Like any other animal or human, plants have hormones, too. Understanding further the transcriptional responses' system-level actions to hormones offers an insight into the manner the genome is reprogrammed in reaction to the environmental stimuli.
Salk Institute scientists indicated in a new research study published in Nature Plants journal, that the hormone is known as "jasmonic acid" is specifically vital for the defense response of plants against insects and fungi. More so, the same study said, this hormone exposes crucial multifaceted communication networks in plants.
Also known as jasmonate, according to scientists, is found to "help plants sound the alarm about the danger." The scholars noted that their research finding emphasizes important details on the manner plants are responding to jasmonic acid.
Additionally, the discoveries are anticipated to help the scientists in developing more difficult crops and those that have more abilities to help scientists endure the attack, particularly in this age of rapid climate change. Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and co-corresponding author, Professor Joseph Ecker said, this study provides them with a detailed image of "how this hormone, jasmonate, acts at numerous different levels."
Use of a Small Flowering Plant
In this research, the scientists used a small flowering plant called, Arabidopsis thaliana, specifically in mustards. They examined the signaling passageway of the hormone jasmonate in A. thaliana. This team of experts began with plant seeds that grew in Petri dishes.
They stored the seeds in the dark for three consecutive days to simulate the first couple of days of the life of a seed, while it's still underground. Three days later, the plants got exposed to hormone jasmonic acid.
Essentially, the scientists took out the DNA and proteins from the cells of the plant and used specific antibodies in contrast to their proteins of interest to catch what they described as the "exact genomic areas of these regulators."
Through the use of different computational methods, the scientists were able to determine genes that were essential for the response of plants to the hormone, as well as the cellular cross-connection with the other pathways of the plant hormone.
Two genes were found to have risen to the top in their degree of vitality within the system. These genes were the MYC2 and MYC3.
The said codes of the genes for proteins are also considered as transcription factors. Meaning, they regulate the other genes' activity, or the activity of the thousands of various genes, in this circumstance.
The MYC Genes
In the past, according to associate professor, Mathew Lewsey at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, the MYC genes, as well as the other transcription factors have been examined in quite a linear manner. Science experts are looking at the manner a gene is linked to the next, and the next one, and more.
This approach is fundamentally slow since there are many other genes, not to mention, lots of links, as well. Whatever they've done in relation to this research, according to Professor Lewsey, is to develop a structure by which many genes can be evaluated at once.
Mark Zander, co-first author of the research an Ecker's lab researcher said, "By deciphering all of the gene subnetworks and networks," it helps them understand the whole system's construction. Now, he added, they have this very broad image of which among the genes are turned on, and which are turned off, during the defense response of a plant. And, finally, with the CRISPR gene editing's availability, these particular details can help breed crops that can endure pest attacks better.
