REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH Research Articles

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Associated Sites of Tobacco Repression of Shoot Growth Regulates Its Localization in Plant Cells.

Plant defense and growth rely on multiple transcriptional factors (TFs). Repression of shoot growth (RSG) is a TF belonging to a bZIP family in tobacco, known to be involved in plant gibberellin feedback regulation by inducing the expression of key genes. The tobacco calcium-dependent protein kinase CDPK1 was reported to interact with RSG and manipulate its intracellular localization by phosphorylating Ser-114 of RSG previously. Here, we identified tobacco mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (NtMPK3) as an RSG-interacting protein kinase. Moreover, the mutation of the predicted MAPK-associated phosphorylation site of RSG (Thr-30, Ser-74, and Thr-135) significantly altered the intracellular localization of the NtMPK3-RSG interaction complex. Nuclear transport of RSG and its amino acid mutants (T30A and S74A) were observed after being treated with plant defense elicitor peptide flg22 within 5 min, and the two mutated RSG swiftly re-localized in tobacco cytoplasm within 30 min. In addition, triple-point mutation of RSG (T30A/S74A/T135A) mimics constant unphosphorylated status, and is predominantly localized in tobacco cytoplasm. RSG (T30A/S74A/T135A) showed no re-localization effect under the treatments of flg22, B. cereus AR156, or GA3, and over-expression of this mutant in tobacco resulted in lower expression levels of downstream gene GA20ox1. Our results suggest that MAPK-associated phosphorylation sites of RSG regulate its localization in tobacco, and that constant unphosphorylation of RSG in Thr-30, Ser-74, and Thr-135 keeps RSG predominantly localized in cytoplasm.

Autophosphorylation of Ser-6 via an intermolecular mechanism is important for the rapid reduction of NtCDPK1 kinase activity for substrate RSG.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Ca2+-dependent protein kinase 1 (NtCDPK1) is involved in feedback regulation of the plant hormone gibberellin through the phosphorylation of the transcription factor, REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG). Previously, Ser-6 and Thr-21 were identified as autophosphorylation sites in NtCDPK1. Autophosphorylation of Ser-6 and Thr-21 not only decreases the binding affinity of NtCDPK1 for RSG, but also inhibits the homodimerization of NtCDPK1. Furthermore, autophosphorylation decreases the phosphorylation efficiency of RSG. We demonstrated that Ser-6 and Thr-21 of NtCDPK1 are phosphorylated in response to GAs in plants. The substitution of these autophosphorylation sites with Ala enhances the NtCDPK1 overexpression-induced sensitization of seeds to a GA biosynthetic inhibitor during germination. These findings suggested that autophosphorylation of Ser-6 and Thr-21 prevents excessive phosphorylation of RSG. In this study, we attempted to determine which autophosphorylation site is responsible for the functional regulation of NtCDPK1. Ser-6 was autophosphorylated within 1 min, whereas Thr-21 required over 5 min to be completely autophosphorylated. Furthermore, we found that Ser-6 and Thr-21 were autophosphorylated by inter- and intramolecular mechanisms, respectively, which may be reflected in the faster autophosphorylation of Ser-6. Although both autophosphorylation sites were involved in the reduction of the binding affinity of NtCDPK1 for RSG and the inhibition of NtCDPK1 homodimerization, autophosphorylation of Ser-6 alone was sufficient to decrease the kinase activity of NtCDPK1 for RSG. These results suggest that autophosphorylation of Ser-6 is important for the rapid reduction of NtCDPK1 kinase activity for RSG, whereas that of Thr-21 may play an auxiliary role.

Autophosphorylation Affects Substrate-Binding Affinity of Tobacco Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinase1

Protein kinases regulate diverse physiological processes. Because many kinases preserve inherent autophosphorylation capability, autophosphorylation appears to be one of the most important mechanisms for cellular signaling. However, physiological functions of autophosphorylation are still largely unknown, other than the self-activation by phosphorylation of activation loop in the catalytic domain. REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG) is the transcription factor involved in gibberellin (GA) feedback regulation. The tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Ca2+-dependent protein kinase, NtCDPK1, phosphorylates RSG, resulting in the negative regulation of RSG. NtCDPK1 was previously shown to be autophosphorylated in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the functional importance of autophosphorylation in NtCDPK1. Ser-6 and Thr-21 were identified as autophosphorylation sites of NtCDPK1. Autophosphorylation not only reduced the binding affinity of NtCDPK1 for RSG, but also inhibited the homodimerization of NtCDPK1. Furthermore, autophosphorylation decreased the phosphorylation efficiency of RSG yet increased that of myelin basic protein. Ser-6 and Thr-21 of NtCDPK1 were phosphorylated in response to GAs in plants. The substitution of these autophosphorylation sites with Ala enhanced the NtCDPK1 overexpression-induced sensitization of seeds to a GA biosynthetic inhibitor during germination. These results suggest new functions of autophosphorylation in CDPKs, namely, autophosphorylation can prevent the excessive phosphorylation of substrates and alter the substrate preference of CDPKs.

Manipulation of cold stratification and endophytic effects on expression patterns of RSG and KAO genes in coleorhiza of wheat seeds

Stratification is the exposure of seeds to conditions which break dormancy and enhance germination. Currently stratification is limited to abiotic conditions such as cold, acidity, light, salinity and osmotic priming. Here, the role of biological stratification on mycovitality was uncovered by assessing the effect of fungal endosymbiont on its host plant during dormancy release and germination commencement in seeds. The impact of the endophytic fungal SMCD 2206 strain on germination energy and vigor as compared to untreated seeds was evaluated. The expression patterns of plant growth promoting genes, repression of shoot growth (RSG) protein and ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase (KAO) of gibberellins (GAs), during the early breakage of seed dormancy and germination were assessed and indicated the involvement of a GA-mediated negative feedback regulation in treated seeds. The GA levels in all treated seeds reached optimum before 24 h of germination with direct interactions between seeds and endophyte generating maximum GA levels during the early germination stage. Our findings bring a significant contribution to plant prenatal care of cereal crops; they demonstrate endophyte-mediated vitality, a reprogramming of pre- and post-germination events in wheat seeds, which enhances dormancy breakage and germination.

Phosphorylation-independent binding of 14–3–3 to NtCDPK1 by a new mode

14–3–3 pproteins play essential roles in diverse cellular processes through the direct binding to target proteins. REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG) is a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transcription factor that is involved in gibberellin (GA) feedback regulation. The 14–3–3 proteins bind to RSG depending on the RSG phosphorylation of Ser-114 and negatively regulate RSG by sequestering it in the cytoplasm in response to GAs. The Ca2+-dependent protein kinase NtCDPK1 was identified as an RSG kinase that promotes 14–3–3 binding of RSG by phosphorylation of RSG. 14–3–3 weakly binds to NtCDPK1 by a new mode. The autophosphorylation of NtCDPK1 was necessary for the formation of the binding between NtCDPK1 and 14–3–3 but not for its maintenance. In this study, we showed that 14–3–3 binding to NtCDPK1 does not require the autophosphorylation when RSG was bound to NtCDPK1. These data suggest that 14–3–3 binds to an unphosphorylated motif in NtCDPK1 exposed by a conformational change in NtCDPK1 but not to a phosphate group generated by autophosphorylation of NtCDPK1.

Scaffold Function of Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinase: Tobacco Ca2+-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE1 Transfers 14-3-3 to the Substrate REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH after Phosphorylation.

A molecular mechanism to ensure signaling specificity is a scaffold. REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG) is a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transcription factor that is involved in gibberellin feedback regulation. The 14-3-3 proteins negatively regulate RSG by sequestering it in the cytoplasm in response to gibberellins. The N. tabacum Ca2+-dependent protein kinase NtCDPK1 was identified as an RSG kinase that promotes 14-3-3 binding of RSG by phosphorylation of RSG. CDPKs are unique sensor responders of Ca2+ that are only found in plants and some protozoans. Here, we report a scaffolding function of CDPK. 14-3-3 proteins bound to NtCDPK1 by a new mode. Autophosphorylation of NtCDPK1 was necessary for the formation of the binding between NtCDPK1 and 14-3-3 but not for its maintenance. NtCDPK1 formed a heterotrimer with RSG and 14-3-3. Furthermore, we found that NtCDPK1 transfers 14-3-3 to RSG after phosphorylation of RSG and that RSG dissociates from NtCDPK1 as a complex with 14-3-3. These results suggest that NtCDPK1 is an interesting scaffolding kinase that increases the specificity and efficiency of signaling by coupling catalysis with scaffolding on the same protein.

Expression of OsSPY and 14-3-3 genes involved in plant height variations of ion-beam-induced KDML 105 rice mutants

The culm length of two semidwarf rice mutants (PKOS1, HyKOS1) obtained from low-energy N-ion beam bombardments of dehusked Thai jasmine rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. KDML 105) seeds showed 25.7% and 21.5% height reductions and one spindly rice mutant (TKOS4) showed 21.4% increase in comparison with that of the KDML 105 control. A cDNA-RAPD analysis identified differential gene expression in internode tissues of the rice mutants. Two genes identified from the cDNA-RAPD were OsSPY and 14-3-3, possibly associated with stem height variations of the semidwarf and spindly mutants, respectively. The OsSPY gene encoded the SPY protein which is considered to be a negative regulator of gibberellin (GA). On the other hand, the 14-3-3 encoded a signaling protein which can bind and prevent the RSG (repression of shoot growth) protein function as a transcriptional repressor of the kaurene oxidase (KO) gene in the GA biosynthetic pathway. Expression analysis of OsSPY, 14-3-3, RSG, KO, and SLR1 was confirmed in rice internode tissues during the reproductive stage of the plants by semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique. The expression analysis showed a clear increase of the levels of OsSPY transcripts in PKOS1 and HyKOS1 tissue samples compared to that of the KDML 105 and TKOS4 samples at the age of 50–60 days which were at the ages of internode elongation. The 14-3-3 expression had the highest increase in the TKOS4 samples compared to those in KDML 105, PKOS1 and HyKOS1 samples. The expression analysis of RSG and KO showed an increase in TKOS4 samples compared to that of the KDML 105 and that of the two semidwarf mutants. These results indicate that changes of OsSPY and 14-3-3 expression could affect internode elongation and cause the phenotypic changes of semidwarf and spindly rice mutants, respectively.

Alteration of Substrate Specificity: The Variable N-Terminal Domain of Tobacco Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinase Is Important for Substrate Recognition

Protein kinases are major signaling molecules that are involved in a variety of cellular processes. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby protein kinases discriminate specific substrates are still largely unknown. Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play central roles in Ca(2+) signaling in plants. Previously, we found that a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) CDPK1 negatively regulated the transcription factor REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG), which is involved in gibberellin feedback regulation. Here, we found that the variable N-terminal domain of CDPK1 is necessary for the recognition of RSG. A mutation (R10A) in the variable N-terminal domain of CDPK1 reduced both RSG binding and RSG phosphorylation while leaving kinase activity intact. Furthermore, the R10A mutation suppressed the in vivo function of CDPK1. The substitution of the variable N-terminal domain of an Arabidopsis thaliana CDPK, At CPK9, with that of Nt CDPK1 conferred RSG kinase activities. This chimeric CDPK behaved according to the identity of the variable N-terminal domain in transgenic plants. Our results open the possibility of engineering the substrate specificity of CDPK by manipulation of the variable N-terminal domain, enabling a rational rewiring of cellular signaling pathways.

The transcription factor RSG regulates negative feedback ofNtGA20ox1encoding GA 20-oxidase

Gibberellins (GAs) are phytohormones that regulate growth and development throughout the life cycle of plants. RSG (REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH) is a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transcriptional activator with a basic leucine zipper domain that regulates the endogenous amount of GAs by control of GA biosynthetic enzymes. Negative feedback contributes to homeostasis of the GA levels. Previous studies suggested that RSG is directly or indirectly involved in the GA negative feedback of NtGA20ox1 encoding GA 20-oxidase. Using transgenic tobacco plants, we have identified a cis-acting region that is responsible for the feedback regulation of NtGA20ox1. This region contains an RSG-binding sequence. A mutation in the RSG-binding sequence abolished negative feedback of NtGA20ox1 in transgenic plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays showed that RSG binds to the NtGA20ox1 promoter in vivo in response to a decrease in GA levels, and that this binding is abolished within 3 h after GA treatment. Furthermore, decreases in GA levels promote modifications of active histone marks in the promoter of NtGA20ox1. Our results suggest that RSG plays a role in the homeostasis of GAs through direct binding to the NtGA20ox1 promoter.

A tobacco calcium-dependent protein kinase, CDPK1, regulates the transcription factor REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH in response to gibberellins.

The homeostasis of gibberellins (GAs) is maintained by negative feedback in plants. REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG) is a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transcriptional activator that has been suggested to play a role in GA feedback by the regulation of GA biosynthetic enzymes. The 14-3-3 signaling proteins negatively regulate RSG by sequestering it in the cytoplasm in response to GAs. The phosphorylation on Ser-114 of RSG is essential for 14-3-3 binding of RSG. Here, we identified tobacco Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase (CDPK1) as an RSG kinase that promotes 14-3-3 binding to RSG by phosphorylation of Ser-114 of RSG. CDPK1 interacts with RSG in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner in vivo and in vitro and specifically phosphorylates Ser-114 of RSG. Inhibition of CDPK repressed the GA-induced phosphorylation of Ser-114 of RSG and the GA-induced nuclear export of RSG. Overexpression of CDPK1 inhibited the feedback regulation of a GA 20-oxidase gene and resulted in sensitization to the GA biosynthetic inhibitor. Our results suggest that CDPK1 decodes the Ca(2+) signal produced by GAs and regulates the intracellular localization of RSG.

Involvement of 14-3-3 signaling protein binding in the functional regulation of the transcriptional activator REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH by gibberellins.

REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH (RSG) is a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transcriptional activator with a basic Leu zipper domain that regulates endogenous amounts of gibberellins (GAs) by the control of a GA biosynthetic enzyme. The 14-3-3 signaling proteins have been suggested to suppress RSG by sequestering it in the cytoplasm. Here, we show that RSG phosphorylation on Ser-114 is important for 14-3-3 binding. We found that GA levels regulate the intracellular localization of RSG. RSG translocated into the nucleus in response to a reduction in GA levels. GA treatment could reverse this nuclear accumulation. The GA-induced disappearance of RSG-green fluorescent protein from the nucleus did not depend on protein degradation. By contrast, the mutant RSG (S114A) that could not bind to 14-3-3 continued to be localized predominantly in the nucleus after GA application. Analysis of the mRNA levels of GA biosynthetic genes showed that the feedback regulation of the GA 20-oxidase gene was inhibited in transgenic plants expressing a dominant negative form of RSG. Our results suggest that RSG is negatively modulated by GAs by 14-3-3 binding and might be involved in GA homeostasis.

Repression of shoot growth, a bZIP transcriptional activator, regulates cell elongation by controlling the level of gibberellins.

Cell expansion, a developmental process regulated by both endogenous programs and environmental stimuli, is critically important for plant growth. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of RSG (for repression of shoot growth), a transcriptional activator with a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain. To examine the role of RSG in plant development, we generated transgenic tobacco plants expressing a dominant-negative form of RSG, which repressed the activity of full-length RSG. In transgenic plants, this expression severely inhibited stem internode growth, specifically cell elongation. These plants also had less endogenous amounts of the major active gibberellin (GA) in tobacco, GA(1). Applying GAs restored the dwarf phenotypes of transgenic tobacco plants that expressed the dominant-negative form of RSG. To investigate the function of RSG in the regulation of the endogenous amounts of GAs, we identified a target for RSG. RSG bound and activated the promoter of Arabidopsis GA3, one of the genes encoding enzymes involved in GA biosynthesis. Moreover, the dominant-negative form of RSG decreased expression of the GA3 homolog in transgenic tobacco plants. Our results show that RSG, a bZIP transcriptional activator, regulates the morphology of plants by controlling the endogenous amounts of GAs.

REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH, a bZIP Transcriptional Activator, Regulates Cell Elongation by Controlling the Level of Gibberellins

REPRESSION OF SHOOT GROWTH, a bZIP Transcriptional Activator, Regulates Cell Elongation by Controlling the Level of Gibberellins