A zinc finger protein gene ZFP5 integrates phytohormone signaling to control root hair development in Arabidopsis

Lijun An; Zhongjing Zhou; Lili Sun; An Yan; Wanyan Xi; Nan Yu; Wenjuan Cai; Xiaoya Chen; Hao Yu; John Schiefelbein; Yinbo Gan

doi:10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05094.x

A zinc finger protein gene ZFP5 integrates phytohormone signaling to control root hair development in Arabidopsis

Plant J. 2012 Nov;72(3):474-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05094.x. Epub 2012 Aug 14.

Authors

Lijun An¹, Zhongjing Zhou, Lili Sun, An Yan, Wanyan Xi, Nan Yu, Wenjuan Cai, Xiaoya Chen, Hao Yu, John Schiefelbein, Yinbo Gan

Affiliation

¹ Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou 310058, China.

PMID: 22762888
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05094.x

Abstract

Although root hair development in Arabidopsis thaliana has been extensively studied, it remains unknown whether the zinc finger proteins, the largest family of transcription factors in plants, are involved in this process. Here we report that the C2H2 zinc finger protein ZINC FINGER PROTEIN 5 (ZFP5) is a key regulator of root hair initiation and morphogenesis in Arabidopsis. ZFP5 is mainly expressed in root and preferentially in root hair cells. Using both zfp5 mutants and ZFP5 RNAi lines, we show that reduction in ZFP5 function leads to fewer and much shorter root hairs compared to wild-type. Genetic and molecular experiments demonstrate that ZFP5 exerts its effect on root hair development by directly promoting expression of the CAPRICE (CPC) gene. Furthermore, we show that ZFP5 expression is induced by cytokinin, and that ZFP5 mediates cytokinin and ethylene effects on the formation and growth of root hairs. These results suggest that ZFP5 integrates various plant hormone cues to control root epidermal cell development in Arabidopsis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Arabidopsis / genetics*
Arabidopsis / growth & development
Arabidopsis / physiology
Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
Cell Differentiation
Cytokinins / pharmacology
Ethylenes / pharmacology
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
Genotype
Mutation
Organ Specificity
Phenotype
Plant Epidermis / genetics
Plant Epidermis / growth & development
Plant Epidermis / physiology
Plant Growth Regulators / pharmacology*
Plant Roots / genetics
Plant Roots / growth & development*
Plant Roots / metabolism
Plants, Genetically Modified
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / genetics
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb / metabolism
Seedlings / genetics
Seedlings / growth & development
Seedlings / physiology
Signal Transduction*
Transcription Factors / genetics
Transcription Factors / metabolism
Zinc Fingers

Substances

Arabidopsis Proteins
CPC protein, Arabidopsis
Cytokinins
Ethylenes
Plant Growth Regulators
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
Transcription Factors
zinc finger protein 5, Arabidopsis
ethylene