Direct interaction of a divergent CaM isoform and the transcription factor, MYB2, enhances salt tolerance in arabidopsis

J Biol Chem. 2005 Feb 4;280(5):3697-706. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M408237200. Epub 2004 Nov 29.

Abstract

Calmodulin (CaM), a ubiquitous calcium-binding protein, regulates diverse cellular functions by modulating the activity of a variety of enzymes and proteins. Plants express numerous CaM isoforms that exhibit differential activation and/or inhibition of CaM-dependent enzymes in vitro. However, the specific biological functions of plant CaM are not well known. In this study, we isolated a cDNA encoding a CaM binding transcription factor, MYB2, that regulates the expression of salt- and dehydration-responsive genes in Arabidopsis. This was achieved using a salt-inducible CaM isoform (GmCaM4) as a probe from a salt-treated Arabidopsis expression library. Using domain mapping, we identified a Ca2+-dependent CaM binding domain in MYB2. The specific binding of CaM to CaM binding domain was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis, a gel mobility shift assay, split ubiquitin assay, and a competition assay using a Ca2+/CaM-dependent enzyme. Interestingly, the specific CaM isoform GmCaM4 enhances the DNA binding activity of AtMYB2, whereas this was inhibited by a closely related CaM isoform (GmCaM1). Overexpression of Gm-CaM4 in Arabidopsis up-regulates the transcription rate of AtMYB2-regulated genes, including the proline-synthesizing enzyme P5CS1 (Delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase-1), which confers salt tolerance by facilitating proline accumulation. Therefore, we suggest that a specific CaM isoform mediates salt-induced Ca2+ signaling through the activation of an MYB transcriptional activator, thereby resulting in salt tolerance in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology
  • Calmodulin / chemistry
  • Calmodulin / genetics*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / physiology
  • Isomerism
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Proline / metabolism
  • Salts / metabolism*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin
  • Yeasts

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Calmodulin
  • DNA, Complementary
  • MYB2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Salts
  • Trans-Activators
  • Ubiquitin
  • Proline