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Two trehalase isoforms, produced from a single transcript, regulate drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Abstract

Key message

Alternative translation initiation of the unique Arabidopsis trehalase gene allows for the production of two isoforms with different subcellular localization, providing enzyme access to both intra- and extra-cellular trehalose.

Abstract

The trehalose-hydrolyzing enzyme trehalase mediates drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by controlling ABA-induced stomatal closure. We now report the existence of two trehalase isoforms, produced from a single transcript by alternative translation initiation. The longer full-length N-glycosylated isoform (AtTRE1L) localizes in the plasma membrane with the catalytic domain in the apoplast. The shorter isoform (AtTRE1S) lacks the transmembrane domain and localizes in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The two isoforms can physically interact and this interaction affects localization of AtTRE1S. Consistent with their role in plant drought stress tolerance, both isoforms are activated by AtCPK10, a stress-induced calcium-dependent guard cell protein kinase. Transgenic plants expressing either isoform indicate that both can mediate ABA-induced stomatal closure in response to drought stress but that the short (cytoplasmic/nuclear) isoform, enriched in those conditions, is significantly more effective.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the members of the F.R. lab for helpful discussions and initial training of T.B.P. We would like to thank Nico Van Goethem (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology) for assistance with preparation of the figures.

Funding

T.B.P. was supported by a grant from Vietnam International Education Development (VIED) as well as by a KU Leuven Global Minds Fellowship. This work was supported by a grant from the Research Fund of KU Leuven (Grant # C14/17/063).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium

    Tran Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan & Patrick Van Dijck

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Tran Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan & Patrick Van Dijck

  3. Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Cantho University, Cantho, Vietnam

    Tran Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan

  4. Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Nathalie Crepin & Filip Rolland

  5. KU Leuven Plant Institute (LPI), Leuven, Belgium

    Tran Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan, Nathalie Crepin, Filip Rolland & Patrick Van Dijck

  6. Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 38, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Patrick Van Dijck

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  1. Tran Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan
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TBP and NC conducted the experiments. TBP, FR and PVD designed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Patrick Van Dijck.

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Le Cong Huyen Bao Phan, T., Crepin, N., Rolland, F. et al. Two trehalase isoforms, produced from a single transcript, regulate drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Mol Biol 108, 531–547 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-022-01243-2

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