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BABY BOOM target genes provide diverse entry points into cell proliferation and cell growth pathways

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Abstract

Ectopic expression of the Brassica napus BABY BOOM (BBM) AP2/ERF transcription factor is sufficient to induce spontaneous cell proliferation leading primarily to somatic embryogenesis, but also to organogenesis and callus formation. We used DNA microarray analysis in combination with a post-translationally regulated BBM:GR protein and cycloheximide to identify target genes that are directly activated by BBM expression in Arabidopsis seedlings. We show that BBM activated the expression of a largely uncharacterized set of genes encoding proteins with potential roles in transcription, cellular signaling, cell wall biosynthesis and targeted protein turnover. A number of the target genes have been shown to be expressed in meristems or to be involved in cell wall modifications associated with dividing/growing cells. One of the BBM target genes encodes an ADF/cofilin protein, ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR9 (ADF9). The consequences of BBM:GR activation on the actin cytoskeleton were followed using the GFP:FIMBRIN ACTIN BINDING DOMAIN2 (GFP:FABD) actin marker. Dexamethasone-mediated BBM:GR activation induced dramatic changes in actin organization resulting in the formation of dense actin networks with high turnover rates, a phenotype that is consistent with cells that are rapidly undergoing cytoplasmic reorganization. Together the data suggest that the BBM transcription factor activates a complex network of developmental pathways associated with cell proliferation and growth.

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Abbreviations

GR:

Glucocorticoid receptor

CHX:

Cycloheximide

DEX:

Dexamethasone

EFS:

Embryo forming structure

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR

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Acknowledgements

We thank Remko Offringa and Gerco Angenent for comments on the manuscript, and Jos Molthoff, Esther van Tiel Roeland and Marina Bouman for technical assistance. We are grateful to the University of Arizona for supplying the microarrays used in this study. TK was funded by an NWO-VENI fellowship (863.04.003).

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Author notes

  1. Paul Passarinho

    Present address: Genetwister Technologies BV, P.O. Box 193, 6700 AD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

  2. Lonneke van der Geest

    Present address: RIKILT Institute of Food Safety, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Research International, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Paul Passarinho, Meiqing Xing, Jeroen van Arkel, Mieke Weemen Hendriks, Ronny Joosen, Michiel Lammers, Lonneke van der Geest & Kim Boutilier

  2. Laboratory of Plant Cell Biology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Tijs Ketelaar

  3. Laboratory of Plant Breeding, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Chris Maliepaard

  4. Bayer BioScience NV, Technologiepark 38, 9052, Gent, Belgium

    Lydia Herdies & Bart den Boer

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Correspondence to Kim Boutilier.

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Passarinho, P., Ketelaar, T., Xing, M. et al. BABY BOOM target genes provide diverse entry points into cell proliferation and cell growth pathways. Plant Mol Biol 68, 225–237 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-008-9364-y

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