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WRKY22 transcription factor mediates dark-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

Arabidopsis WRKY proteins are plant-specific transcription factors, encoded by a large gene family, which contain the highly conserved amino acid sequence WRKYGQK and the zinc-finger-like motifs, Cys2His2 or Cys2HisCys. They can recognize and bind the TTGAC(C/T) W-box ciselements found in the promoters of target genes, and are involved in the regulation of gene expression during pathogen defense, wounding, trichome development, and senescence. Here we investigated the physiological function of the Arabidopsis WRKY22 transcription factor during dark-induced senescence. WRKY22 transcription was suppressed by light and promoted by darkness. In addition, AtWRKY22 expression was markedly induced by H2O2. These results indicated that AtWRKY22 was involved in signal pathways in response to abiotic stress. Dark-treated AtWRKY22 over-expression and knockout lines showed accelerated and delayed senescence phenotypes, respectively, and senescence-associated genes exhibited increased and decreased expression levels. Mutual regulation existed between AtWRKY22 and AtWRKY6, AtWRKY53, and AtWRKY70, respectively. Moreover, AtWRKY22 could influence their relative expression levels by feedback regulation or by other, as yet unknown mechanisms in response to dark. These results prove that AtWRKY22 participates in the dark-induced senescence signal transduction pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China

    Xiang Zhou & Diqiu Yu

  2. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China

    Yanjuan Jiang

  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Yanjuan Jiang

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  1. Xiang Zhou
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  2. Yanjuan Jiang
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Correspondence to Diqiu Yu.

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Zhou, X., Jiang, Y. & Yu, D. WRKY22 transcription factor mediates dark-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis . Mol Cells 31, 303–313 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-011-0047-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-011-0047-1

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