Inositol pyrophosphate catabolism by three families of phosphatases regulates plant growth and development

PLoS Genet. 2024 Nov 12;20(11):e1011468. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011468. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are nutrient messengers whose cellular levels are precisely regulated. Diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinases (PPIP5Ks) generate the active signaling molecule 1,5-InsP8. PPIP5Ks harbor phosphatase domains that hydrolyze PP-InsPs. Plant and Fungi Atypical Dual Specificity Phosphatases (PFA-DSPs) and NUDIX phosphatases (NUDTs) are also involved in PP-InsP degradation. Here, we analyze the relative contributions of the three different phosphatase families to plant PP-InsP catabolism. We report the biochemical characterization of inositol pyrophosphate phosphatases from Arabidopsis and Marchantia polymorpha. Overexpression of different PFA-DSP and NUDT enzymes affects PP-InsP levels and leads to stunted growth phenotypes in Arabidopsis. nudt17/18/21 knock-out mutants have altered PP-InsP pools and gene expression patterns, but no apparent growth defects. In contrast, Marchantia polymorpha Mppfa-dsp1ge, Mpnudt1ge and Mpvip1ge mutants display severe growth and developmental phenotypes and associated changes in cellular PP-InsP levels. Analysis of Mppfa-dsp1geand Mpvip1ge mutants supports a role for PP-InsPs in Marchantia phosphate signaling, and additional functions in nitrate homeostasis and cell wall biogenesis. Simultaneous elimination of two phosphatase activities enhanced the observed growth phenotypes. Taken together, PPIP5K, PFA-DSP and NUDT inositol pyrophosphate phosphatases regulate growth and development by collectively shaping plant PP-InsP pools.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis* / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Inositol Phosphates* / metabolism
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases* / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases* / metabolism
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) / metabolism
  • Plant Development / genetics
  • Pyrophosphatases / genetics
  • Pyrophosphatases / metabolism

Substances

  • Inositol Phosphates
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor)
  • Pyrophosphatases
  • diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinase
  • inositol-1-pyrophosphate

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council consolidator grant 818696 INSPIRE (to M.H.), by Swiss National Science Foundation Sinergia grant CRSII5_209412 (to M.H. and D.F.), by the International Research Scholar Award 55008733 by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (to M.H.), and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy CIBSS, EXC-2189, Project ID 390939984 (to H.J.J.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.