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A small plant-specific protein family of ABI five binding proteins (AFPs) regulates stress response in germinating Arabidopsis seeds and seedlings

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Abstract

The transcription factor ABA-Insensitive5 (ABI5) is a key regulator of ABA signaling and stress response in Arabidopsis seeds and seedlings. Potential ABI5-interacting proteins were identified by a yeast two-hybrid screen; the most prevalent interactors were a family of four highly conserved plant-specific proteins with no domains of known function, but homology to a previously characterized ABI Five Binding Protein (AFP). This study compares expression and function of the family members. The AFPs are induced by ABA and/or dehydrating stresses in young seedlings, but the developmental timing of their induction differs. Mutations in AFP1 or AFP2 result in increased sensitivity to ABA and salt, whereas afp4 mutants are mildly ABA-resistant. AFP2, like AFP1, acts epistatically to ABI5. Reduced germination or seedling growth of the mutants under stress correlates with a higher level of ABI5 protein when compared to wild-type seedlings, but it is not clear whether this is a cause or effect of the reduced growth. Although both ABI5 and the AFPs are ABA-induced, the ABI5:AFP ratio increases at high ABA concentrations, maintaining growth inhibition under severe stress. An AFP2:GFP fusion, which complements the afp2 mutation, is nuclear-localized in seedlings exposed to stress, but becomes delocalized before being degraded following removal of stress. The AFPs may also interact to varying extents with many ABI5-related bZIP transcription factors. This study suggests that germination and seedling growth are regulated by antagonistic interactions among at least two functionally redundant families, the AFPs and the ABI5-related proteins, providing a mechanism to fine-tune seedling stress responses.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ABI:

ABA-insensitive

AFP:

ABI Five Binding Protein

ABF:

ABRE binding factor

ABRE:

ABA-responsive element

AD:

GAL4 activation domain

AtEm :

Arabidopsis early methionine-labelled

AREB:

ABA response element binding factor

AtDPBF:

Arabidopsis thaliana Dc3 promoter binding factor

BD:

GAL4 DNA-binding domain

bZIP:

Basic leucine zipper

EEL:

Enhanced em level

GM:

Germination media

GUS:

Beta-glucuronidase

LEA:

Late embryogenesis abundant

Min:

Minimal media

RAB:

Responsive to ABA

TMAC2:

Two or more ABREs-containing gene 2

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Acknowledgements

We thank the ABRC team at Ohio State University for efficient distribution of the T-DNA insertion lines from the SALK SIGnAL collection and the French Génoplante Program for the FLAG lines. We thank L. Lopez-Molina for the anti-AFP antibody. This work was supported by United States Department of Agriculture Grant #2003-35304-13201 to RRF and a fellowship from Sigma Delta Epsilon, Women in Science to MEG.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Mary Emily Garcia, Tim Lynch, Julian Peeters, Chris Snowden & Ruth Finkelstein

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  1. Mary Emily Garcia
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  2. Tim Lynch
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Correspondence to Ruth Finkelstein.

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Garcia, M.E., Lynch, T., Peeters, J. et al. A small plant-specific protein family of ABI five binding proteins (AFPs) regulates stress response in germinating Arabidopsis seeds and seedlings. Plant Mol Biol 67, 643–658 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-008-9344-2

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