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Age‐dependent regulation of ERF‐VII transcription factor activity in Arabidopsis thaliana
Author(s) -
Giuntoli Beatrice,
Shukla Vinay,
Maggiorelli Federica,
Giorgi Federico M.,
Lombardi Lara,
Perata Pierdomenico,
Licausi Francesco
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.13037
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , transcription factor , regulator , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , repressor , transcriptional regulation , arabidopsis thaliana , transcription (linguistics) , transgene , regulation of gene expression , genetics , mutant , linguistics , philosophy
The Group VII Ethylene Responsive Factors (ERFs‐VII) RAP2.2 and RAP2.12 have been mainly characterized with regard to their contribution as activators of fermentation in plants. However, transcriptional changes measured in conditions that stabilize these transcription factors exceed the mere activation of this biochemical pathway, implying additional roles performed by the ERF‐VIIs in other processes. We evaluated gene expression in transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing a stabilized form of RAP2.12, or hampered in ERF‐VII activity, and identified genes affected by this transcriptional regulator and its homologs, including some involved in oxidative stress response, which are not universally induced under anaerobic conditions. The contribution of the ERF‐VIIs in regulating this set of genes in response to chemically induced or submergence‐stimulated mitochondria malfunctioning was found to depend on the plant developmental stage. A similar age‐dependent mechanism also restrained ERF‐VII activity upon the core‐hypoxic genes, independently of the N‐end rule pathway, which is accounted for the control of the anaerobic response. To conclude, this study shed new light on a dual role of ERF‐VII proteins under submergence: as positive regulators of the hypoxic response and as repressors of oxidative‐stress related genes, depending on the developmental stage at which plants are challenged by stress conditions.