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Redundant and Distinct Functions of the ABA Response Loci ABA-INSENSITIVE(ABI)5 and ABRE-BINDING FACTOR (ABF)3

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Abstract

Abscisic acid-responsive gene expression is regulated by numerous transcription factors, including a subgroup of basic leucine zipper factors that bind to the conserved cis-acting sequences known as ABA-responsive elements. Although one of these factors, ABA-insensitive 5 (ABI5), was identified genetically, the paucity of genetic data for the other family members has left it unclear whether they perform unique functions or act redundantly to ABI5 or each other. To test for potential redundancy with ABI5, we identified the family members with most similar effects and interactions in transient expression systems (ABF3 and ABF1), then characterized loss-of-function lines for those loci. The abf1 and abf3 monogenic mutant lines had at most minimal effects on germination or seed-specific gene expression, but the enhanced ABA- and stress-resistance of abf3 abi5 double mutants revealed redundant action of these genes in multiple stress responses of seeds and seedlings. Although ABI5, ABF3, and ABF1 have some overlapping effects, they appear to antagonistically regulate each other’s expression at specific stages. Consequently, loss of any one factor may be partially compensated by increased expression of other family members.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

abscisic acid

ABI:

ABA-insensitive

ABF:

ABRE binding factor

ABRE:

ABA-responsive element

AD:

GAL4 activation domain

AREB:

ABA response element binding factor

AtDPBF:

Arabidopsis thaliana Dc3 promoter binding factor

BD:

GAL4 binding domain

bZIP:

basic leucine zipper

COR:

cold responsive

EEL:

enhanced Em levels

Em:

early methionine-labeled

GBF:

G-box binding factor

GM:

germination medium

GUS:

beta-glucuronidase (uidA)

LEA:

late embryogenesis abundant

RAB:

responsive to ABA

RD:

responsive to dehydration

TILLING:

Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes

VP1:

Viviparous 1

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Author notes

  1. Srinivas S. L. Gampala

    Present address: Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 260 Panama St, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    Ruth Finkelstein & Tim J. Lynch

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409

    Srinivas S. L. Gampala & Christopher D. Rock

  3. Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, BSBE 201, College Station, TX, 77843

    Terry L. Thomas

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  1. Ruth Finkelstein
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  2. Srinivas S. L. Gampala
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  3. Tim J. Lynch
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  5. Christopher D. Rock
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Correspondence to Ruth Finkelstein.

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Finkelstein, R., Gampala, S.S.L., Lynch, T.J. et al. Redundant and Distinct Functions of the ABA Response Loci ABA-INSENSITIVE(ABI)5 and ABRE-BINDING FACTOR (ABF)3. Plant Mol Biol 59, 253–267 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-005-8767-2

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