ATAF2, a NAC transcription factor, binds to the promoter and regulates NIT2 gene expression involved in auxin biosynthesis

Sung Un Huh, Suk Bae Lee, Hwang Hyun Kim, Kyung Hee Paek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The transcription factor ATAF2, one of the plant specific NAC family genes, is known as repressor of pathogenesisrelated genes and responsive to the diverse defense-related hormones, pathogen infection, and wounding stress. Furthermore, it is important to consider that tryptophandependant IAA biosynthesis pathway can be activated by wounding and pathogen. We found that ATAF2pro::GUS reporter was induced upon indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN) treatments. And ataf2 mutant showed reduced sensitivity to IAN whereas 35S::ATAF2 plants showed hyper-sensitivity to IAN. IAN biosynthesis required nitrilase involved in the conversion of IAN to an auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). We found that the NIT2 gene was repressed in ataf2 knockout plants. Expression of both ATAF2 and NIT2 genes was induced by IAN treatment. Transgenic plants overexpressing ATAF2 showed up-regulated NIT2 expression. ATAF2 activated promoter of the NIT2 gene in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that NIT2 promoter region from position -117 to -82 contains an ATAF2 binding site where an imperfect palindrome sequence was critical to the protein-DNA interaction. These findings indicate that ATAF2 regulates NIT2 gene expression via NIT2 promoter binding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)305-313
Number of pages9
JournalMolecules and cells
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Sept

Keywords

  • ATAF2
  • Arabidopsis
  • Auxin
  • NAC transcription factor
  • Nitrilase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'ATAF2, a NAC transcription factor, binds to the promoter and regulates NIT2 gene expression involved in auxin biosynthesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this