article published yes Jian Huang author Lei Zhao author Shikha Malik author Benjamin R. Gentile author Va Xiong author Tzahi Arazi author Heather A. Owen author Jiří Friml author 4159519E-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-8302-7596 Dazhong Zhao author JiFr department Germline determination is essential for species survival and evolution in multicellular organisms. In most flowering plants, formation of the female germline is initiated with specification of one megaspore mother cell (MMC) in each ovule; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this key event remains unclear. Here we report that spatially restricted auxin signaling promotes MMC fate in Arabidopsis. Our results show that the microRNA160 (miR160) targeted gene ARF17 (AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR17) is required for promoting MMC specification by genetically interacting with the SPL/NZZ (SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE) gene. Alterations of auxin signaling cause formation of supernumerary MMCs in an ARF17- and SPL/NZZ-dependent manner. Furthermore, miR160 and ARF17 are indispensable for attaining a normal auxin maximum at the ovule apex via modulating the expression domain of PIN1 (PIN-FORMED1) auxin transporter. Our findings elucidate the mechanism by which auxin signaling promotes the acquisition of female germline cell fate in plants. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/12130/12346/2022_NatureCommunications_Huang.pdf application/pdfno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Springer Nature2022 eng General Physics and AstronomyGeneral BiochemistryGenetics and Molecular BiologyGeneral ChemistryMultidisciplinary 2041-1723 36379956 00088442670000110.1038/s41467-022-34723-6 13 J. Huang <i>et al.</i>, “Specification of female germline by microRNA orchestrated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis,” <i>Nature Communications</i>, vol. 13. Springer Nature, 2022. Huang J, Zhao L, Malik S, et al. Specification of female germline by microRNA orchestrated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. <i>Nature Communications</i>. 2022;13. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6">10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6</a> Huang, Jian, Lei Zhao, Shikha Malik, Benjamin R. Gentile, Va Xiong, Tzahi Arazi, Heather A. Owen, Jiří Friml, and Dazhong Zhao. “Specification of Female Germline by MicroRNA Orchestrated Auxin Signaling in Arabidopsis.” <i>Nature Communications</i>. Springer Nature, 2022. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6</a>. Huang, Jian, et al. “Specification of Female Germline by MicroRNA Orchestrated Auxin Signaling in Arabidopsis.” <i>Nature Communications</i>, vol. 13, 6960, Springer Nature, 2022, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6">10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6</a>. Huang, J., Zhao, L., Malik, S., Gentile, B. R., Xiong, V., Arazi, T., … Zhao, D. (2022). Specification of female germline by microRNA orchestrated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. <i>Nature Communications</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34723-6</a> J. Huang, L. Zhao, S. Malik, B.R. Gentile, V. Xiong, T. Arazi, H.A. Owen, J. Friml, D. Zhao, Nature Communications 13 (2022). Huang J, Zhao L, Malik S, Gentile BR, Xiong V, Arazi T, Owen HA, Friml J, Zhao D. 2022. Specification of female germline by microRNA orchestrated auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications. 13, 6960. 121302023-01-12T12:02:41Z2025-07-08T09:01:02Z