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Background <p>Plants require light energy to undergo photosynthesis, a process that is essential for their growth and development. However, excessive light can lead to photooxidative stress and photoinhibition, compromising key photosynthetic components, particularly chlorophyll pigments. Early light-induced protein 2 (ELIP2) plays a key role in photoprotection by suppressing chlorophyll biosynthesis, preventing chlorophyll bleaching, and enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. The expression of <i>ELIP2</i> is regulated through multiple mechanisms, including post-transcriptional and translational controls. This study aims to elucidate the role of plant microRNA (miRNA) in regulating <i>ELIP2</i> gene activity at the post-transcriptional level, thereby enhancing plant defence mechanisms and maintaining chlorophyll stability under conditions of photooxidative stress and photoinhibition.</p> Methods and results <p>An in silico analysis identified miR426 as a key post-transcriptional regulator of <i>ELIP2</i>. Using short tandem target mimic (STTM), transgenic <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> plants constitutively expressing STTM426 were developed and exposed to varying light intensities alongside wild type (WT) plants. Expression profiling revealed a significant reduction in miR426 levels and increased <i>ELIP2</i> transcript abundance in transgenic plants compared to WT (<i>n</i> = 3). Interestingly, transgenic plants displayed minimal changes in chlorophyll content under normal light and maintained stability even under extreme light conditions (<i>n</i> = 9). Gas exchange and chlorophyll <i>a</i> fluorescence analyses further demonstrated enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotective mechanisms in the transgenic plants (<i>n</i> = 9). These physiological improvements were supported by morphological observations, as transgenic plants consistently exhibited reduced rosette diameter and total biomass across all light intensities (<i>n</i> = 9).</p> Conclusion <p>These preliminary findings suggest that suppression of miR426 may serve as a promising strategy to enhance plant resilience against photooxidative and photoinhibitory stress by strengthening photoprotective mechanisms and maintaining chlorophyll stability.</p>

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Suppression of miR426 enhances photoprotection and chlorophyll stability via upregulation of ELIP2 in Arabidopsis thaliana

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月3日

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  • Arif Faisal Mustaffa,
  • Syed Muhammad Iqbal Syed Othman,
  • Nur Irdina Izzatie Mohd Zahid,
  • M. Hafiz Che-Othman,
  • Hoe-Han Goh,
  • Muhammad Sajad,
  • Ismanizan Ismail

摘要

Background

Plants require light energy to undergo photosynthesis, a process that is essential for their growth and development. However, excessive light can lead to photooxidative stress and photoinhibition, compromising key photosynthetic components, particularly chlorophyll pigments. Early light-induced protein 2 (ELIP2) plays a key role in photoprotection by suppressing chlorophyll biosynthesis, preventing chlorophyll bleaching, and enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. The expression of ELIP2 is regulated through multiple mechanisms, including post-transcriptional and translational controls. This study aims to elucidate the role of plant microRNA (miRNA) in regulating ELIP2 gene activity at the post-transcriptional level, thereby enhancing plant defence mechanisms and maintaining chlorophyll stability under conditions of photooxidative stress and photoinhibition.

Methods and results

An in silico analysis identified miR426 as a key post-transcriptional regulator of ELIP2. Using short tandem target mimic (STTM), transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants constitutively expressing STTM426 were developed and exposed to varying light intensities alongside wild type (WT) plants. Expression profiling revealed a significant reduction in miR426 levels and increased ELIP2 transcript abundance in transgenic plants compared to WT (n = 3). Interestingly, transgenic plants displayed minimal changes in chlorophyll content under normal light and maintained stability even under extreme light conditions (n = 9). Gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence analyses further demonstrated enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotective mechanisms in the transgenic plants (n = 9). These physiological improvements were supported by morphological observations, as transgenic plants consistently exhibited reduced rosette diameter and total biomass across all light intensities (n = 9).

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest that suppression of miR426 may serve as a promising strategy to enhance plant resilience against photooxidative and photoinhibitory stress by strengthening photoprotective mechanisms and maintaining chlorophyll stability.