Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract Cells display striking stochasticity in gene expression, which plays an important role in development, disease, and regeneration. Previous studies have found stochastic gene expression in bacteria, yeast, and from constitutive promoters in Arabidopsis. However, most promoters are non-consti...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59943-4 |
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| author | Shuyao Kong Byron Rusnak Mingyuan Zhu Adrienne H. K. Roeder |
| author_facet | Shuyao Kong Byron Rusnak Mingyuan Zhu Adrienne H. K. Roeder |
| author_sort | Shuyao Kong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cells display striking stochasticity in gene expression, which plays an important role in development, disease, and regeneration. Previous studies have found stochastic gene expression in bacteria, yeast, and from constitutive promoters in Arabidopsis. However, most promoters are non-constitutive. Stochastic gene expression from non-constitutive promoters in a multicellular organism, especially those with key developmental roles, remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we report stochastic expression of auxin responsive genes in the Arabidopsis floral meristem, using promoter reporters of DR5, ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE PHOSPHOTRANSFER PROTEIN6 (AHP6), and DNA BINDING WITH ONE FINGER5.8 (DOF5.8). We find highly variable DR5 expression patterns among younger meristems. Such variability is largely attributed to stochastic expression of DR5, mainly influenced by cell-intrinsic molecular noise. Expression of AHP6 and DOF5.8 is also noisy, although their noise is lower and has distinct spatiotemporal patterns unlike DR5. Finally, we propose spatial averaging as a mechanism that buffers cellular gene expression noise, allowing the formation of robust global expression patterns. Our study reveals stochastic gene expression downstream of auxin signaling, a key developmental player. Thus, stochastic gene expression from non-constitutive promoters, including those involved in hormone signaling, is an ordinary part of multicellular life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-554477b9b459420fa5a6b4cbacdebfcf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-554477b9b459420fa5a6b4cbacdebfcf2025-08-20T01:53:19ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-59943-4Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thalianaShuyao Kong0Byron Rusnak1Mingyuan Zhu2Adrienne H. K. Roeder3Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell UniversityWeill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Biology, Duke UniversityWeill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell UniversityAbstract Cells display striking stochasticity in gene expression, which plays an important role in development, disease, and regeneration. Previous studies have found stochastic gene expression in bacteria, yeast, and from constitutive promoters in Arabidopsis. However, most promoters are non-constitutive. Stochastic gene expression from non-constitutive promoters in a multicellular organism, especially those with key developmental roles, remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we report stochastic expression of auxin responsive genes in the Arabidopsis floral meristem, using promoter reporters of DR5, ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE PHOSPHOTRANSFER PROTEIN6 (AHP6), and DNA BINDING WITH ONE FINGER5.8 (DOF5.8). We find highly variable DR5 expression patterns among younger meristems. Such variability is largely attributed to stochastic expression of DR5, mainly influenced by cell-intrinsic molecular noise. Expression of AHP6 and DOF5.8 is also noisy, although their noise is lower and has distinct spatiotemporal patterns unlike DR5. Finally, we propose spatial averaging as a mechanism that buffers cellular gene expression noise, allowing the formation of robust global expression patterns. Our study reveals stochastic gene expression downstream of auxin signaling, a key developmental player. Thus, stochastic gene expression from non-constitutive promoters, including those involved in hormone signaling, is an ordinary part of multicellular life.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59943-4 |
| spellingShingle | Shuyao Kong Byron Rusnak Mingyuan Zhu Adrienne H. K. Roeder Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana Nature Communications |
| title | Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_full | Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_fullStr | Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_short | Stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_sort | stochastic gene expression in auxin signaling in the floral meristem of arabidopsis thaliana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59943-4 |
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