What is it about?
Iron is an essential element for plants and animals, playing critical roles in processes like oxygen transport, photosynthesis, and energy metabolism. However, too much iron can become toxic, causing oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and membranes through the production of harmful free radicals. In animals, iron overload is linked to diseases such as liver cirrhosis and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Similarly, in plants, iron toxicity disrupts nutrient balance, damages root growth, and reduces crop yields, particularly in acidic or waterlogged soils. In our previous research, we identified S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) as the first gene responsible for plant tolerance of high iron through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The current research further illustrates a signal pathway downstream of GSNOR mediating the high iron-induced stem cell death within root meristems. In the absence of GSNOR, high iron levels lead to nuclear DNA damage and cell death in root stem cells through a mitochondrial stress signaling pathway involving the transcription factor ANAC044. By blocking this pathway—either genetically or pharmacologically—we can prevent root stem cell death, providing new insights into how plants cope with iron toxicity.
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Why is it important?
By revealing the specific molecular pathways that cause stem cell death in roots due to iron stress, this research not only advances our knowledge of plant biology but also parallels findings in animal systems, highlighting how different organisms handle iron toxicity through conserved and unique strategies. In agricultural production, understanding how plants cope with iron toxicity is crucial as this stress can drastically reduce crop yields, especially in waterlogged and acidic soils. For example, roughly 18% of global rice fields are at risk of iron toxicity, with yield losses ranging from 10% to 100%. Our research not only exposes a critical retrograde signaling pathway but also suggests a promising genetic target for engineering plants that can better withstand iron-related environmental stress.
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This page is a summary of: ANAC044 orchestrates mitochondrial stress signaling to trigger iron-induced stem cell death in root meristems, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411579122.
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