DNA-Binding Specificity of the ERF/AP2 Domain of Arabidopsis DREBs, Transcription Factors Involved in Dehydration- and Cold-Inducible Gene Expression

doi:10.1006/bbrc.2001.6299

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Volume 290, Issue 3, 25 January 2002, Pages 998-1009

https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.2001.6299 Get rights and content

Abstract

DRE/CRT is a cis-acting element that is involved in gene expression responsive to drought and low-temperature stress in higher plants. DREB1A/CBF3 and DREB2A are transcription factors that specifically bind to DRE/CRT in Arabidopsis. We precisely analyzed the DNA-binding specificity of DREBs. Both DREBs specifically bound to six nucleotides (A/GCCGAC) of DRE. However, these proteins had different binding specificities to the second or third nucleotides of DRE. Gel mobility shift assay using mutant DREB proteins showed that the two amino acids, valine and glutamic acid conserved in the ERF/AP2 domains, especially valine, have important roles in DNA-binding specificity. In the Arabidopsis genome, 145 DREB/ERF-related proteins are encoded. These proteins were classified into five groups—AP-2 subfamily, RAV subfamily, DREB subfamily, ERF subfamily, and others. The DREB subfamily included three novel DREB1A- and six DREB2A-related proteins. We analyzed expression of novel genes for these proteins and discuss their roles in stress-responsive gene expression.

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¹: Present address: Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Yuan, Haidian, Beijing 100084, China.

²: Present address: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Totipotency, Department of Plant Gene and Totipotency, Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.

³: For correspondence: Kazuko Yamaguchi-Shinozaki—Fax: +81 298 38 6643, E-mail: [email protected]; or Kazuo Shinozaki—Fax: +81 298 36 9061, E-mail: [email protected].

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Regular ArticleDNA-Binding Specificity of the ERF/AP2 Domain of Arabidopsis DREBs, Transcription Factors Involved in Dehydration- and Cold-Inducible Gene Expression

Abstract

Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.

Trends Plant Sci.

Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

FEBS Lett.

J. Biol. Chem.

The molecular basis of dehydration tolerance in plants

Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol.

Gene expression and signal transduction in water-stress response

Plant Physiol.

Plant cold acclimation: Freezing tolerance genes and regulatory mechanisms

Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol.

A novel cis-acting element in an Arabidopsis gene is involved in responsiveness to drought, low-temperature, or high-salt stress

Plant Cell

The 5′-region of Arabidopsis thaliana cor15a has cis-acting elements that confer cold-, drought- and ABA-regulated gene expression

Plant Mol. Biol.

Requirement of a CCGAC cis-acting element for cold induction of the BN115 gene from winter Brassica napus

Plant Mol. Biol.

Two transcription factors, DREB1 and DREB2, with an EREBP/AP2 DNA binding domain separate two cellular signal transduction pathways in drought- and low-temperature-responsive gene expression, respectively, in Arabidopsis

Plant Cell

Arabidopsis thaliana CBF1 encodes an AP2 domain-containing transcriptional activator that binds to the C-repeat/DRE, a cis-acting DNA regulatory element that stimulates transcription in response to low temperature and water deficit

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA

Low temperature regulation of the Arabidopsis CBF family of AP2 transcriptional activators as an early step in cold-induced COR gene expression

Plant J.

Organization and expression of two Arabidopsis DREB2 genes encoding DRE-binding proteins involved in dehydration- and high-salinity-responsive gene expression

Plant Mol. Biol.

Arabidopsis CBF1 overexpression induces COR genes and enhances freezing tolerance

Science

Improving plant drought, salt, and freezing tolerance by gene transfer of a single stress-inducible transcription factor

Nat. Biotechnol.

Overexpression of the Arabidopsis CBF3 transcriptional activator mimics multiple biochemical changes associated with cold acclimation

Plant Physiol.

The AP2/EREBP family of plant transcription factors

Biol. Chem.

Arabidopsis transcription factors: Genome-wide comparative analysis among eukaryotes

Science

Control of Arabidopsis flower and seed development by the homeotic gene APETALA2

Plant Cell

Regular Article
DNA-Binding Specificity of the ERF/AP2 Domain of Arabidopsis DREBs, Transcription Factors Involved in Dehydration- and Cold-Inducible Gene Expression