0.05mM), phosphorylated NRT1.1, a high-affinity nitrate transporter, transports large amounts of nitrate into cells to alleviate the effects of internal nitrogen deficiency. NRT1.1, located on epidermal cells, also acts as an auxin transporter to facilitate shootward auxin transport, thereby reducing lateral auxin reflux and auxin accumulation in pericycle cells, resulting in the inhibition of lateral root (LR) initiation. When NRT1.1 is phosphorylated, its nitrate sensor function is inhibited. Consequently, the low level of local auxin biosynthesis, regulated by ANR1, cannot offset the loss of auxin. In addition, nitrate ions (NO3−) transported into cells can participate in the regulation of auxin-mediated LR formation through the miR393-AFB3 module. When the external nitrate concentration is high (>10mM), NRT1.1 is dephosphorylated and functions mainly as a nitrate sensor to stimulate LR growth. The N starvation status signals of roots in low-NO3− regions are transmitted to high-NO3− regions through the CEP-CEPR1/2-CEPD1/2 module. Different from the demand for nitrate transport in low-NO3− areas, in high-NO3− areas, the TCP-NLP7 dimer is retained in the nucleus, where it acts to increase the sensitivity of the primary nitrate response (PNR). Lines ending in an inverted T (⊥) indicate negative regulation while line thickness indicates the strength of the pathways. Local nitrate, systemic nitrate, and auxin responses are shown in blue, yellow, and red, respectively. The protonmotive force (PMF) is shown in green.
Nitrate-IAA Crosstalk During Nitrate Uptake
Nitrate/IAA Absorption Driven by the Protonmotive Force
Nitrate entry into epidermal and cortical cells of the plant root system constitutes the first step in nitrogen acquisition in plants. This process is accomplished by membrane-localized nitrate transporters in a process that is driven by the hydrogen ion concentration gradient or protonmotive force (PMF) generated by plasma membrane H+-ATPases (PM H+-ATPases; Crawford, 1995). The proton chemical gradient and the outside-positive membrane potential generated by H+ efflux provide chemical and electrical energy for driving solute transport by other transporter systems and channels. Proton efflux also causes apoplast acidification, which promotes cell expansion (Haruta et al., 2015). The acid-growth hypothesis proposes that auxin-induced elongation may be related to plasma membrane hyperpolarization caused by auxin-mediated activation of PM H+-ATPases, which results in the acidification of the apoplast and the subsequent loosening of the cell wall, allowing cells to expand. In Arabidopsis, auxin activates H+-ATPase 2 (AHA2) by indirectly promoting the phosphorylation of the penultimate threonine residue (Thr947) within its carboxy-terminal regulatory domain via auxin-responsive SMALL AUXIN UP-RNAs (SAUR15/19; Spartz et al., 2014). Members of the protein phosphatase type 2C (PP2C-D) family prevent the activation of this enzyme through the dephosphorylation of Thr947; however, SAURs can bind to PP2C-D phosphatases and inhibit their enzymatic activity, suggesting that the activity of PM H+-ATPases is regulated by SAUR-PP2C-D modules (Spartz et al., 2014).
Recently, Yin et al. (2020) demonstrated that Arabidopsis SAUR15 acts downstream of ARF6/8 and ARF7/19 to activate PM H+-ATPases, which drives cell expansion and facilitates LR and AR formation. In addition, SAUR15 can induce the local expression of auxin biosynthesis genes, such as TAR4, YUC6, YUC7, ALDEHYDE OXIDASE1 (AAO1), CYTOCHROME P450 FAMILY 71 (CYP71A13), and NITRILASE 1 (NIT1), resulting in an increase in the free auxin concentration, thereby forming a positive feedback loop. Interestingly, the phosphorylation status of the H+-ATPases in the tir1-1 afb2-3 and axr1-3 mutants is similar to that of WT plants (Takahashi et al., 2012). Nonetheless, this does not mean that TIR1/AFBs are not involved in auxin-induced acid growth. A synthetic convex IAA (cvxIAA) developed by Uchida et al. (2018) only induces the expression of downstream auxin-responsive genes in seedlings expressing the engineered concave TIR1 (ccvTIR1) receptor. The cvxIAA elicits rapid SAUR19 expression, leading to increased levels of PM H+-ATPase phosphorylation in the hypocotyls of TIR1pro::ccvTIR1 tir1 afb2 seedlings (Uchida et al., 2018). Combined, these observations indicate that the TIR1/AFB signaling pathway is involved in auxin-induced acid growth, but acts redundantly with other as yet unidentified pathways. ABP57, a 57-kDa auxin-binding receptor in rice, activates plant PM H+-ATPases via direct interaction. Exogenous IAA (5μM) treatment significantly enhances the affinity of ABP57 for PM H+-ATPases, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the H+-efflux efficiency of this enzyme (Kim et al., 2001; Lee et al., 2009). Although no ABP57 homolog has been found in Arabidopsis (Lee et al., 2009), it seems likely that some ABPs also play a role in the auxin-induced H+-ATPases phosphorylation and acid growth in this plant.
Inconsistent with the auxin-induced H+-ATPases phosphorylation, low-nitrate availability facilitates solute transport (potentially including NO3− and IAA−) by increasing the level of transcription of the AHA2 gene, thus promoting PR and LR development; however, the opposite is seen under high-nitrate conditions (Mlodzinska et al., 2015). Although there is no direct evidence to indicate that IAA or NO3− can improve NO3−/IAA− absorption efficiency by activating H+-ATPases, several studies have indicated that nitrate absorption efficiency might be regulated by auxin (Guo et al., 2002; Zheng et al., 2013).
Nitrate Transporters
Plants possess two sets of nitrate transport systems [a high-affinity transport system (HATS) and a low-affinity transport system (LATS)] to ensure optimal efficiency of nitrate uptake by roots. Large amounts of nitrate are stored in root vacuoles as the nitrogen pool or transferred to the shoots via the xylem. Some of the nitrate in the cytosol is reduced to nitrite by nitrate reductase (NR) and is then further reduced to ammonia by nitrite reductase (NiR) after entering the plastid (Crawford, 1995; Crawford and Glass, 1998). In the plastid, ammonia can be immobilized into amino acids (glutamine, glutamate, aspartate, and asparagine) by the activity of nitrogen assimilation enzymes such as glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT; Lam et al., 1995).
The NRT1.1 Transceptor
The affinity of Arabidopsis thaliana NRT1.1 (AtNRT1.1, also known as CHL1/AtNPF6.3), a dual-affinity nitrate transporter, for nitrate can be altered through the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Thr101 (located in the loop between domains 2 and 3) in response to fluctuations in nitrate availability (Liu and Tsay, 1999, 2003; Ho et al., 2009). Under low-nitrate or nitrate-deprivation conditions, CALCINEURIN B-LIKE proteins (CBLs), a subfamily of plant-specific Ca2+ sensors, activate CBL-INTERACTION PROTEIN KINASE 23 (CIPK23), which then phosphorylates Thr101 in NRT1.1, thereby decoupling the NRT1.1 dimer into monomers that have high structural flexibility and function as a high-affinity nitrate transporter to develop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). In contrast, CIPK8 dephosphorylates Thr101, resulting in NRT1.1 dimerization, which converts it into a low-affinity transporter (Sun et al., 2014). In addition to its role in nitrate uptake, NRT1.1 also acts as a sensor in nitrate signaling (Gojon et al., 2011). Furthermore, as with nitrate uptake, the function of NRT1.1 as a sensor also shows a dual-affinity pattern. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Thr101 lead to low- and high-level PNRs, respectively. The CBL-CIPK23 complex blocks the nitrate binding site of NRT1.1 via Thr101 phosphorylation, thus keeping nitrate signal transmission at a low level; however, Thr101 phosphorylation is necessary for maintaining high-affinity nitrate transport to alleviate internal N starvation in roots in low-nitrate patches (Ho et al., 2009). In contrast, the CBL/CIPK8 complex interferes with the nitrate transport function of NRT1.1 but exposes the nitrate binding site of NRT1.1, thus continuously triggering the nitrate response (Hu et al., 2009; Figure 1).
NRT1.1 also acts as an auxin transporter. Two hypotheses have been postulated to explain this NRT1.1-dependent auxin transport. On the one hand, NRT1.1 and AUX/LAX proteins both function as amino acid carriers and, therefore, the structural similarity between auxin and amino acids, such as Trp, supports the auxin transport properties of NRT1.1 (Williams and Miller, 2001). On the other hand, under low-nitrate availability, phosphorylated NRT1.1, acting as a high-affinity nitrate transporter, promotes nitrate transportation into cells, resulting in increased transcription levels of AHA2 and the generation of a PMF to drive IAA transport. Conversely, dephosphorylated NRT1.1 inhibits IAA transport into cells (Mlodzinska et al., 2015).
NRT1.1 localization in epidermal and cortical cells facilitates shootward auxin transport under low-nitrate (<0.5mM) or N-free conditions, leading to low auxin concentrations in immature LR meristems. This, in turn, inhibits LR and AR development in a TIR1/AFB pathway-dependent manner (Table 1). Under high-nitrate conditions (>1mM), various processes associated with NRT1.1-mediated shootward auxin transport are inhibited (Krouk et al., 2010; Maghiaoui et al., 2020). NRT1.1-dependent shootward auxin transport inhibits lateral auxin reflux from epidermal to stele cells, thereby obstructing IAA accumulation in cortical and pericycle cells. Thus, IAA3/14-ARF7/19, IAA12-ARF5, and IAAs-ARF4 module-dependent LRP initiation and development are inhibited in pericycle cells. Moreover, the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN 29 (LBD29) gene, acting downstream of the TIR1/AFB7/19 module, blocks AUX1 from transporting IAA into pericycle cells in response to low-nitrate availability (<0.5mM), while also affecting the function of the auxin influx carrier LAX3 located on cortical cells, thus hindering the formation of a local auxin gradient. However, the latter is necessary to initiate auxin responses to promote the expression of LBD18 and downstream cell wall loosening/remodeling-associated genes (expansin, EXP14/17; subtilisin-like protease 7, AIR3; polygalacturonase, PG; xyloglucosyl transferase, XTR6) in cortical and epidermal cells that surround the LRP, resulting in cell separation, which aids LRP emergence (Krouk et al., 2010; Mounier et al., 2014; Maghiaoui et al., 2020). In addition, a reduction in LRP density also lowers the demand for local auxin supply from stele cells for LR development, leading to a decrease in the expression levels of the auxin biosynthesis gene TAR2 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of stele cells in regions of low-nitrate availability (Krouk et al., 2010; Lay-Pruitt and Takahashi, 2020).
Table 1. Summary of the role of ARF genes in the development of root system architecture (RSA).
Interestingly, under low-nitrate conditions (<0.5mM), TAR2 expression is upregulated in pericycle and vascular tissues, leading to an increase in LR numbers (Ma et al., 2014). In addition, in response to low-nitrate availability, the expression of the AGL21 gene (encoding a MADS-box TF) and the downstream auxin biosynthesis genes (YUC5, YUC8, and TAR3) is upregulated, leading to increased local auxin supply, which stimulates LRP germination and LR growth (Yu et al., 2014). This may be related to the sensor function of NRT1.1, which mobilizes PNRs to locally upregulate the expression of auxin synthesis genes. The PNR has more advantages under high-nitrate conditions than under low-nitrate conditions. Using a split-root experiment, Mounier et al. (2014) showed that NRT1.1 phosphorylation-dependent auxin shootward transport greatly reduces auxin accumulation in the LRP and young LR tips, which represses LRP initiation. On the high-nitrate side (>0.5mM), auxin shootward transport is inhibited, thereby allowing auxin accumulation, while the nitrate signaling pathway is activated locally, which stimulates LR elongation (Mounier et al., 2014; Figure 1). Therefore, the preferential proliferation of LRs in nitrate-rich patches under uneven NO3− distribution is achieved through the “double” dual-functions (double nitrate/auxin transport, double nitrate response) of NRT1.1.
NRT2.1 Transporters
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Midas) has a strong nitrate or ammonium absorption capacity within a few days after being transferred from a nitrate supply medium to a nitrogen-deficient environment, although there is no change in root growth. Moreover, during the first 3days of growth on nitrogen-deprived medium, even though the relative concentration of non-nitrate nitrogen decreased by 36%, the nitrate transport capacity increased, indicating that the nitrogen status of the plant parallels the effects of nitrogen deficiency on nitrate and ammonium absorption (Lee and Rudge, 1986). This compensatory upregulation of nitrate uptake in response to nitrogen deprivation was further verified in the split-root system of Arabidopsis and was found to be related to the high-affinity transporters NRT2.1 and NRT2.2 (Zhuo et al., 1999; Cerezo et al., 2001). The feedback regulation of nitrate absorption by nitrogen metabolites and the induction of HATS activity by nitrate deficiency were both suppressed in atnrt2 plants (Cerezo et al., 2001). In addition, in the lin1 mutant (substitution of a conserved amino acid in NRT2.1), the inhibitory effect of low external nitrate levels on LR initiation is alleviated, suggesting that NRT2.1 may be involved in the NRT1.1-dependent inhibition of LR initiation (Little et al., 2005).
Both external nitrate deficiency and N starvation activate the transport function of NRT2.1. Conversely, high-nitrate supply inhibits the expression of NRT2.1, an effect that is associated with HIGH NITROGEN INSENSITIVE 9 (HNI9)/INTERACT WITH SPT6 (IWS1), a component of the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) complex, which mediates the upregulation of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) levels at the NRT2.1 locus (Widiez et al., 2011). Interestingly, the N starvation-mediated feedback regulation of NRT2.1 transporter function is not limited to the N-deficient side in the split-root experiment, but also affects long-distance (shoot-to-root) nitrate signaling (Wang et al., 2018; Fredes et al., 2019). The C-terminally ENCODED PEPTIDES (CEPs) secreted by Arabidopsis roots in response to nitrogen starvation-related stimuli transmit nitrogen deficiency signals to the leaves through the xylem vessels (Tabata et al., 2014). The diffusion of CEPs to the surface of leaf phloem cells and their perception by two LRR-RKs – CEP RECEPTOR 1 and 2 (CEPR1/2) – lead to the secretion of two CEP DOWNSTREAM (CEPD) polypeptides (CEPD1 and CEPD2) that translocate to the roots in both high- and low-nitrate zones and activate nitrate responses (Tabata et al., 2014). Nonetheless, CEPDs scattered in all patches only activate the transporter function of NRT2.1 in roots where nitrate is available, suggesting that NRT2.1 may be involved in CEPD transport (Ohkubo et al., 2017).
Nitrate-IAA Crosstalk in the Process of Nitrate Signaling Transmission
Upon perception, the nitrate signal is transmitted from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and then to downstream regulators. This signal transmission is mainly achieved through both Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent pathways (Riveras et al., 2015).
The Ca2+-Dependent Pathway
In the Ca2+-dependent pathway, under nitrate stimulation, Ca2+ acts as a secondary messenger downstream of NRT1.1. In the presence of nitrate signals, the concentrations of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and Ca2+ in the cytoplasm are increased in a NRT1.1-dependent manner; however, these effects are blocked by exposure to a pharmacological inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC; U73122), but not by a nonfunctional PLC inhibitor analog (U73343; Riveras et al., 2015). In plants, PLCs, important membrane phospholipid-hydrolyzing enzymes in the phosphoinositide metabolic pathway, are subdivided into two categories according to the specificity of the hydrolyzed substrates, namely, phosphatidylinositol-PLC (PI-PLC) and phosphatidylcholine-PLC (PC-PLC)/non-specific PLC (NPC; Singh et al., 2015). PI-PLCs catalyze the hydrolysis of the precursor lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2], yielding diacylglycerol (DAG) and InsP3. In mammals, InsP3 is released into the cytoplasm and binds to InsP3 receptors (InsP3-Rs), resulting in the release of Ca2+ from the ER (Singh et al., 2015; Berridge, 2016). This suggests that the PI-PLC-InsP3-Ca2+ pathway plays a key role in nitrate signaling. However, no gene corresponding to InsP3-Rs has been identified in plants, and the low quantity of PtdIns(4,5)P2 detected in higher plants seems to indicate that InsP3-induced Ca2+ release is not present in plants (Krinke et al., 2007; Van Leeuwen et al., 2007). Studies have shown that InsP3 is converted to InsP6 by inositol polyphosphate kinase 1 (IPK1) and IPK2 (Stevenson-Paulik et al., 2002). InsP6, a Ca2+-mobilizing agent, participates in signal transduction events by releasing Ca2+ from the vacuole and other endomembrane stores (Lemtiri et al., 2003). Given the involvement of InsP6 in auxin perception, it is possible that IAA mediates secondary signal (Ca2+) transmission in nitrate responses (Tan et al., 2007).
Functional targeted screening identified subgroup III Ca2+-sensor protein kinases (CPKs; CPK10, CPK30, and CPK32) as novel regulators of PNRs that enhance the expression of nitrate-responsive genes, even at very low-nitrate concentrations (Krouk, 2017; Liu et al., 2017). These three functionally redundant subgroup III enzymes act as the primary regulators of downward Ca2+ signal transmission. Concurrent with the increase in Ca2+ levels both inside and outside the nucleus in response to nitrate, subgroup III enzymes can rapidly facilitate nuclear transit and directly phosphorylate the Ser205 residue on NIN-Like Protein7 (NLP7), a member of the Arabidopsis NODULE INCEPTION (NIN)-like protein family. NLP7 is a master regulator of the PNR, positively regulating the development of RSA by post-translationally regulating downstream TFs and PNR-related genes (Castaings et al., 2009; Marchive et al., 2013; Krouk, 2017). Compared with WT seedlings, the activities of major nitrate–CPK target genes, as well as LRP density and LR elongation, were significantly inhibited in the “inducible cpk10,30,32” (icpk) triple mutant (Liu et al., 2017). Nevertheless, this does not imply that nitrate-stimulated root development is only regulated by the Ca2+-dependent pathway. The inductive effect of AFB3 was significantly altered in AtNRT1.1–5 and AtNRT1.1–9 (chl1–5 and chl1–9) mutants but remained unchanged in WT plants grown in the presence of the Ca2+ channel blocker lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) or U73122. This effect was different from that observed for other nitrate-responsive genes, suggestive of the existence of a Ca2+-independent pathway in nitrate signal transmission (Riveras et al., 2015).
The Ca2+-Independent Pathway
In the Ca2+-independent pathway, internal nitrate activates AFB3, which then coordinates PR and LR growth through a downstream regulatory network (Ulmasov et al., 1997; Vidal et al., 2010). AFB3, a member of the TIR1/AFB clade of auxin receptors (TAARs) in the AFB family of plant F-box proteins, degrades AUX/IAA transcriptional repressor proteins, thereby releasing ARF TFs that then initiate the primary auxin response (Si-Ammour et al., 2011). Additionally, a high-nitrate supply suppresses root development by reducing PR and LR meristem activity. Interestingly, these inhibitory effects are lost in AFB3 mutants (afb3-1, afb2-1, and afb1-1), but are enhanced in NR-deficient mutants, suggesting that nitrate assimilation products regulate AFB3 expression in response to nitrate via a feedback loop (Zhang et al., 1999; Vidal et al., 2010).
Recent studies have shown that miR393 coordinates the expression of different sets of TAAR-encoding genes under various biotic or abiotic stresses (Lu et al., 2018). Vidal et al. (2010) showed that miR393 negatively regulates AFB3 mRNA levels in roots in response to nitrate and N metabolites generated by nitrate reduction and assimilation. This suggests that nitrate indirectly induces miR393 to maintain intracellular AFB3 homeostasis through negative feedback regulation. This effect is in contrast to that seen with the ARF8-miR167 module, in which N metabolites inhibit the miR167-mediated degradation of ARF8 mRNA, thus promoting LR initiation (Gifford et al., 2008).
Nitrate-IAA Crosstalk in Local/Systemic Nitrate Pathways
NLP7
NLP7, one of the nine members of the Arabidopsis NIN-like family of RWP-RK TFs, acts as a master regulator of the early response to nitrate availability. The Arabidopsis nlp7 mutant displays PNR response defects and a nitrogen starvation phenotype, including a lower shoot-to-root fresh weight ratio (S/R ratio), even in the presence of nitrate (Castaings et al., 2009). In response to nitrate signaling, AtNLP7 accumulates rapidly in the nucleus, while under nitrogen starvation conditions, NLP7-GFP localizes to the cytoplasm, but transfers to the nucleus within minutes of nitrate resupply (Marchive et al., 2013). The addition of the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B to NLP7-GFP seedlings grown in nitrogen-deprived medium resulted in partial NLP7 nuclear accumulation. This is consistent with the hypothesis that NLP7 accumulates rapidly in the nucleus due to the nitrate-mediated inhibition of the nuclear export-related receptor Exportin1 (XPO1/CRM1; Fornerod et al., 1997; Kudo et al., 1998; Marchive et al., 2013), an effect that allows a wide range of NLP7-dependent nuclear genes to be instantaneously mobilized in early nitrate responses.
The N-terminal region of NLP6 (the closest NLP7 homolog), which flanks the RWP-RK domain, receives the nitrate signal, which stimulates its conversion of NLP6 from an inactive to an active state, thus contributing to the positive regulation of the primary nitrate-responsive genes and TFs. The mechanism of activation may be related to the CPK-mediated phosphorylation of Ser205 located in the N-terminal region of NLP7. This candidate CPK phosphorylation site, identified through the alignment of nine Arabidopsis NLPs with four orthologous Lotus japonicus NLPs, has a fairly conserved sequence (Konishi and Yanagisawa, 2013; Marchive et al., 2013; Chardin et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2017). Additionally, the active RWPYRK motif of NLPs can bind to nitrate-responsive cis-elements (NREs), thereby promoting the expression of nitrate-inducible genes (Konishi and Yanagisawa, 2011, 2013). Indeed, post-translationally activated NLP7 is important in the PNR pathway, both under nitrogen-sufficient and nitrogen-deficient conditions. In NLP7-overexpressing plants, genes involved in nitrate transport (NRT1.1, NRT2.1, NRT2.2), nitrogen assimilation (GS1, NIA1, NIA2, NIR1), and nitrogen/auxin signal transduction (ANR1, AFB3) are upregulated to improve NUE and promote the development of a better root system (Yu et al., 2016).
ANR1
ANR1, an Arabidopsis MADS-box TF initially isolated in a screen for nitrate-inducible genes in roots, acts downstream of NRT1.1 and Ca2+ signaling and regulates the preferential proliferation of LRs in nitrate-rich regions in response to localized nitrate application (Zhang and Forde, 1998). Similar to the LR growth phenotype of transgenic lines that underexpress ANR1, LR proliferation in AtNRT1.1 mutants is impaired in nitrate-rich zones and ANR1 transcript levels are markedly decreased in the apical region of LRs (Remans et al., 2006). Interestingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation chip assays demonstrated that NLP7 binds to the ANR1 locus, although there is no evidence that ANR1 functions downstream of NLP7 (Marchive et al., 2013). The detailed mechanism underlying ANR1-mediated LR initiation and growth was confirmed through the heterologous expression of Chrysanthemum morifolium ANR1 (CmANR1, a homolog of Arabidopsis AtANR1). CmANR1 promotes auxin accumulation in LRs and LR primordia by increasing the polar transport of auxin and its biosynthesis in roots (Sun et al., 2018). In this process, ANR1 forms homodimers and/or heterodimers with another homolog (AGL21) via its C-terminal region.
Local nitrate supply does not stimulate LR proliferation in axr4 mutants, like that seen in aux1 mutants (Zhang et al., 1999). Additionally, the asymmetric (polar) localization of AUX1 in the plasma membrane of leaf protophloem and epidermal cells was shown to be impaired in axr4 mutants, which was not unexpected given that AXR4 mediates the localization and migration of AUX1 from the ER to the plasma membrane (Dharmasiri et al., 2006; Hobbie and Estelle, 2010). Analysis of auxin response reporter (IAA2::GUS) expression revealed that lateral IAA reflux and rootward/shootward auxin transport are altered in aux1 mutant, mainly due to a reduction in the amount of the root-derived auxin that was transferred to the root apex (Swarup et al., 2001; Marchant et al., 2002). A model of a three-layer, carrier-mediated lateral auxin gradient of the elongation zone proposed by Swarup et al. (2005): PIN2 in the epidermis and cortex; weak PIN1 expression in the epidermis, cortex and endodermis; and AUX1 in the epidermis including the entire elongation zone, illustrates the role of different levels of shootward auxin flow regulated by three-layer transporters in lateral auxin gradient formation. In addition, root gravitropism is dependent on epidermal AUX1 expression, as evidenced by the fact that expanding cells migrate through the elongation zone (Swarup et al., 2005). Consequently, in the axr4 mutant, cell division of pericycle cells and the differential expansion of epidermal cells resulting from AUX1-dependent auxin gradient generation are impaired, which inhibits LR initiation and gravitropic curvature (Marchant et al., 2002; Swarup et al., 2005). Moreover, experiments using axr4 mutants and ANR1 antisense lines confirmed that ANR1 acts upstream of AXR4 in local nitrate responses (Zhang et al., 1999), thus providing further evidence that ANR1-mediated LR regulation is related to PAT.
NAC4
NAC4, a member of the plant-specific NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC) family of TFs, and OBP4, belonging to the DOF (DNA-binding with one finger) TF family, constitute a nitrate response regulatory module controlled by AFB3 that acts specifically in pericyclic cells to control LR initiation in response to changes in nitrate availability (Vidal et al., 2013; Asim et al., 2020). Although the function of NAC4 in plant development is not clear at present, it is known that NAC1 and NAC2 in proteins homologous to NAC4 play an intermediary role in auxin-induced LR development in Arabidopsis. NAC1, the first NAC gene shown to be involved in root development, is active in the apical region (meristem and elongation zone) and the LR initiation region. In pericycle cells, NAC1 protein acts downstream of the auxin signaling cascade and transmits auxin signals by activating expression from the promoters of auxin response genes such as DBP and AIR3 (Xie et al., 2000). AtNAC2 was identified by comparing the cDNA libraries of transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing NTHK1 (tobacco ethylene receptor gene) under salt stress with those of WT plants under similar stress. AtNAC2 promotes LR formation, and its expression is dependent on the ethylene and auxin signaling pathways (He et al., 2005). Analogous to NAC1/2, AUX/IAA–ARF module-mediated auxin signaling is required for the induction of NAC4 by nitrate. The responses of NAC4 and OBP4 to nitrate are altered in both IAA14 gain-of-function and deletion mutants, suggesting that NAC4 and OBP4 are specifically regulated and act downstream of the AUX/IAA pathway, which affects LRP initiation in pericycle cells (Vidal et al., 2013).
A recent study showed that although OBP4 induces pericycle cell division in plants grown in auxin-containing medium, plants overexpressing OBP4 without auxin supply do not undergo cell division and have fewer LRP initials shorter cells (Ramirez-Parra et al., 2017). This is inconsistent with the widely accepted theory of “compensated cell enlargement,” which holds that a reduction in cell number can be compensated for by increasing the cell size, and vice versa (Tsukaya, 2003). OBP4 is suggested to be a negative regulator of cell cycle progression and cell expansion. Using RT-qPCR analysis, Xu et al. (2016) found that genes encoding cell wall expansion factors, such as xyloglucan endoglycosylation-related genes (XTH3, XTH9, XTH17); cell cycle-related genes, such as cyclin genes (CYCA2;1, CYCA2;3, CYCB1;1, CYCB2;1, CYCB2;3, and CYCB3;1); and CDK encoding genes (CDKB1;1, CDKB1;2, and CDKB2;1), were significantly inhibited in plants constitutively overexpressing OBP4. However, the predicted DOF binding sites ([A/T]AAAG and CTTT[A/T]) were only detected in the promoter regions of CYCB1;1, CDKB1;1, XTH9, and XTH17 (Xu et al., 2016). These XTH genes encode xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases that catalyze the cleavage of xyloglucan chains and molecular grafting between xyloglucans, resulting in wall loosening and rearrangements for cell expansion (Hyodo et al., 2003). Among the XTH genes, XTH9 reduces LR density in response to increasing concentrations of nitrate, and this nitrate regulation of XTH9 is impaired in the background of IAA14-1 and afb-3 mutation (Xu and Cai, 2019). And XTH9 is also negatively regulated by OBP4. Combined, these observations suggest that the XTH9-OBP4 regulatory module acts downstream of the AFB3-IAA14 module and elaborately controls LRP initiation in response to environmental nitrate availability.
CLEs
Under nitrogen deficiency, besides the local inhibition of LR initiation due predominantly to the transport function of NRT1.1, the whole plant translates the nitrogen-deficient nutritional status into a morphological response by suppressing the emergence and growth of LRPs. Araya et al. (2014b) identified several nitrogen-responsive CLAVATA (CLV)/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (ESR)-related peptides (CLE1 to 7) that are induced by systematic nitrogen deficiency. CLV3 in the shoot apical meristem binds to the LRR receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) CLV1 located in the plasma membrane, thereby blocking WUSCHEL (WUS) and FANTASTIC FOUR 2 (FAF2) gene expression through calcium waves, which limits stem cell proliferation (Chou et al., 2016). These CLE peptides also form signal modules with CLV1 to prevent the expansion of the LR system into low-nitrogen environments (Araya et al., 2014a). Furthermore, there is an overaccumulation of CLE2, −3, −4, and −7 transcripts in clv1–4 and clv1–15 mutants, suggesting that CLV1 feedback regulates CLE mRNA levels in the root apical meristem, as observed for CLV3 (Araya et al., 2014a).
TCP20
TCP20 belongs to the plant-specific, TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR1 (TCP) family of TFs and is involved in the control of cell division, expansion, and differentiation during different stages of plant morphogenesis (Guan et al., 2014). TCP20 recognizes and binds to the GCCCR (R=A or G) motif found in the promoters of several genes, including the mitotic cyclin (G2 to M phase) gene CYCB1;1. The transcriptional levels of CYCB1;1 are tightly linked to the mitotic activity of apical meristem cells, which explains the functional redundancy of TCP20 in organ formation and development (Himanen et al., 2003; Li et al., 2005; Herve et al., 2009). NLP7-binding motifs have also been identified in the promoter region of CYCB1;1. Interestingly, although TCP20 nuclear localization is independent of nitrate availability, NLP7/TCP20 homo- and heterodimers can be retained in the nucleus under conditions of nitrogen deprivation. This not only suggests that TCP and NLP7 act together to control cycle cell-related gene expression but also implies that the activity of these homo−/heterodimers in the nucleus represents a stress response of plants induced by nitrogen starvation (Guan et al., 2017). Indeed, the transcriptional complexes bind to CYCB1;1, thereby preventing premature cell cycle exit, as well as to nitrate-responsive genes (NRT1.1, NRT2.1, and NIA1), which facilitates nitrate transport, assimilation, and signaling (Guan, 2017; Fredes et al., 2019). This suggests that TCP20 plays a key role in the systemic nitrate signaling pathway that controls root cell division. Furthermore, although PR and LR development progresses normally on homogeneous media, insertional mutations in TCP20 strongly impair the preferential growth of LRs in high-nitrate zones (root foraging). Guan et al. (2014) showed that TCP20 regulates root foraging for nitrate by upregulating the transcriptional levels of NRT2.1 and NIA1 in the systemic nitrate signaling pathway.
Conclusion
To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of nutrients and plant hormones on the RSA have mostly been elucidated through studies conducted on Arabidopsis. With the increase in research on nitrate and auxin, knowledge regarding how these two signals influence RSA at the genetic level has increased dramatically. It is increasingly evident that nitrate and auxin signaling pathways are not mutually exclusive; instead, extensive nitrate-associated signaling cascades are integrated into the internal auxin pathways. Auxin dominates almost all aspects of plant growth, especially root development. Roots can adapt to the fluctuating soil environment by constantly adjusting auxin distribution, thereby maximizing the exploration of external resources to ensure overall plant development.
As shown in Figure 1, the root system can obtain information about the uneven distribution of nitrate, and two sets of strategies are employed to adjust the distribution of auxin to maximize NUE. However, in a fluctuating soil environment, the roots system in low-nitrate areas mainly overcome the internal nitrogen deficiency. The shootward auxin transport regulated by NRT1.1 greatly reduces the auxin concentration in pericycle cells and prevents roots from further expanding into nitrate-poorer regions, which would aggravate internal N deficiency. In areas with high-nitrate content, plants focus on promoting LR growth to maximize nitrate acquisition, which limits the allocation of auxin from root to shoot. Furthermore, the entire root system shares the nitrogen deficiency signals, while TCP20-NLP7 dimers enhance N metabolism in low-nitrate areas and enhance root foraging in high-nitrate zones. In these processes, both local and systemic nitrate signals are integrated into the auxin response to regulate RSA.
The sustainable improvement of NUE is key to overcoming the limitations of agricultural productivity globally. Consequently, understanding how nitrate and hormone signaling are regulated and how they interact are at the core of addressing these challenges. Although current knowledge of the crosstalk between nitrate and auxin signaling is confined to the local and systemic pathway levels, it nonetheless contributes to our understanding of the regulatory network underlying nitrate signaling and its association with auxin and other phytohormone signaling pathways that are key for developing new biotechnology-based strategies and achieving sustainable agriculture. The emergence of tools such as cell type-specific or single-cell genomics and proteomics following on from the sequencing of the Arabidopsis genome has greatly improved our understanding of how plants integrate internal and external information.
Author Contributions
Q-QH, J-QS, and W-ML: manuscript preparation. G-ZW: manuscript review and editing. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
This research was financially supported by the Basic Research Project of Science and Technology, Department of Sichuan Province (grant no. 2021YJ0110).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s Note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Keywords: auxin, nitrate, root architecture, polar auxin transport, nitrate transporter, primary nitrate signaling pathway, systemic nitrate signaling pathway
Citation: Hu Q-Q, Shu J-Q, Li W-M and Wang G-Z (2021) Role of Auxin and Nitrate Signaling in the Development of Root System Architecture. Front. Plant Sci. 12:690363. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.690363
Edited by:
Rujin Chen, Lanzhou University, ChinaReviewed by:
Joshua Blakeslee, The Ohio State University, United StatesJohn Larkin, Louisiana State University, United States
Copyright © 2021 Hu, Shu, Li and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Guang-Zhi Wang, wangguangzhi@cdutcm.edu.cn
†These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship