Spatiotemporal analysis identifies ABF2 and ABF3 as key hubs of endodermal response to nitrate

Abstract

Significance We analyzed the nitrate-responsive transcriptome of the Arabidopsis thaliana root at a spatial and temporal resolution. Our work provides evidence that the response to nitrate is dynamic and highly localized, orchestrating a root response that is finely coordinated in space and time. Gene regulatory network analysis allowed for identification of the endodermis as a cell type enriched in regulatory interactions, with ABF2 and ABF3 transcription factors acting as key regulators of gene expression in the endodermis and lateral root growth in response to nitrate. Our results provide a comprehensive catalog of root nitrate-responsive genes at an unprecedented resolution and contribute to understanding how organisms sense and respond to environmental cues, coordinating cell-specific responses into organ development.