Abstract
Brassinosteroid (BR) regulates gene expression and plant development through a receptor kinase-mediated signal transduction pathway. Despite the identification of many components of this pathway, it remains unclear how the BR signal is transduced from the cell surface to the nucleus. Here we describe a complete BR signalling pathway by elucidating key missing steps. We show that phosphorylation of BSK1 (BR-signalling kinase 1) by the BR receptor kinase BRI1 (BR-insensitive 1) promotes BSK1 binding to the BSU1 (BRI1 suppressor 1) phosphatase, and BSU1 inactivates the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 (BR-insensitive 2) by dephosphorylating a conserved phospho-tyrosine residue (pTyr 200). Mutations that affect phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of BIN2 pTyr200 (bin2-1, bin2-Y200F and quadruple loss-of-function of BSU1-related phosphatases) support an essential role for BSU1-mediated BIN2 dephosphorylation in BR-dependent plant growth. These results demonstrate direct sequential BR activation of BRI1, BSK1 and BSU1, and inactivation of BIN2, leading to accumulation of unphosphorylated BZR (brassinazole resistant) transcription factors in the nucleus. This study establishes a fully connected BR signalling pathway and provides new insights into the mechanism of GSK3 regulation.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Binding Sites / genetics
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Brassinosteroids
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Cell Nucleus / genetics
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
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Cholestanols / pharmacology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
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Genes, Plant
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Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / chemistry
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
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Mutation
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Phosphorylation / drug effects
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Phytosterols / metabolism
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Phytosterols / pharmacology
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Plant Growth Regulators / pharmacology
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Plant Proteins / chemistry
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Plant Proteins / genetics
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Plant Proteins / metabolism*
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Protein Binding
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / genetics
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Steroids, Heterocyclic / metabolism*
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Steroids, Heterocyclic / pharmacology
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Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
Substances
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Brassinosteroids
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Cholestanols
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Nuclear Proteins
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Phytosterols
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Plant Growth Regulators
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Plant Proteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Steroids, Heterocyclic
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Glutathione Transferase
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
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brassinolide