Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana

Abstract Histone acetylation is a key epigenetic modification involved in plant development. Although histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are commonly studied in human diseases, their role in regulating histone deacetylation in plants remains unclear. This study explores the function of Citronell...

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Main Authors: Jin-Rui Wen, Hong-Yan Nie, Hong-Xin Liao, Fu-Rong Xu, Xiao-Yun Liu, Xian Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-02-01
Series:Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00737-7
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author Jin-Rui Wen
Hong-Yan Nie
Hong-Xin Liao
Fu-Rong Xu
Xiao-Yun Liu
Xian Dong
author_facet Jin-Rui Wen
Hong-Yan Nie
Hong-Xin Liao
Fu-Rong Xu
Xiao-Yun Liu
Xian Dong
author_sort Jin-Rui Wen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Histone acetylation is a key epigenetic modification involved in plant development. Although histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are commonly studied in human diseases, their role in regulating histone deacetylation in plants remains unclear. This study explores the function of Citronellol, a volatile small molecule, as a plant-derived HDACi using Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh (A. thaliana) as a model. Citronellol at concentrations of 3 and 6 mM enhanced both root development and aboveground growth. Enzyme activity assays, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations showed that Citronellol binds to specific residues (PHE:64, ARG:65, MET:1, and ILE:214) of the histone deacetylase AtSRT1 in Arabidopsis, inhibiting its activity and elevating H3K9ac levels. Integrated RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses revealed that Citronellol increased the expression of genes linked to growth and development, including ATCTH, CPL3, IBR5, TCP4, and KUA1, through enhanced histone acetylation and activation of plant hormone signaling pathways. These findings provide new insights into the epigenetic regulation of plant growth by Citronellol, identifying it as a novel HDACi. Citronellol could serve as an effective plant growth regulator, offering valuable applications for agricultural development.  Graphical Abstract
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institution DOAJ
issn 2196-5641
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-a0a911523b9c488cb9b34d135a89cb0a2025-08-20T02:48:30ZengSpringerOpenChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture2196-56412025-02-0112111710.1186/s40538-025-00737-7Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thalianaJin-Rui Wen0Hong-Yan Nie1Hong-Xin Liao2Fu-Rong Xu3Xiao-Yun Liu4Xian Dong5School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineCollege of Life Sciences, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Protection and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Hanjiang River Basin, Jianghan UniversitySchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Histone acetylation is a key epigenetic modification involved in plant development. Although histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are commonly studied in human diseases, their role in regulating histone deacetylation in plants remains unclear. This study explores the function of Citronellol, a volatile small molecule, as a plant-derived HDACi using Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh (A. thaliana) as a model. Citronellol at concentrations of 3 and 6 mM enhanced both root development and aboveground growth. Enzyme activity assays, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations showed that Citronellol binds to specific residues (PHE:64, ARG:65, MET:1, and ILE:214) of the histone deacetylase AtSRT1 in Arabidopsis, inhibiting its activity and elevating H3K9ac levels. Integrated RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses revealed that Citronellol increased the expression of genes linked to growth and development, including ATCTH, CPL3, IBR5, TCP4, and KUA1, through enhanced histone acetylation and activation of plant hormone signaling pathways. These findings provide new insights into the epigenetic regulation of plant growth by Citronellol, identifying it as a novel HDACi. Citronellol could serve as an effective plant growth regulator, offering valuable applications for agricultural development.  Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00737-7Essential oilHDACiHistone deacetylasePlant hormonesPromoting mechanisms
spellingShingle Jin-Rui Wen
Hong-Yan Nie
Hong-Xin Liao
Fu-Rong Xu
Xiao-Yun Liu
Xian Dong
Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
Essential oil
HDACi
Histone deacetylase
Plant hormones
Promoting mechanisms
title Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
title_full Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
title_fullStr Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
title_full_unstemmed Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
title_short Citronellol inhibits the activity of AtSRT1 to increase IAA content and signal transduction, promoting the growth of A. thaliana
title_sort citronellol inhibits the activity of atsrt1 to increase iaa content and signal transduction promoting the growth of a thaliana
topic Essential oil
HDACi
Histone deacetylase
Plant hormones
Promoting mechanisms
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00737-7
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