An mRNA cap binding protein, ABH1, modulates early abscisic acid signal transduction in Arabidopsis

Relay and control of abscisic acid signaling

Insights into the signal transduction of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) have unfolded dramatically in the past few years and reveal an unanticipated complexity. Knockout lines and RNA-interference technology, together with protein interaction analyses, have been used to identify many of the cellular components that regulate or modulate ABA responses. ABA signaling is characterized by a plethora of intracellular messengers. This may reflect the function of ABA in integrating several stress responses and antagonizing pathways via cross-talk, but it hampers the establishment of a unifying concept. Transcriptome analyses have unraveled more than a thousand genes that are differentially regulated by ABA, and these ABA-mediated changes in gene expression translate to major changes in proteome expression. ABA-induced mechanisms that re-adjust cellular protein expression are just surfacing. ABA-response-specific transcription factors have a well-established function in that process and, recently, it has also become clear that phytohormone signaling enforces a sophisticated interference with protein expression at the posttranscriptional level. This interference includes both targeted proteolysis and the regulation of the translation of specific mRNAs by RNA-binding proteins.

Impacts of altered RNA metabolism on abscisic acid signaling

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates many essential processes in growth and development. The recent characterization of ABA-sensitivity mutations in RNA-binding proteins has led to the recognition of a functional link between post-transcriptional mRNA processing and the ABA signal transduction machinery. By influencing transcript abundance, these RNA-binding proteins may modulate ABA signaling through the alteration of mRNA processing events such as splicing, 3' processing, nuclear export, transcript stability and RNA degradation.

AtAGP30, an arabinogalactan-protein in the cell walls of the primary root, plays a role in root regeneration and seed germination

Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) are extracellular proteoglycans that are implicated in many plant growth and developmental processes, but in no case has a biological function been assigned to a particular AGP. AtAGP30 is a non-classical AGP core protein from Arabidopsis that is expressed only in roots. Analysis of the corresponding mutant, agp30, has revealed that the wild-type gene product is required in vitro for root regeneration and in planta for the timing of seed germination. The mutant shows a suppression of the abscisic acid (ABA)-induced delay in germination and altered expression of some ABA-regulated genes. This suggests that AtAGP30 functions in the ABA response. By analogy to proteoglycan-mediated regulation of growth-factor-signalling pathways in animals, our data indicate that phytohormone activity in plants can be modulated by AGPs.

New Fava Bean Guard Cell Signaling Mutant Impaired in ABA-Induced Stomatal Closure

We isolated a mutant from Vicia faba L. cv. House Ryousai. It wilts easily under strong light and high temperature conditions, suggesting that its stomatal movement may be disturbed. We determined responses of mutant guard cells to some environmental stimuli. Mutant guard cells demonstrated an impaired ability to respond to ABA in 0.1 mM CaCl(2) and stomata did not close in the presence of up to 1 mM ABA, whereas wild-type stomata closed when exposed to 10 micro M ABA. Elevating external Ca(2+) caused a similar degree of stomatal closure in the wild type and the mutant. A high concentration of CO(2) (700 micro l liter(-1)) induced stomatal closure in the wild type, but not in the mutant. On the basis of these results, we propose the working hypothesis that the mutation occurs in the region downstream of CO(2) and ABA sensing and in the region upstream of Ca(2+) elevation. The mutant is named fia (fava bean impaired in ABA-induced stomatal closure).

Negative regulation of abscisic acid signaling by the Fagus sylvatica FsPP2C1 plays a role in seed dormancy regulation and promotion of seed germination

FsPP2C1 was previously isolated from beech (Fagus sylvatica) seeds as a functional protein phosphatase type-2C (PP2C) with all the conserved features of these enzymes and high homology to ABI1, ABI2, and PP2CA, PP2Cs identified as negative regulators of ABA signaling. The expression of FsPP2C1 was induced upon abscisic acid (ABA) treatment and was also up-regulated during early weeks of stratification. Furthermore, this gene was specifically expressed in ABA-treated seeds and was hardly detectable in vegetative tissues. In this report, to provide genetic evidence on FsPP2C1 function in seed dormancy and germination, we used an overexpression approach in Arabidopsis because transgenic work is not feasible in beech. Constitutive expression of FsPP2C1 under the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter confers ABA insensitivity in Arabidopsis seeds and, consequently, a reduced degree of seed dormancy. Additionally, transgenic 35S:FsPP2C1 plants are able to germinate under unfavorable conditions, as inhibitory concentrations of mannitol, NaCl, or paclobutrazol. In vegetative tissues, Arabidopsis FsPP2C1 transgenic plants show ABA-resistant early root growth and diminished induction of the ABA-response genes RAB18 and KIN2, but no effect on stomatal closure regulation. Seed and vegetative phenotypes of Arabidopsis 35S:FsPP2C1 plants suggest that FsPP2C1 negatively regulates ABA signaling. The ABA inducibility of FsPP2C1 expression, together with the transcript accumulation mainly in seeds, suggest that it could play an important role modulating ABA signaling in beechnuts through a negative feedback loop. Finally, we suggest that negative regulation of ABA signaling by FsPP2C1 is a factor contributing to promote the transition from seed dormancy to germination during early weeks of stratification.

Viviparous1 alters global gene expression patterns through regulation of abscisic acid signaling

Maize (Zea mays) Viviparous1 (VP1) and Arabidopsis ABI3 are orthologous transcription factors that regulate key aspects of plant seed development and ABA signaling. To understand VP1-regulated gene expression on a global scale, we have performed oligomicroarray analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis carrying 35S::VP1 in an abi3 null mutant background. We have identified 353 VP1/ABA-regulated genes by GeneChip analysis. Seventy-three percent of the genes were affected by both VP1 and ABA in vegetative tissues, indicating a tight coupling between ABA signaling and VP1 function. A large number of seed-specific genes were ectopically expressed in vegetative tissue of 35S::VP1 plants consistent with evidence that VP1 and ABI3 are key determinants of seed-specific expression. ABI5, a positive regulator of ABA signaling, was activated by VP1, indicating conservation of the feed-forward pathway mediated by ABI3. ABA induction of ABI1 and ABI2, negative regulators of ABA signaling, was strongly inhibited by VP1, revealing a second pathway of feed-forward regulation. These results indicate that VP1 strongly modifies ABA signaling through feed-forward regulation of ABI1/ABI5-related genes. Of the 32 bZIP transcription factors represented on the GeneChip, genes in the ABI5 clade were specifically coregulated by ABA and VP1. Statistical analysis of 5' upstream sequences of the VP1/ABA-regulated genes identified consensus abscisic responsive elements as an enriched element, indicating that many of the genes could be direct targets of the ABI5-related bZIPs. The Sph element is an enriched sequence motif in promoters of genes co-activated by ABA and VP1 but not in promoters of genes activated by ABA alone. This analysis reveals that distinct combinatorial patterns of promoter elements distinguish subclasses of VP1/ABA coregulated genes.

Visualization of abscisic acid-perception sites on the plasma membrane of stomatal guard cells

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone that plays a key role as a stress signal, regulating water relations during drought conditions, by inducing stomatal closure. However, to date, no putative ABA receptor(s) has been reported at the protein sequence, gene family, or cellular localization levels. We used biotinylated ABA (bioABA) to characterize the ABA-perception sites in the stomatal guard cells of Vicia faba. Treatment with bioABA induced stomatal closure and shrinkage of guard cell protoplasts (GCPs). The ABA-perception sites were visualized by fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), using bioABA and fluorescence-labeled avidin. Fluorescent particles were observed in patches on the surface of the GCPs. Fluorescence intensity was quantified by flow cytometry (FCM) as well as by CLSM. Binding of bioABA was inhibited by ABA in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of GCPs with proteinase K also blocked the binding of bioABA. Binding of bioABA was inhibited by RCA-7a, an ABA analog that induces stomatal closure, but not by RCA-16, which has no effect on stomatal aperture. Another ABA analog, PBI-51, inhibited ABA-induced stomatal closure. This ABA antagonist also inhibited binding of bioABA to the GCPs. These results suggest that ABA is perceived on the plasma membrane of stomatal guard cells, and that the present experimental methods constitute valuable tools for characterizing the nature of the ABA receptor(s) that perceives physiological ABA signals. These imaging studies allow us to demonstrate the spatial distribution of the ABA-perception sites. Visualization of the ABA-perception sites provides new insights into the nature of membrane-associated ABA receptor(s).

NADPH oxidase AtrbohD and AtrbohF genes function in ROS-dependent ABA signaling in Arabidopsis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proposed to function as second messengers in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in guard cells. However, the question whether ROS production is indeed required for ABA signal transduction in vivo has not yet been addressed, and the molecular mechanisms mediating ROS production during ABA signaling remain unknown. Here, we report identification of two partially redundant Arabidopsis guard cell-expressed NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit genes, AtrbohD and AtrbohF, in which gene disruption impairs ABA signaling. atrbohD/F double mutations impair ABA-induced stomatal closing, ABA promotion of ROS production, ABA-induced cytosolic Ca(2+) increases and ABA- activation of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-permeable channels in guard cells. Exogenous H(2)O(2) rescues both Ca(2+) channel activation and stomatal closing in atrbohD/F. ABA inhibition of seed germination and root elongation are impaired in atrbohD/F, suggesting more general roles for ROS and NADPH oxidases in ABA signaling. These data provide direct molecular genetic and cell biological evidence that ROS are rate-limiting second messengers in ABA signaling, and that the AtrbohD and AtrbohF NADPH oxidases function in guard cell ABA signal transduction.

AFP is a novel negative regulator of ABA signaling that promotes ABI5 protein degradation

Plants have evolved protective mechanisms to ensure their survival when threatened by adverse environmental conditions during their transition to autotrophic growth. During germination, there is a 2- to 3-d period during which a plant can execute growth arrest when challenged by water deficit. This postgermination developmental checkpoint is signaled by the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA), which induces the expression of the bZIP transcription activator ABI5. The growth arrest efficiency depends on ABI5 levels, and abi5 mutants are ABA-insensitive and unable to execute the ABA-mediated growth arrest. Here we show that a novel ABI5-interacting protein, designated as AFP, can form high molecular weight (Mr) complexes with ABI5 in embryo-derived extracts. Like ABI5, ABI five binding protein (AFP) mRNA and protein levels are induced by ABA during seed germination. Two different afp mutant alleles (afp-1 and afp-2) are hypersensitive to ABA, whereas transgenic plants overexpressing AFP are resistant; in these plants, AFP and ABI5 protein levels are inversely correlated. Genetic analysis shows that abi5-4 is epistatic to afp-1, indicating the ABA hypersensitivity of afp mutants requires ABI5. Proteasome inhibitor studies show that ABI5 stability is regulated by ABA through ubiquitin-related events. When expressed together, AFP and ABI5 are colocalized in nuclear bodies, which also contain COP1, a RING motif protein. Our results suggest that AFP attenuates ABA signals by targeting ABI5 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation in nuclear bodies.

Genome-wide gene expression profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals new targets of abscisic acid and largely impaired gene regulation in the abi1-1 mutant

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays important regulatory roles in many plant developmental processes including seed dormancy, germination, growth, and stomatal movements. These physiological responses to ABA are in large part brought about by changes in gene expression. To study genome-wide ABA-responsive gene expression we applied massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS) to samples from Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype (WT) and abi1-1 mutant seedlings. We identified 1354 genes that are either up- or downregulated following ABA treatment of WT seedlings. Among these ABA-responsive genes, many encode signal transduction components. In addition, we identified novel ABA-responsive gene families including those encoding ribosomal proteins and proteins involved in regulated proteolysis. In the ABA-insensitive mutant abi1-1, ABA regulation of about 84.5% and 6.9% of the identified genes was impaired or strongly diminished, respectively; however, 8.6% of the genes remained appropriately regulated. Compared to other methods of gene expression analysis, the high sensitivity and specificity of MPSS allowed us to identify a large number of ABA-responsive genes in WT Arabidopsis thaliana. The database given in our supplementary material (http://jcs.biologists.org/supplemental) provides researchers with the opportunity to rapidly assess whether genes of interest may be regulated by ABA. Regulation of the majority of the genes by ABA was impaired in the ABA-insensitive mutant abi1-1. However, a subset of genes continued to be appropriately regulated by ABA, which suggests the presence of at least two ABA signaling pathways, only one of which is blocked in abi1-1.

Tomato tos1 mutation identifies a gene essential for osmotic tolerance and abscisic acid sensitivity

Osmotic stress severely limits plant growth and agricultural productivity. We have used mutagenesis to identify plant genes that are required for osmotic stress tolerance in tomato. As a result, we have isolated a novel mutant in tomato (tos1) caused by a single recessive nuclear mutation that is hypersensitive to general osmotic stress. Growth measurements demonstrated that the tos1 mutant is less sensitive to intracellular abscisic acid (ABA) and this decreased ABA sensitivity of tos1 is a basic cellular trait expressed by the mutant at all developmental stages analysed. It is not caused by a deficiency in the synthesis of ABA because the tos1 seedlings accumulated more ABA than the wild type (WT) after osmotic stress. In contrast, the tss2 tomato mutant, which is also hypersensitive to osmotic stress, is hypersensitive to exogenous ABA. Comparative analysis of tos1 and tss2 indicates that appropriate ABA perception and signalling is essential for osmotic tolerance.

Convergence of calcium signaling pathways of pathogenic elicitors and abscisic acid in Arabidopsis guard cells

A variety of stimuli, such as abscisic acid (ABA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and elicitors of plant defense reactions, have been shown to induce stomatal closure. Our study addresses commonalities in the signaling pathways that these stimuli trigger. A recent report showed that both ABA and ROS stimulate an NADPH-dependent, hyperpolarization-activated Ca(2+) influx current in Arabidopsis guard cells termed "I(Ca)" (Z.M. Pei, Y. Murata, G. Benning, S. Thomine, B. Klüsener, G.J. Allen, E. Grill, J.I. Schroeder, Nature [2002] 406: 731-734). We found that yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) elicitor and chitosan, both elicitors of plant defense responses, also activate this current and activation requires cytosolic NAD(P)H. These elicitors also induced elevations in the concentration of free cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) and stomatal closure in guard cells. ABA and ROS elicited [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillations in guard cells only when extracellular Ca(2+) was present. In a 5 mM KCl extracellular buffer, 45% of guard cells exhibited spontaneous [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillations that differed in their kinetic properties from ABA-induced Ca(2+) increases. These spontaneous [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillations also required the availability of extracellular Ca(2+) and depended on the extracellular potassium concentration. Interestingly, when ABA was applied to spontaneously oscillating cells, ABA caused cessation of [Ca(2+)](cyt) elevations in 62 of 101 cells, revealing a new mode of ABA signaling. These data show that fungal elicitors activate a shared branch with ABA in the stress signal transduction pathway in guard cells that activates plasma membrane I(Ca) channels and support a requirement for extracellular Ca(2+) for elicitor and ABA signaling, as well as for cellular [Ca(2+)](cyt) oscillation maintenance.

ABA-activated SnRK2 protein kinase is required for dehydration stress signaling in Arabidopsis

Protein phosphorylation has pivotal roles in ABA and osmotic stress signaling in higher plants. Two protein phosphatase genes, ABI1 and ABI2, are known to regulate these signaling pathways in Arabidopsis: The identity of ABA-activated protein kinases required for the ABA signaling, however, remains to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that two protein kinases, p44 and p42, were activated by ABA in Arabidopsis T87 cultured cells, and at least one protein kinase, p44, was activated not only by ABA but also by low humidity in Arabidopsis plants. Analysis of T-DNA knockout mutants and biochemical analysis using a specific antibody revealed that the p44 is encoded by a SnRK2-type protein kinase gene, SRK2E. The srk2e mutation resulted in a wilty phenotype mainly due to loss of stomatal closure in response to a rapid humidity decrease. ABA-inducible gene expression of rd22 and rd29B was suppressed in srk2e. These results show that SRK2E plays an important role in ABA signaling in response to water stress.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in postgermination arrest of development by abscisic acid

Abscisic acid (ABA) mediates plant responses to environmental stress, particularly to water status. During germination, the embryo emerges from dormancy as the ABA concentration declines. Exposure to exogenous ABA during germination arrests development rapidly, but reversibly, enabling seedlings to withstand early water stress without loss of viability. Postgermination proteolytic degradation of the essential ABI5 transcription factor is interrupted by perception of an increase in ABA concentration, leading to ABI5 accumulation and reactivation of embryonic genes. Making use of the ABA-hypersensitive hyl1 mutant of Arabidopsis, we show that the ABA signal is transmitted to the transcriptional apparatus through mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.

Localization, ion channel regulation, and genetic interactions during abscisic acid signaling of the nuclear mRNA cap-binding protein, ABH1

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates developmental processes and abiotic stress responses in plants. We recently characterized a new Arabidopsis mutant, abh1, which shows ABA-hypersensitive regulation of seed germination, stomatal closing, and cytosolic calcium increases in guard cells (V. Hugouvieux, J.M. Kwak, J.I. Schroeder [2001] Cell 106: 477-487). ABH1 encodes the large subunit of a dimeric Arabidopsis mRNA cap-binding complex and in expression profiling experiments was shown to affect mRNA levels of a subset of genes. Here, we show that the dimeric ABH1 and AtCBP20 subunits are ubiquitously expressed. Whole-plant growth phenotypes of abh1 are described and properties of ABH1 in guard cells are further analyzed. Complemented abh1 lines expressing a green fluorescent protein-ABH1 fusion protein demonstrate that ABH1 mainly localizes in guard cell nuclei. Stomatal apertures were smaller in abh1 compared with wild type (WT) when plants were grown at 40% humidity, and similar at 95% humidity. Correlated with stomatal apertures from plants grown at 40% humidity, slow anion channel currents were enhanced and inward potassium channel currents were decreased in abh1 guard cells compared with WT. Gas exchange measurements showed similar primary humidity responses in abh1 and WT, which together with results from abh1/abi1-1 double-mutant analyses suggest that abh1 shows enhanced sensitivity to endogenous ABA. Double-mutant analyses of the ABA-hypersensitive signaling mutants, era1-2 and abh1, showed complex genetic interactions, suggesting that ABH1 and ERA1 do not modulate the same negative regulator in ABA signaling. Mutations in the RNA-binding protein sad1 showed hypersensitive ABA-induced stomatal closing, whereas hyl1 did not affect this response. These data provide evidence for the model that the mRNA-processing proteins ABH1 and SAD1 function as negative regulators in guard cell ABA signaling.

The abscisic acid-responsive kinase PKABA1 interacts with a seed-specific abscisic acid response element-binding factor, TaABF, and phosphorylates TaABF peptide sequences

The abscisic acid (ABA)-induced protein kinase PKABA1 is present in dormant seeds and is a component of the signal transduction pathway leading to ABA-suppressed gene expression in cereal grains. We have identified a member of the ABA response element-binding factor (ABF) family of basic leucine zipper transcription factors from wheat (Triticum aestivum) that is specifically bound by PKABA1. This protein (TaABF) has highest sequence similarity to the Arabidopsis ABA response protein ABI5. In two-hybrid assays TaABF bound only to PKABA1, but not to a mutant version of PKABA1 lacking the nucleotide binding domain, suggesting that binding of TaABF requires prior binding of ATP as would be expected for binding of a protein substrate by a protein kinase. TaABF mRNA accumulated together with PKABA1 mRNA during wheat grain maturation and dormancy acquisition and TaABF transcripts increased transiently during imbibition of dormant grains. In contrast to PKABA1 mRNA, TaABF mRNA is seed specific and did not accumulate in vegetative tissues in response to stress or ABA application. PKABA1 produced in transformed cell lines was able to phosphorylate synthetic peptides representing three specific regions of TaABF. These data suggest that TaABF may serve as a physiological substrate for PKABA1 in the ABA signal transduction pathway during grain maturation, dormancy expression, and ABA-suppressed gene expression.

Modulation of an RNA-binding protein by abscisic-acid-activated protein kinase

Protein kinases are involved in stress signalling in both plant and animal systems. The hormone abscisic acid mediates the responses of plants to stresses such as drought, salinity and cold. Abscisic-acid-activated protein kinase (AAPK -- found in guard cells, which control stomatal pores -- has been shown to regulate plasma membrane ion channels. Here we show that AAPK-interacting protein 1 (AKIP1), with sequence homology to heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding protein A/B, is a substrate of AAPK. AAPK-dependent phosphorylation is required for the interaction of AKIP1 with messenger RNA that encodes dehydrin, a protein implicated in cell protection under stress conditions. AAPK and AKIP1 are present in the guard-cell nucleus, and in vivo treatment of such cells with abscisic acid enhances the partitioning of AKIP1 into subnuclear foci which are reminiscent of nuclear speckles. These results show that phosphorylation-regulated RNA target discrimination by heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding proteins may be a general phenomenon in eukaryotes, and implicate a plant hormone in the regulation of protein dynamics during rapid subnuclear reorganization.

Repression of stress-responsive genes by FIERY2, a novel transcriptional regulator in Arabidopsis

Low temperature, drought, and high salinity induce the expression of many plant genes. To understand the mechanisms for the transcriptional activation of these genes, we conducted a reporter gene-aided genetic screen in Arabidopsis. Seven allelic mutations in the FIERY2 (FRY2) locus result in significant increases in the expression of stress-responsive genes with the DRE/CRT (drought-responsive/C-repeat) cis element but non-DRE/CRT type stress-responsive genes were less affected. The specific regulation of DRE/CRT class of genes by FRY2 appears to be caused by repression of stress induction of the upstream CBF/DREB transcription factor genes. fry2 mutants show increased tolerance to salt stress and to abscisic acid during seed germination but are more sensitive to freezing damage at the seedling stage. FRY2/CPL1 encodes a novel transcriptional repressor harboring two double-stranded RNA-binding domains and a region homologous to the catalytic domain of RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain phosphatases found in yeast and in animals that regulate gene transcription. These data indicate that FRY2 is an important negative regulator of stress gene transcription and suggest that structured RNA may regulate hormone and stress responses in plants as it does in animals.

C-terminal domain phosphatase-like family members (AtCPLs) differentially regulate Arabidopsis thaliana abiotic stress signaling, growth, and development

Cold, hyperosmolarity, and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling induce RD29A expression, which is an indicator of the plant stress adaptation response. Two nonallelic Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype C24) T-DNA insertional mutations, cpl1 and cpl3, were identified based on hyperinduction of RD29A expression that was monitored by using the luciferase (LUC) reporter gene (RD29ALUC) imaging system. Genetic linkage analysis and complementation data established that the recessive cpl1 and cpl3 mutations are caused by T-DNA insertions in AtCPL1 (Arabidopsis C-terminal domain phosphatase-like) and AtCPL3, respectively. Gel assays using recombinant AtCPL1 and AtCPL3 detected innate phosphatase activity like other members of the phylogenetically conserved family that dephosphorylate the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). cpl1 mutation causes RD29ALUC hyperexpression and transcript accumulation in response to cold, ABA, and NaCl treatments, whereas the cpl3 mutation mediates hyperresponsiveness only to ABA. Northern analysis confirmed that LUC transcript accumulation also occurs in response to these stimuli. cpl1 plants accumulate biomass more rapidly and exhibit delayed flowering relative to wild type whereas cpl3 plants grow more slowly and flower earlier than wild-type plants. Hence AtCPL1 and AtCPL3 are negative regulators of stress responsive gene transcription and modulators of growth and development. These results suggest that C-terminal domain phosphatase regulation of RNAP II phosphorylation status is a focal control point of complex processes like plant stress responses and development. AtCPL family members apparently have both unique and overlapping transcriptional regulatory functions that differentiate the signal output that determines the plant response.

A calcium sensor and its interacting protein kinase are global regulators of abscisic acid signaling in Arabidopsis

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) triggers an oscillation in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration, which is then perceived by unknown Ca(2+) binding proteins to initiate a series of signaling cascades that control many physiological processes, including adaptation to environmental stress. We report here that a Ca(2+) binding protein, SCaBP5, and its interacting protein kinase, PKS3, function as global regulators of ABA responses. Arabidopsis mutants with silenced SCaBP5 or PKS3 are hypersensitive to ABA in seed germination, seedling growth, stomatal closing, and gene expression. PKS3 physically interacts with the 2C-type protein phosphatase ABI2 (ABA-insensitive 2) and to a lesser extent with the homologous ABI1 (ABA-insensitive 1) protein. Thus, SCaBP5 and PKS3 are part of a calcium-responsive negative regulatory loop controlling ABA sensitivity.

Cross-talk in abscisic acid signaling

"Cross-talk" in hormone signaling reflects an organism's ability to integrate different inputs and respond appropriately, a crucial function at the heart of signaling network operation. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone involved in bud and seed dormancy, growth regulation, leaf senescence and abscission, stomatal opening, and a variety of plant stress responses. This review summarizes what is known about ABA signaling in the control of stomatal opening and seed dormancy and provides an overview of emerging knowledge about connections between ABA, ethylene, sugar, and auxin synthesis and signaling.

A screen for genes that function in abscisic acid signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) controls many aspects of plant growth and development under a diverse range of environmental conditions. To identify genes functioning in ABA signaling, we have carried out a screen for mutants that takes advantage of the ability of wild-type Arabidopsis seeds to respond to (-)-(R)-ABA, an enantiomer of the natural (+)-(S)-ABA. The premise of the screen was to identify mutations that preferentially alter their germination response in the presence of one stereoisomer vs. the other. Twenty-six mutants were identified and genetic analysis on 23 lines defines two new loci, designated CHOTTO1 and CHOTTO2, and a collection of new mutant alleles of the ABA-insensitive genes, ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5. The abi5 alleles are less sensitive to (+)-ABA than to (-)-ABA. In contrast, the abi3 alleles exhibit a variety of differences in response to the ABA isomers. Genetic and molecular analysis of these alleles suggests that the ABI3 transcription factor may perceive multiple ABA signals.

Homeodomain protein ATHB6 is a target of the protein phosphatase ABI1 and regulates hormone responses in Arabidopsis

ABI1, a protein phosphatase 2C, is a key component of signal transduction in Arabidopsis. It regulates diverse responses to the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) such as stomatal closure, seed dormancy and inhibition of vegetative growth. By analysing proteins capable of interacting with ABI1, we have identified the homeodomain protein ATHB6 as a regulator of the ABA signal pathway. Critical for interaction between ATHB6 and ABI1 is an intact protein phosphatase domain and the N-terminal domain of ATHB6 containing the DNA-binding site. ATHB6 recognizes a cis-element present in its promoter, which encompasses the core motif (CAATTATTA) that mediated ATHB6- and ABA-dependent gene expression in protoplasts. In addition, transgenic plants containing a luciferase gene controlled by the ATHB6 promoter documented a strong ABA-inducible expression of the reporter which was abrogated in the ABA-insensitive abi1 mutant. Arabidopsis plants with constitutive expression of the transcriptional regulator revealed ABA insensitivity in a subset of ABI1-dependent responses. Thus, the homeodomain protein ATHB6 seems to represent a negative regulator of the ABA signal pathway and to act downstream of ABI1.

Use of infrared thermal imaging to isolate Arabidopsis mutants defective in stomatal regulation

In response to drought, plants synthesise the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), which triggers closure of the stomatal pores. This process is vital for plants to conserve water by reducing transpirational water loss. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the advantages of the Arabidopsis stomatal guard cell for combining genetic, molecular and biophysical approaches to characterise ABA action. However, genetic dissection of stomatal regulation has been limited by the difficulty of identifying a reliable phenotype for mutant screening. Leaf temperature can be used as an indicator to detect mutants with altered stomatal control, since transpiration causes leaf cooling. In this study, we optimised experimental conditions under which individual Arabidopsis plants with altered stomatal responses to drought can be identified by infrared thermography. These conditions were then used to perform a pilot screen for mutants that displayed a reduced ability to close their stomata and hence appeared colder than the wild type. Some of the mutants recovered were deficient in ABA accumulation, and corresponded to alleles of the ABA biosynthesis loci ABA1, ABA2 and ABA3. Interestingly, two of these novel aba2 alleles were able to intragenically complement the aba2-1 mutation. The remaining mutants showed reduced ABA responsiveness in guard cells. In addition to the previously known abi1-1 mutation, we isolated mutations at two novel loci designated as OST1 (OPEN STOMATA 1) and OST2. Remarkably, ost1 and ost2 represent, to our knowledge, the first Arabidopsis mutations altering ABA responsiveness in stomata and not in seeds.

Transcriptional regulation: a genomic overview

The availability of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequence allows a comprehensive analysis of transcriptional regulation in plants using novel genomic approaches and methodologies. Such a genomic view of transcription first necessitates the compilation of lists of elements. Transcription factors are the most numerous of the different types of proteins involved in transcription in eukaryotes, and the Arabidopsis genome codes for more than 1,500 of them, or approximately 6% of its total number of genes. A genome-wide comparison of transcription factors across the three eukaryotic kingdoms reveals the evolutionary generation of diversity in the components of the regulatory machinery of transcription. However, as illustrated by Arabidopsis, transcription in plants follows similar basic principles and logic to those in animals and fungi. A global view and understanding of transcription at a cellular and organismal level requires the characterization of the Arabidopsis transcriptome and promoterome, as well as of the interactome, the localizome, and the phenome of the proteins involved in transcription.

Guard cell signaling

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates the aperture of the stomatal pore. The recent identification of new intermediates involved in ABA signaling suggests that this complex pathway is organized as a module-based network.

Plant hormone signaling: getting the message out

Molecular genetic analysis has identified a variety of molecules that are required for correct signaling of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). It now appears that proteins involved in RNA metabolism also modulate the ABA response in Arabidopsis.

Modulation of abscisic acid signal transduction and biosynthesis by an Sm-like protein in Arabidopsis

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates plant growth and development as well as stress tolerance. The Arabidopsis sad1 (supersensitive to ABA and drought) mutation increases plant sensitivity to drought stress and ABA in seed germination, root growth, and the expression of some stress-responsive genes. sad1 plants are also defective in the positive feedback regulation of ABA biosynthesis genes by ABA and are impaired in drought stress induction of ABA biosynthesis. SAD1 encodes a polypeptide similar to multifunctional Sm-like snRNP proteins that are required for mRNA splicing, export, and degradation. These results suggest a critical role for mRNA metabolism in the control of ABA signaling as well as in the regulation of ABA homeostasis.

GUARD CELL SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Guard cells surround stomatal pores in the epidermis of plant leaves and stems. Stomatal pore opening is essential for CO2 influx into leaves for photosynthetic carbon fixation. In exchange, plants lose over 95% of their water via transpiration to the atmosphere. Signal transduction mechanisms in guard cells integrate hormonal stimuli, light signals, water status, CO2, temperature, and other environmental conditions to modulate stomatal apertures for regulation of gas exchange and plant survival under diverse conditions. Stomatal guard cells have become a highly developed model system for characterizing early signal transduction mechanisms in plants and for elucidating how individual signaling mechanisms can interact within a network in a single cell. In this review we focus on recent advances in understanding signal transduction mechanisms in guard cells.