A non-DNA-binding activity for the ATHB4 transcription factor in the control of vegetation proximity

In plants, perception of vegetation proximity by phytochrome photoreceptors activates a transcriptional network that implements a set of responses to adapt to plant competition, including elongation of stems or hypocotyls. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcriptio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gallemí, Marçal|||0000-0003-4675-6893, Molina-Contreras, Maria Jose, Paulisic, Sandi|||0000-0003-4696-5134, Salla Martret, Mercè|||0000-0002-9092-8704, Sorin, Céline, Godoy, Marta, Franco-Zorrilla, Jose Manuel, Solano, Roberto, Martínez-García, Jaume F.|||0000-0003-1516-0341
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:180255
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/180255
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1111/nph.14727
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Arabidopsis thaliana
Arabidopsis thaliana homeobox 4 (ATHB4)
DNA-binding activity
Ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motif
Homeodomain-leucine zipper
Shade avoidance syndrome
Descripción
Sumario:In plants, perception of vegetation proximity by phytochrome photoreceptors activates a transcriptional network that implements a set of responses to adapt to plant competition, including elongation of stems or hypocotyls. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factor ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX 4 (ATHB4) regulates this and other responses, such as leaf polarity. To better understand the shade regulatory transcriptional network, we have carried out structure-function analyses of ATHB4 by overexpressing a series of truncated and mutated forms and analyzing three different responses: hypocotyl response to shade, transcriptional activity and leaf polarity. Our results indicated that ATHB4 has two physically separated molecular activities: that performed by HD-Zip, which is involved in binding to DNA-regulatory elements, and that performed by the ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR)-containing N-terminal region, which is involved in protein-protein interaction. Whereas both activities are required to regulate leaf polarity, DNA-binding activity is not required for the regulation of the seedling responses to plant proximity, which indicates that ATHB4 works as a transcriptional cofactor in the regulation of this response. These findings suggest that transcription factors might employ alternative mechanisms of action to regulate different developmental processes.