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Research article2017Peer reviewedOpen access

Type B Response Regulators Act As Central Integrators in Transcriptional Control of the Auxin Biosynthesis Enzyme TAA1

Yan, Zhenwei; Liu, Xin; Ljung, Karin; Li, Shuning; Zhao, Wanying; Yang, Fan; Wang, Meiling; Tao, Yi

Abstract

During embryogenesis and organ formation, establishing proper gradient is critical for auxin function, which is achieved through coordinated regulation of both auxin metabolism and transport. Expression of auxin biosynthetic genes is often tissue specific and is regulated by environmental signals. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of a key auxin biosynthetic gene, L-Tryptophan aminotransferase of Arabidopsis1 (TAA1). A canonical and a novel Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) response regulator (ARR) binding site were identified in the promoter and the second intron of TAA1, which were required for its tissue-specific expression. C-termini of a subset of the type B ARRs selectively bind to one or both cis elements and activate the expression of TAA1. We further demonstrated that the ARRs not only mediate the transcriptional regulation of TAA1 by cytokinins, but also mediate its regulation by ethylene, light, and developmental signals. Through direct protein-protein interactions, the transcriptional activity of ARR1 is enhanced by ARR12, DELLAs, and ethylene-insenstive3 (EIN3). Our study thus revealed the ARR proteins act as key node that mediate the regulation of auxin biosynthesis by various hormonal, environmental, and developmental signals through transcriptional regulation of the key auxin biosynthesis gene TAA1.

Published in

Plant Physiology
2017, Volume: 175, number: 3, pages: 1438-1454
Publisher: AMER SOC PLANT BIOLOGISTS