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Analysis of transactivation potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.) heat shock factors

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Based on yeast one-hybrid assays, we show that the presence of C-terminal AHA motifs is not a prerequisite for transactivation potential in rice heat shock factors.

Transcriptional activation or transactivation (TA) of heat stress responsive genes takes place by binding of heat shock factors (Hsfs) to heat shock elements. Analysis of TA potential of thirteen rice (Oryza sativa L.) Hsfs (OsHsfs) carried out in this study by yeast one-hybrid assay showed that OsHsfsA3 possesses strong TA potential while OsHsfs A1a, A2a, A2b, A4a, A4d, A5, A7b, B1, B2a, B2b, B2c and B4d lack TA potential. From a near complete picture of TA potential of the OsHsf family (comprising of 25 members) emerging from this study and an earlier report from our group (Mittal et al. in FEBS J 278(17):3076–3085, 2011), it is concluded that (1) overall, six OsHsfs, namely A3, A6a, A6b, A8, C1a and C1b possess TA potential; (2) four class A OsHsfs, namely A3, A6a, A6b and A8 have TA potential out of which A6a and A6b contain AHA motifs while A3 and A8 lack AHA motifs; (3) nine class A OsHsfs, namely A1a, A2a, A2b, A2e, A4a, A4d, A5, A7a and A7b containing AHA motif(s) lack TA function in the yeast assay system; (4) all class B OsHsfs lack AHA motifs and TA potential (B4a not analyzed) and (5) though all class C OsHsf members lack AHA motifs, two members C1a and C1b possess TA function, while one member C2a lacks TA potential (C2b not analyzed). Thus, the presence or absence of AHA motif is possibly not the only factor determining TA potential of OsHsfs. Our findings will help to identify the transcriptional activators of rice heat shock response.

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Abbreviations

DBD:

DNA binding domain

HS:

Heat stress

Hsfs:

Heat shock factors

TA:

Transcription factor

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Acknowledgements

DL acknowledges the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India and University Teaching Assistant fellowship, University of Delhi, for research fellowship awards. AD acknowledges Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for fellowship award. This work was supported by DST, Government of India (SERB/SB/SO/PS/37/2013).

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  1. Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, 110021, India

    Dhruv Lavania, Anuradha Dhingra & Anil Grover

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  1. Dhruv Lavania
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Correspondence to Anil Grover.

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Lavania, D., Dhingra, A. & Grover, A. Analysis of transactivation potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.) heat shock factors. Planta 247, 1267–1276 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-018-2865-2

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