Abstract
ABSTRACT WDR proteins in plants regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development, as well as plant responses to environmental stimuli. Here, we report the identification of AIW1 (ABA-induced WD40-repeat 1) and AIW2 as novel regulators of salt responses in Arabidopsis. RT-PCR results show that the expression of AIW1 and AIW2 were induced by ABA. Transfection assays in protoplasts show that AIW1 and AIW2 were nucleus proteins and functioned as transcription repressors. When overexpressed in Arabidopsis, AIW1 promoted root elongation, and reduced seedlings sensitivity to ABA. On the other hand, aiw1 aiw2 double mutants showed an increased sensitivity to ABA in seed germination assays. In addition, salt tolerance was reduced in the 35S:AIW1 transgenic plants in root elongation assays. Taken together, our results suggest that AIW1 and AIW2 are ABA-induced plant specific WD40 repeat-containing transcription repressors, and AIW1 and AIW2 function redundantly to regulate ABA and salt responses in Arabidopsis.
Highlights
The plant hormone ABA regulates plant responses to abiotic stresses via signal transduction (Fujii and Zhu 2009; Shang et al 2010; Umezawa et al 2010; Rushton et al 2012; Yoshida et al 2014)
Arabidopsis seedlings were treated with ABA, and expression of AIW1 was examined by RT-PCR
We provide evidence here that AIW1 and AIW2 are ABA-induced WDR transcription repressor genes, and AIW1 and AIW2 play a role in the regulation of ABA response and salt tolerance in Arabidopsis
Summary
The plant hormone ABA (abscisic acid) regulates plant responses to abiotic stresses via signal transduction (Fujii and Zhu 2009; Shang et al 2010; Umezawa et al 2010; Rushton et al 2012; Yoshida et al 2014). Signal transduction though the PYR/ PYL/RCABR receptors, the PP2C phosphatases and the SnRK kinases activates the ABF/AREB/ABI5-type bZIP transcription factors, resulting in the activation/repression of ABA response genes and the responses of plants to abiotic stresses (Rodriguez et al 1998; Gosti et al 1999; Fujii et al 2007; Umezawa et al 2010; Song et al 2016). WDR proteins are mainly involved in the regulation of growth and development, whereas in higher organisms, they are involved in the regulation of other cellular functions such as signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and immune responses (van Nocker and Ludwig 2003)
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