Poly(A)-binding proteins promote rac-GR24-induced seed germination of the root-parasitic plant Phelipanche ramosa and Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract
Background Phelipanche ramosa, an obligate parasitic plant from the Orobanchaceae family, significantly impacts crop productivity across Mediterranean and warm temperate areas of Europe, North Africa, and Middle East. Since seed germination marks the critical entry point into parasitic lifecycle, unraveling its molecular regulation is key to developing effective control strategies. Previous transcriptome analysis of closely related species, P. aegyptiaca seeds treated with the synthetic strigolactone (SL) analog, rac-GR24, identified genes associated with mRNA translation as key players in seed germination. Results This study explores the role of poly(A) binding proteins (PABs), central regulators of mRNA stability and translation efficiency, in the germination process of P. ramosa and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The results demonstrate that PrPAB transcript levels in P. ramosa seeds and the PrPAB protein levels expressed in A. thaliana are responsive to rac-GR24. In A. thaliana, which germinates in response to karrikins (KARs) via a mechanism analogous to SL-induced germination, both shared and species-specific features of AtPABs were observed. Conclusions Our findings highlight a broader role for PAB proteins influencing not only rac-GR24-induced seed germination but also early seedling development.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026polyabinding,
title = {{Poly(A)-binding proteins promote rac-GR24-induced seed germination of the root-parasitic plant Phelipanche ramosa and Arabidopsis thaliana}},
author = {Dan Chen and Lukas Braem and Guillaume Brun and Arne Temmerman and François-Didier Boyer and Philippe Delavault and Kris Gevaert and Sylwia Struk and Sofie Goormachtig},
journal = {BMC Biology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s12915-026-02729-x},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05793968v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Poly(A)-binding proteins promote rac-GR24-induced seed germination of the root-parasitic plant Phelipanche ramosa and Arabidopsis thaliana
AU - Dan Chen
AU - Lukas Braem
AU - Guillaume Brun
AU - Arne Temmerman
AU - François-Didier Boyer
AU - Philippe Delavault
AU - Kris Gevaert
AU - Sylwia Struk
AU - Sofie Goormachtig
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/14
JO - BMC Biology
DO - 10.1186/s12915-026-02729-x
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05793968v1
AB - Background Phelipanche ramosa, an obligate parasitic plant from the Orobanchaceae family, significantly impacts crop productivity across Mediterranean and warm temperate areas of Europe, North Africa, and Middle East. Since seed germination marks the critical entry point into parasitic lifecycle, unraveling its molecular regulation is key to developing effective control strategies. Previous transcriptome analysis of closely related species, P. aegyptiaca seeds treated with the synthetic strigolactone (SL) analog, rac-GR24, identified genes associated with mRNA translation as key players in seed germination. Results This study explores the role of poly(A) binding proteins (PABs), central regulators of mRNA stability and translation efficiency, in the germination process of P. ramosa and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The results demonstrate that PrPAB transcript levels in P. ramosa seeds and the PrPAB protein levels expressed in A. thaliana are responsive to rac-GR24. In A. thaliana, which germinates in response to karrikins (KARs) via a mechanism analogous to SL-induced germination, both shared and species-specific features of AtPABs were observed. Conclusions Our findings highlight a broader role for PAB proteins influencing not only rac-GR24-induced seed germination but also early seedling development.
SN - 1741-7007
SN - 1741-7007
ER -