Multi-omics analyses of sid2 mutant reflect the need of isochorismate synthase ICS1 to cope with sulfur limitation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The SID2 (SA INDUCTION-DEFICIENT2) gene that encodes ICS1 (isochorismate synthase), plays a central role in salicylic acid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. The sid2 and NahG (encoding a bacterial SA hydroxylase) overexpressing mutants (NahG-OE) have currently been shown, by the SATURNE "Senescence, Autophagy, Nutrient Recycling and Nitrogen Use Efficiency" team in collaboration, to outperform wild type, presenting delayed leaf senescence, higher plant biomass and better seed yield. When grown under sulfate-limited conditions (low-S), sid2 mutants exhibited early leaf yellowing compared to the NahG-OE, the npr1 mutant affected in SA signaling pathway, and WT. This indicated that the hypersensitivity of sid2 to sulfate limitation was independent of the canonical npr1 SA-signaling pathway. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that major changes occurred in sid2 when cultivated under low-S, changes that were in good accordance with early senescence phenotype and showed the exacerbation of stress responses. The sid2 mutants displayed a lower sulfate uptake capacity when cultivated under low-S and lower S concentrations in their rosettes. Higher glutathione concentrations in sid2 rosettes under low-S were in good accordance with the higher abundance of proteins involved in glutathione and ascorbate redox metabolism. Amino acid and lipid metabolisms were also strongly modified in sid2 under low-S. Depletion of total fatty acids in sid2 under low-S was consistent with the fact that S-metabolism plays a central role in lipid synthesis. Altogether, our results show that functional ICS1 is important for plants to cope with S limiting conditions.

Research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences