Interactions between plant RING-H2 and plant-specific NAC (NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2) proteins: RING-H2 molecular specificity and cellular localization

Biochem J. 2003 Apr 1;371(Pt 1):97-108. doi: 10.1042/BJ20021123.

Abstract

Numerous, highly conserved RING-H2 domains are found in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress). To characterize potential RING-H2 protein interactions, the small RING-H2 protein RHA2a was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. RHA2a interacted with one of the plant-specific NAC [NAM ('no apical meristem'), ATAF1/2, CUC2 ('cup-shaped cotyledons 2')] transcription factors, here named ANAC (abscisic acid-responsive NAC). The core RING-H2 domain was sufficient for the interaction. The ability of 11 structurally diverse RING-H2 domains to interact with ANAC was then examined. Robust interaction was detected for three of the domains, suggesting multi-specificity for the interaction. The domains that interacted with ANAC contain a glutamic acid residue in a position corresponding to a proline in many RING-H2 domains. Conversion of this glutamic acid residue into proline in RHA2a decreased its ability to interact with ANAC, most likely by changing the interaction surface. This suggested that a short, divergent region in RING-H2 domains modulate interaction specificity. ANAC contains a degenerate bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS), while RHG1a, also identified as an ANAC interaction partner, contains a basic NLS. Both signals localized beta-glucuronidase reporter fusions to the nucleus. N-terminally truncated RHA2a also directed nuclear localization, apparently dependent on basic amino acids in the RING-H2 domain. Nuclear co-localization of the RING-H2 proteins and ANAC may enable their interaction in vivo to regulate the activity of the ANAC transcription factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / chemistry
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • ANAC protein, Arabidopsis
  • ATAF1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • CUC2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Carrier Proteins
  • NAM protein, Petunia hybrida
  • Plant Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ubiquitin
  • RHA2a protein, Arabidopsis
  • RHG1a protein, Arabidopsis
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases