A Redox-Dependent Pathway for Regulating Reversible HDACs Synchronizes Crown Root Development in Rice

As a signal molecular in aerobic organism, how reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulates normal life is a fundamental biological question. Locally accumulated ROS have been reported to balance cell division and differentiation in root apical meristem. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we reveal that developmentally produced H2O2 in plant root apical meristem (RAM) triggers reversible acetylation modification of proteins which involved in protein synthesis and cell proliferation. WOX11, an essential transcription factor for crown roots (CRs) formation, modulates ROS homeostasis by directly regulating class III peroxidases. HDACs (histone deacetylases) sense cellular redox status to enhance their enzyme activities, which drives protein acetylation level alterations in rice roots. Oxidation-dependent on WOX11 triggered protein acetylation modification leads to a robust root system in rice. Our study revealed a novel regulatory mechanism which cellular redox status via a WOX11-dependent manner regulates protein acetylation during rice crown root development. The molecular link between the redox status and HDACs activities through WOX11-dependent pathway may provide new insight into which plants exploit developmentally produced ROS to direct organogenesis. Additionally, HDACs reversible enzyme activity via redox-regulated endows with the flexibility of protein modification control in dealing with developmental and changing environmental cues.