Vacuolar H+-ATPase and BZR1 form a feedback loop to regulate the homeostasis of BR signaling in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Brassinosteroid (BR) is a vital plant hormone that regulates plant growth and development. BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) is a key transcription factor in BR signaling, and its nucleocytoplasmic localization is crucial for BR signaling. However, the mechanisms that regulate BZR1 nucleocytoplasmic distribution and thus the homeostasis of BR signaling remain largely unclear. The vacuole is the largest organelle in mature plant cells and plays a key role in maintenance of cellular pH, storage of intracellular substances, and transport of ions. In this study, we uncovered a novel mechanism of BR signaling homeostasis regulated by the vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) and BZR1 feedback loop. Our results revealed that the vha-a2 vha-a3 mutant (vha2, lacking V-ATPase activity) exhibits enhanced BR signaling with increased total amount of BZR1, nuclear-localized BZR1, and the ratio of BZR1/phosphorylated BZR1 in the nucleus. Further biochemical assays revealed that VHA-a2 and VHA-a3 of V-ATPase interact with the BZR1 protein through a domain that is conserved across multiple species. VHA-a2 and VHA-a3 negatively regulate BR signaling by interacting with BZR1 and promoting its retention in the tonoplast. Interestingly, a series of molecular analyses demonstrated that nuclear-localized BZR1 could bind directly to specific motifs in the promoters of VHA-a2 and VHA-a3 to promote their expression. Taken together, these results suggest that V-ATPase and BZR1 may form a feedback regulatory loop to maintain the homeostasis of BR signaling in Arabidopsis, providing new insights into vacuole-mediated regulation of hormone signaling.