LX Senescence-Induced Ribonuclease in Tomato: Function and Regulation
Authors: Lers Amnon , Green Pamela J. 
Published: December 2021

Natural leaf senescence, which occurs even when growth conditions are near optimal, has a negative influence on yield. Postharvest induced senescence contributes to the losses of quality in flowers, foliage, and vegetables. Strategies designed to control the senescence process in crop plants could therefore have great applied significance. However, the successful design of such strategies requires a better insight into the senescence machinery and control in higher plants. A main feature of senescence is the hydrolysis of macromolecules by hydrolases of various types such as ribonucleases (RNases) and proteases. Previously we had identified and characterized the tomato LX RNase gene demonstrating its transcript to be highly and specifically induced during senescence. This reported study was focused on LX but also had broadened our research to other senescence-associated nucleic acids degrading enzymes to learn about their function and the regulation of their encoding genes. Beside tomato we used parsley and Arabidopsis for the study of: the bi-functional nuclease which has a role in senescence. The study of different senescence- associated nucleases in few plant systems will allow a more general view on function and regulation of these enzymes in senescence. The specific original proposed objectives included: 1. Study the consequences of alterations in LX RNase level on tomato leaf senescence and general development; 2. Analyze stimuli which may participate in senescence-specific activation of the LX gene; 3. Clone the senescence-associated BFNI nuclease gene homologue from tomato. 4. Further characterize the sequences required for senescence-specific gene expression. Homozygous transgenic plants in which LX gene was either inhibited or over-expressed were generated. In both of these LX mutated plants no major phenotypic consequences were observed, which may suggests that LX is not essential for plant growth under optimal growth conditions. Lack of any abnormalities in the LX over-expressing lines suggests that special system exist to allow function of the RNase only when needed. Detailed analyses of growth under stress and consequences to RNA metabolism are underway. We have analyzed LX expression on the protein level demonstrating that it is involved also in petal senescing. Our results suggest that LX is responding to complex regulation involving developmental, organ dependent factors and responds differently to hormonal or environmental stimuli in the different plant organs. The cloned 1.4 kb promoter was cloned and its analysis revealed that probably not all required elements for senescence induction are included. Biochemical analysis of senescence-associated be-functional nucleases in the different plants, tomato, parsley and Arabidopsis, suggests they belong to a sub-class within the type I plant nucleases. The parsley PcNUC1/2 nuclease protein was purified from senescing leaves its and activity was studied in vitro revealing endo-, double strand, nucleolytic activity and exo-nucleolytic activity. Its encoding gene was cloned and found to be induced on the mRNA level. The promoter of the related Arabidopsis BFNI nuclease was shown in both tomato and Arabidopsis to be able and direct senescence-specific expression suggesting that, at least part, the gene is regulated on the transcriptional level and that the mechanism for this senescence-specific regulation is conserved between different plants. Few plants in which the BFNI gene is mutated were identified which are subjected now to detailed analysis. Our results suggest that the senescence-related nucleic acid degrading enzymes share similarities in both function and regulation between different plants and possibly have important functions in processes un-related to senescence. Still, the function of these enzymes, at least in some cases is not essential to plant development under optimal growth conditions. We are now at the stage which permits in depth investigation of the specific functions and mode of molecular regulation of senescence-associated nucleases with the aid of the research tools developed. The isolated senescence-specific promoter, shown to be active in heterologous plant system, could be utilized in agricultural-related biotechnological applications for retardation of senescence.