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ZAT11, a zinc finger transcription factor, is a negative regulator of nickel ion tolerance in Arabidopsis

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Abstract

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ZAT11, a Zinc Finger of Arabidopsis Thaliana 11, is a dual-function transcriptional regulator that positively regulates primary root growth but negatively regulates Ni 2+ tolerance.

Abstract

Zinc Finger of Arabidopsis Thaliana 11 (ZAT11) is a C2H2-type zinc finger protein that has been reported to function as an active transcriptional repressor. However, the biological function of ZAT11 remains unknown. Here we show that GFP-tagged ZAT11 is targeted to the nucleus. Analysis of plants expressing ZAT11 promoter-GUS showed that ZAT11 is highly expressed in roots and particularly in root tips. To identify the biological function of ZAT11, we constructed three independent lines of ZAT11 overexpressing transgenic plant (ZAT11 OE). ZAT11 OE enhanced the elongation of primary root but reduced the metal tolerance against nickel ion (Ni2+). The reduced Ni2+ tolerance of ZAT11 OE was correlated with decreased accumulation of Ni2+ in plants. The decreased accumulation of Ni2+ in ZAT11 OE was caused by the reduced transcription of a vacuolar Ni2+ transporter gene. Taken together, our results suggest that ZAT11 is a dual function transcriptional regulator that positively regulates primary root growth but negatively regulates Ni2+ tolerance.

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Abbreviations

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

GSH:

Glutathione

His:

Histidine

NA:

Nicotianamine

Ni2+ :

Nickel ion

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2013R1A1A2A10010567), and partly by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (#PJ00951401) funded by the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. J. A. was supported by a scholarship from the BK21 plus program of the Ministry of Education in Korea.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Life Science (BK21Plus Program), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Republic of Korea

    Xiao-Min Liu, Jonguk An, Sun Ho Kim, Chae Oh Lim, Dae-Jin Yun & Woo Sik Chung

  2. Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Republic of Korea

    Hay Ju Han, Chae Oh Lim, Dae-Jin Yun & Woo Sik Chung

Authors
  1. Xiao-Min Liu
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  2. Jonguk An
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  3. Hay Ju Han
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  4. Sun Ho Kim
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  6. Dae-Jin Yun
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  7. Woo Sik Chung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Woo Sik Chung.

Additional information

Communicated by Youn-Il Park.

X. -M. Liu and J. An contributed equally to this work.

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Liu, XM., An, J., Han, H.J. et al. ZAT11, a zinc finger transcription factor, is a negative regulator of nickel ion tolerance in Arabidopsis . Plant Cell Rep 33, 2015–2021 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-014-1675-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-014-1675-7

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