Preferential up-regulation of G2/M phase-specific genes by overexpression of the hyperactive form of NtmybA2 lacking its negative regulation domain in tobacco BY-2 cells

Plant Physiol. 2009 Apr;149(4):1945-57. doi: 10.1104/pp.109.135582. Epub 2009 Feb 25.

Abstract

Many G2/M phase-specific genes in plants contain mitosis-specific activator (MSA) elements, which act as G2/M phase-specific enhancers and bind with R1R2R3-Myb transcription factors. Here, we examined the genome-wide effects of NtmybA2 overexpression, one of the R1R2R3-Myb transcription factors in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). We used a custom-made 16-K cDNA microarray for comparative transcriptome analysis of transgenic tobacco BY-2 cell lines that overexpress NtmybA2 or its truncated hyperactive form. The microarray was also used to determine the transcript profile during the cell cycle in synchronized cultures of BY-2 cells. Combined microarray data from transgenic lines and synchronized cells revealed that overexpression of the truncated hyperactive form of NtmybA2, but not its full-length form, preferentially up-regulated many G2/M phase-specific genes in BY-2 cells. We determined promoter sequences of several such up-regulated genes and showed that all contain MSA-like motifs in the proximal regions of their promoters. One of the up-regulated genes, NtE2C, encoding for cyclin-specific ubiquitin carrier proteins, contained a single functional MSA-like motif, which specifically controlled the expression of a reporter gene in the G2/M phase in BY-2 cells. Furthermore, a genomic footprint experiment showed that the MSA element in the NtE2C promoter interacted with nuclear proteins in vivo. Therefore, we propose that the transcription of many G2/M phase-specific genes in tobacco is positively regulated by NtmybA2, in most cases through direct binding to the MSA elements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Division / genetics*
  • DNA Footprinting
  • G2 Phase / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Homeostasis
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / cytology
  • Nicotiana / genetics*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*

Substances

  • Mutant Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
  • RNA, Messenger

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB472848
  • GENBANK/AB472849
  • GENBANK/AB472850
  • GENBANK/AB472851
  • GENBANK/AB472852
  • GENBANK/AB472853
  • GENBANK/AB472854
  • GENBANK/AB472855
  • GEO/GSE14250
  • GEO/GSE14251