https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/11730 2026-04-04T14:49:51Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/60114 Title: Dasineura asteriae Reprograms the Flower Gene Expressions of Vegetative Organs to Create Flower-Like Gall in Aster scaber Author(s): Boo, Kyung-Hwan; Oh, Young Kyoung; Moller, Christian; Lee, Doseung; Jeon, Gyeong Lyong; Kim, Donghyuk; Burow, Meike; Grosskinsky, Dominik Kilian; Kim, Jiwon; Ryu, Moon Young; Lee, Bora; Suh, Jiye; Ha, Chan Man; Roitsch, Thomas; Lim, Pyung Ok; Berger, Frederic; Suh, Joo-Won; Kim, Soon-Il; Oh, Tae Rin; Cho, Seok Keun; Kim, Wanggyu; Kim, Sangtae; Riu, Key Zung; Yang, Seong Wook Abstract: Plant galls are abnormal growing tissues induced by various parasitic organisms, exhibiting diverse and complex morphologies. Typically, these galls differ significantly in appearance from their host plants. Here, we report that larvae of a parasitic fly generate unique, rosette galls on Aster scaber, a perennial herb. These galls develop from vegetative organs after the larvae reprogram floral gene expression. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis. Our findings reveal that the larvae induce host organ dedifferentiation into an amorphous callus, activate floral genes, and selectively suppress genes associated with carpel development. As a result, the pseudoflowers consist solely of tepal-like leaflets and a specialized chamber, and the larvae influence pigment biosynthesis. Hijacking plants developmental gene networks by insects to sequentially mediate dedifferentiation, cytokinin regulation, and tepal-like leaflets formation provides a framework to study highly elaborate forms of parasitism and symbiosis between plants and insects. 2025-10-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/59140 Title: The chloroplast-targeted long noncoding RNA CHLORELLA mediates chloroplast functional transition across leaf ageing via anterograde signalling Author(s): Kang, Myeong Hoon; Lee, Juhyeon; Kim, Jinkwang; Mohammad, Hazara Begum; Park, Jeehye; Jung, Hyun Ju; Kim, Seonghwan; Lee, Heeho; Yang, Seong Wook; Kwak, June Myoung; Kim, Min-Sik; Lee, Jong-Chan; Lim, Pyung Ok Abstract: The transition from chloroplast biogenesis to degeneration during leaf senescence is critical for plants’ fitness, as it facilitates the relocation of nutrients to reproductive organs1, 2–3. However, it remains largely unknown how the timing of this transition is regulated by the coordination between chloroplasts and the nucleus4,5. Here we describe the regulatory mechanism underlying this transition in Arabidopsis thaliana. CHLOROPLAST-RELATED LONG NONCODING RNA (CHLORELLA) is highly co-expressed with genes supporting chloroplast function during leaf development. Leaves lacking CHLORELLA exhibit precocious senescence and reduced expression of chloroplast-associated genes, suggesting that CHLORELLA helps maintain chloroplast function. Mechanistically, CHLORELLA transcripts are translocated into chloroplasts and contribute to the accumulation of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase complex. As leaves age, the expression of CHLORELLA decreases, leading to reduced plastid-encoded RNA polymerase accumulation and diminished transcription of photosynthesis-related genes, which may trigger leaf senescence. Moreover, CHLORELLA expression is activated by GOLDEN2-LIKE1 and GOLDEN2-LIKE2, master regulators of chloroplast development6, 7–8. Our study unravels a long-noncoding-RNA-based anterograde signalling mechanism that facilitates timely leaf senescence. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved. 2025-10-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/58242 Title: Emerging Regulatory Mechanisms of Leaf Senescence: Insights into Epigenetic Regulators, Non-Coding RNAs, and Peptide Hormones Author(s): Jeong, Ukcheol; Lim, Pyung Ok; Woo, Hye Ryun Abstract: Leaf senescence, the final phase of leaf development, plays a crucial role in plant fitness and crop improvement, as it enables nutrient remobilization from leaves to reproductive organs like developing seeds. This process involves extensive reprogramming of gene expression, governed by intricate regulatory networks operating across multiple layers of control. The employment of systems approaches using omics-based technologies and the characterization of key regulators has been instrumental in uncovering newly emerging regulatory mechanisms, providing valuable insights into how this orderly degeneration process is fine-tuned. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the current research on epigenetic mechanisms as a key layer within regulatory networks, influencing transcription factor activity and modulating the expression of senescence-associated genes. We also discuss recent advances in identifying the role of non-coding RNAs, RNA methylation, and peptide hormones during leaf senescence, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex regulatory pathways involved. 2025-01-31T15:00:00Z https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/57394 Title: Phytochrome-interacting factors PIF4 and PIF5 directly regulate autophagy during leaf senescence in Arabidopsis Author(s): Lee, Juhyeon; Kang, Myeong Hoon; Choi, Da-Min; Marmagne, Anne; Park, Jeehye; Lee, Heeho; Gwak, Eunha; Lee, Jong-Chan; Kim, Jeong-Il; Masclaux-Daubresse, Celine; Lim, Pyung Ok Abstract: During leaf senescence, autophagy plays a critical role by removing damaged cellular components and participating in nutrient remobilization to sink organs. However, how AUTOPHAGY (ATG) genes are regulated during natural leaf senescence remains largely unknown. In this study, we attempted to identify upstream transcriptional regulator(s) of ATG genes and their molecular basis during leaf senescence in Arabidopsis through the combined analyses of promoter binding, autophagy flux, and genetic interactions. We found that PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR4 (PIF4) and PIF5 directly bind to the promoters of ATG5, ATG12a, ATG12b, ATG8a, ATG8e, ATG8f, and ATG8g, inducing their transcription. These target ATG genes are down-regulated in pif4, pif5, and pif4pif5 mutants, resulting in decreased autophagic activity and slower degradation of chloroplast proteins and chlorophyll. Conversely, overexpression of ATG8 genes accelerated protein degradation with early leaf senescence. Moreover, our data suggested partial suppression of the pif4pif5 phenotype by ATG8a overexpression. PIF4/PIF5 also influence senescence induced by nutrient starvation, another hallmark of the autophagy pathway. Furthermore, we observed that the PIF4/PIF5-ATG regulatory module may contribute to seed maturation. Our study not only unveils transcriptional regulators of autophagy in natural leaf senescence but also underscores the potential role of PIF4/PIF5 as functional regulators in leaf senescence and nutrient remobilization. 2025-01-31T15:00:00Z