Greetings from the vascular: Untapping the brassinosteroid signaling pathway mediated by BRL3 receptors

Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are crucial plant hormones that play a vital role in regulating growth, development, and adaptation to abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperatures. Despite the extensive research on BR signaling, much of our understanding is derived from studies on the BRI1 receptor, which is essential for plant growth and development. However, the roles of BRI1-like receptors (BRL1/3) have remained largely unexplored due to their marginal expression, perceived redundancy and minimal mutant phenotypes.

Our lab has made significant contributions to uncovering the spatial signaling of Brassinosteroids, particularly through the BRL3 receptor in Arabidopsis. We have identified novel cell-specific components within the BRL3 pathway that are essential for plant adaptation to environmental stresses. These findings, including the interaction with the ERD14 protein, which confers drought resistance, challenge the existing paradigm of BR signaling and open new avenues for engineering climate-resilient crops.

This seminar will present our latest results, highlighting the fundamental functions of BRL3 receptors and their implications for developing climate-resilient crops. Additionally, I will discuss our recent findings in Sorghum, demonstrating our efforts to translate Arabidopsis research into agriculturally relevant crops. Join my seminar to explore the untapped potential of the BRL3-mediated brassinosteroid signaling pathway in the vascular tissues and its transformative impact on plant science and agriculture.

Relevant publications

Fontanet-Manzaneque JB, Laibach N, Herrero-García I, Coleto-Alcudia V, Blasco-Escámez D, Zhang C, Orduña L, Alseekh S, Miller S, Bjarnholt N, Fernie AR, Matus JT, Caño-Delgado AI. Untargeted mutagenesis of brassinosteroid receptor SbBRI1 confers drought tolerance by altering phenylpropanoid metabolism in Sorghum bicolor. Plant Biotechnol J. 2024 Dec;22(12):3406-3423. doi: 10.1111/pbi.14461. Epub 2024 Sep 26. PMID: 39325724 Free PMC article.

Gupta, A.; Rico-Medina, A.; Lozano-Elena, F.; Marqués-Bueno, M.; Fontanet, J.B.; Fàbregas, N.; Alseekh, S.; Fernie, A. R.; Caño-Delgado AI. Brassinosteroid receptor BRL3 triggers systemic plant adaptation to elevated temperature from the phloem cells. Biorxiv 2023. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.07.531487(link is external).

Lozano-Elena, F.; Fàbregas, N.; Coleto-Alcudia, V.; Caño-Delgado AI. Analysis of Metabolic Dynamics during Drought Stress in Arabidopsis Plants. Sci. Data 2022, 9 (1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01161-4(link is external).

Gupta, A; Rico Medina A.; Caño-Delgado AI. The Physiology of Plant Responses to Drought. Science 2020, 368 (April), 266–269. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz7614(link is external).

Planas-Riverola, A.; Gupta, A.; Betegón, I.; Bosch, N., Caño-delgado AI. Brassinosteroid Signaling in Plant Development and Adaptation to Stress. Development 2019, 1, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.151894(link is external).

Fàbregas, N.; Lozano-elena, F.; Blasco-escámez, D.; Tohge, T.; Martínez-andújar, C.; Albacete, A.; Osorio, S.; Bustamante, M.; Riechmann, J. L.; Nomura, T.; Yokota, T.; Conesa, A.; Alfocea, F. P.; Fernie, A. R.; Caño-Delgado AI. Overexpression of the Vascular Brassinosteroid Receptor BRL3 Confers Drought Resistance without Penalizing Plant Growth. Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06861-3(link is external).