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An amiRNA screen uncovers redundant CBF and ERF34 /35 transcription factors that differentially regulate arsenite and cadmium responses
Author(s) -
Xie Qingqing,
Yu Qi,
Jobe Timothy O.,
Pham Allis,
Ge Chennan,
Guo Qianqian,
Liu Jianxiu,
Liu Honghong,
Zhang Huijie,
Zhao Yunde,
Xue Shaowu,
Hauser Felix,
Schroeder Julian I.
Publication year - 2021
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.14023
Subject(s) - biology , arsenite , gene , transcription factor , genetics , transcription (linguistics) , promoter , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , arsenic , chemistry , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Arsenic stress causes rapid transcriptional responses in plants. However, transcriptional regulators of arsenic‐induced gene expression in plants remain less well known. To date, forward genetic screens have proven limited for dissecting arsenic response mechanisms. We hypothesized that this may be due to the extensive genetic redundancy present in plant genomes. To overcome this limitation, we pursued a forward genetic screen for arsenite tolerance using a randomized library of plants expressing >2,000 artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs). This library was designed to knock‐down diverse combinations of homologous gene family members within sub‐clades of transcription factor and transporter gene families. We identified six transformant lines showing an altered response to arsenite in root growth assays. Further characterization of an amiRNA line targeting closely homologous CBF and ERF transcription factors show that the CBF1,2 and 3 transcription factors negatively regulate arsenite sensitivity. Furthermore, the ERF34 and ERF35 transcription factors are required for cadmium resistance. Generation of CRISPR lines, higher‐order T‐DNA mutants and gene expression analyses, further support our findings. These ERF transcription factors differentially regulate arsenite sensitivity and cadmium tolerance.