We reveal that the transcription factor SPATULA (SPT) directly interacts with, and is modified by, the O-glycosyl transferases SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY) in Arabidopsis thaliana. O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) and O-fucose post-translational modifications (PTMs) promoted elongation of the gynoecium apex (style) and its radial symmetry by promoting SPT function.
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References
Torres, C. R. & Hart, G. W. Topography and polypeptide distribution of terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues on the surfaces of intact lymphocytes. Evidence for O-linked GlcNAc. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 3308–3317 (1984). This paper reports the discovery of the O-GlcNAc PTMs, opening a new research field.
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Sun, T.-P. Novel nucleocytoplasmic protein O-fucosylation by SPINDLY regulates diverse developmental processes in plants. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 68, 113–121 (2021). A review presenting the roles of SPY and its paralog SEC in A. thaliana.
Moubayidin, L. & Østergaard, L. Dynamic control of auxin distribution imposes a bilateral-to-radial symmetry switch during gynoecium development. Curr. Biol. 24, 2743–2748 (2014). This paper reports a bilateral-to-radial symmetry switch at the apex of the A. thaliana gynoecium that is controlled by SPT.
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This is a summary of: Jiang, Y. et al. O-glycosylation of the transcription factor SPATULA promotes style development in Arabidopsis. Nat. Plants https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01617-4 (2024).
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Sugars regulate SPATULA activity during style development. Nat. Plants 10, 204–205 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01624-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01624-z
