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Rice A20/AN1 zinc‐finger containing stress‐associated proteins (SAP1/11) and a receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinase (OsRLCK253) interact via A20 zinc‐finger and confer abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants
Author(s) -
Giri Jitender,
Vij Shubha,
Dansana Prasant K.,
Tyagi Akhilesh K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03740.x
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , abiotic stress , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , zinc finger , transgene , subcellular localization , abiotic component , cytoplasm , bimolecular fluorescence complementation , gene , genetics , transcription factor , mutant , paleontology
Summary• The inbuilt mechanisms of plant survival have been exploited for improving tolerance to abiotic stresses. Stress‐associated proteins (SAPs), containing A20/AN1 zinc‐finger domains, confer abiotic stress tolerance in different plants, however, their interacting partners and downstream targets remain to be identified. • In this study, we have investigated the subcellular interactions of rice SAPs and their interacting partner using yeast two‐hybrid and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approaches. Their efficacy in improving abiotic stress tolerance was analysed in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Regulation of gene expression by genome‐wide microarray in transgenics was used to identify downstream targets. • It was found that the A20 domain mediates the interaction of OsSAP1 with self, its close homolog OsSAP11 and a rice receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinase, OsRLCK253. Such interactions between OsSAP1/11 and with OsRLCK253 occur at nuclear membrane, plasma membrane and in nucleus. Functionally, both OsSAP11 and OsRLCK253 could improve the water‐deficit and salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants via a signaling pathway affecting the expression of several common endogenous genes. • Components of a novel stress‐responsive pathway have been identified. Their stress‐inducible expression provided the protection against yield loss in transgenic plants, indicating the agronomic relevance of OsSAP11 and OsRLCK253 in conferring abiotic stress tolerance.