A membrane-associated NAC transcription factor regulates salt-responsive flowering via FLOWERING LOCUS T in Arabidopsis

Planta. 2007 Aug;226(3):647-54. doi: 10.1007/s00425-007-0513-3. Epub 2007 Apr 5.

Abstract

The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) transcription factors play regulatory roles in diverse developmental processes and stress responses. Notably, a subset of the NAC members, collectively designated NTLs, is membrane-associated, suggesting that membrane-mediated regulation would be an important molecular scheme functioning in rapid transcriptional responses to external stimuli. Here, we examined the physiological role of a salt-responsive NTL, NTL8, by molecular genetic and transgenic approaches. NTL8 is expressed as a membrane-associated, dormant form and subsequently processed into a transcriptionally active, nuclear form. Transgenic plants overproducing an active NTL8 form exhibited delayed flowering as well as reduced growth with small curled leaves. Accordingly, expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and its downstream genes was significantly reduced in the transgenic plants. Furthermore, FT was significantly repressed by high salt. We therefore propose that NTL8 mediates salt-responsive flowering via FT in Arabidopsis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / chemistry
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Flowers / drug effects*
  • Flowers / physiology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Genes, Plant
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phenotype
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology*
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • FT protein, Arabidopsis
  • NTL8 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors
  • Sodium Chloride