N-terminal truncated RHT-1 proteins generated by translational reinitiation cause semi-dwarfing of wheat Green Revolution alleles

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Thomas, S. G., Van De Velde, K., Heyse, F., Kaspar, R., Van Der Straeten, D. and Rohde, A. 2021. N-terminal truncated RHT-1 proteins generated by translational reinitiation cause semi-dwarfing of wheat Green Revolution alleles. Molecular Plant. 14 (1), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2021.01.002

AuthorsThomas, S. G., Van De Velde, K., Heyse, F., Kaspar, R., Van Der Straeten, D. and Rohde, A.
Abstract

The unprecedented wheat yield increases during the Green Revolution were achieved through the introduction of the Reduced height (Rht)-B1b and Rht-D1b semi-dwarfing alleles. These Rht-1 alleles encode growth-repressing DELLA genes containing a stop codon within their open reading frame that confers gibberellin (GA)-insensitive semi-dwarfism. In this study, we successfully took the hurdle of detecting wild-type RHT-1 proteins in different wheat organs and confirmed their degradation in response to GAs. We further demonstrated that Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b produce N-terminal truncated proteins through translational reinitiation. Expression of these N-terminal truncated proteins in transgenic lines and in Rht-D1c, an allele containing multiple Rht-D1b copies, demonstrated their ability to cause strong dwarfism, resulting from their insensitivity to GA-mediated degradation. N-terminal truncated proteins were detected in spikes and nodes, but not in the aleurone layers. Since Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b alleles cause dwarfism but have wildtype dormancy, this finding suggests that tissue-specific differences in translational reinitiation may explain why the Rht-1 alleles reduce plant height without affecting dormancy. Taken together, our findings not only reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the Green Revolution but also demonstrate that translational reinitiation in the main open reading frame occurs in plants.

KeywordsGibberellin (GA) signaling ; DELLA; Rht-1 dwarfing alleles; Green Revolution; Wheat; Translational reinitiation
Year of Publication2021
JournalMolecular Plant
Journal citation14 (1), pp. 1-9
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2021.01.002
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeDFW - Designing Future Wheat - Work package 1 (WP1) - Increased efficiency and sustainability
Designing Future Wheat (DFW) [ISPG]
Publisher's version
Supplemental file
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online07 Jan 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted05 Jan 2021
PublisherCell Press
ISSN1674-2052

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