The DELLA-ABI4-HY5 module integrates light and gibberellin signals to regulate hypocotyl elongation

Abstract

Plant growth is coordinately controlled by various environmental and hormonal signals, of which light and gibberellin (GA) signals are two critical factors with opposite effects on hypocotyl elongation. Although interactions between the light and GA signaling pathways have been studied extensively, the detailed regulatory mechanism of their direct crosstalk in hypocotyl elongation remains to be fully clarified. Previously, we reported that ABA INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4) controls hypocotyl elongation through its regulation of cell-elongation-related genes, but whether it is also involved in GA signaling to promote hypocotyl elongation is unknown. In this study, we show that promotion of hypocotyl elongation by GA is dependent on ABI4 activation. DELLAs interact directly with ABI4 and inhibit its DNA-binding activity. In turn, ABI4 combined with ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), a key positive factor in light signaling, feedback regulates the expression of the GA2ox GA catabolism genes and thus modulates GA levels. Taken together, our results suggest that the DELLA-ABI4-HY5 module may serve as a molecular link that integrates GA and light signals to control hypocotyl elongation.