PAT mRNA decapping factors function specifically and redundantly during development inArabidopsis

Evolutionarily conserved PAT1 proteins activate mRNA decay through binding mRNA and recruiting decapping enzymes and other factors hence optimize transcriptional reprogramming during development. Here, we generated multiple mutants ofpat1(Protein Associated with Topoisomerase II),path1andpath2and inspected their growth and leaf morphology phenotype.pattriple mutants exhibit extreme stunted growth and all mutants withpat1exhibit leaf serration while mutants withpat1andpath1all display short petioles. All 3 PATs can be found localized to Prossessing Bodies (PBs) upon auxin treatment and RNA-seq analysis indicate that all 3 PATs redundantly regulate auxin responses. Moreover, shade avoidance and NAC genes are misregulated inpat1path1double andpattriple mutants suggesting PAT1 and PATH1 function in petiole elongation and leaf patterning. In conclusion, PAT proteins exhibit both specific and overlapping functions during different stages of plant growth and our observations underpin the importance of the mRNA decay machinery for proper development.