Aux/IAA14 Regulates microRNA-Mediated Cold Stress Response in Arabidopsis Roots

Abstract

The phytohormone auxin and microRNA-mediated regulation of gene expressions are key regulators of plant growth and development at both optimal and under low-temperature stress conditions. However, the mechanistic link between microRNA and auxin in regulating plant cold stress response remains elusive. To better understand the role of microRNA (miR) in the crosstalk between auxin and cold stress responses, we took advantage of the mutants of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> with altered response to auxin transport and signal. Screening of the mutants for root growth recovery after cold stress at 4 °C revealed that the auxin signaling mutant, solitary root 1 (<i>slr1</i>; mutation in <i>Aux/IAA14</i>), shows a hypersensitive response to cold stress. Genome-wide expression analysis of miRs in the wild-type and <i>slr1</i> mutant roots using next-generation sequencing revealed 180 known and 71 novel cold-responsive microRNAs. Cold stress also increased the abundance of 26-31 nt small RNA population in <i>slr1</i> compared with wild type. Comparative analysis of microRNA expression shows significant differential expression of 13 known and 7 novel miRs in <i>slr1</i> at 4 °C compared with wild type. Target gene expression analysis of the members from one potential candidate miR, miR169, revealed the possible involvement of miR169/<i>NF-YA</i> module in the Aux/IAA14-mediated cold stress response. Taken together, these results indicate that SLR/IAA14, a transcriptional repressor of auxin signaling, plays a crucial role in integrating miRs in auxin and cold responses.