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Two MYB-related transcription factors play opposite roles in sugar signaling in Arabidopsis

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Sugar regulation of gene expression has profound effects at all stages of the plant life cycle. Although regulation at the transcriptional level is one of the most prominent mechanisms by which gene expression is regulated, only a few transcription factors have been identified and demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of sugar-regulated gene expression. OsMYBS1, an R1/2-type MYB transcription factor, has been demonstrated to be involved in sugar- and hormone-regulated α-amylase gene expression in rice. Arabidopsis contains two OsMYBS1 homologs. In the present study, we investigate MYBS1 and MYBS2 in sugar signaling in Arabidopsis. Our results indicate that MYBS1 and MYBS2 play opposite roles in regulating glucose and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis during seed germination and early seedling development.

Abstract

MYB proteins have been classified into four subfamilies: R2R3-MYB, R1/2-MYB, 3R-MYB, and 4R-MYB. An R1/2-type MYB transcription factor, OsMYBS1, has been demonstrated to be involved in sugar- and hormone-regulated α-amylase genes expression in rice. In this study, two genes homologous to OsMYBS1, MYBS1 and MYBS2, were investigated in Arabidopsis. Subcellular localization analysis showed that MYBS1 and MYBS2 were localized in the nucleus. Rice embryo transient expression assays indicated that both MYBS1 and MYBS2 could recognize the sugar response element, TA-box, in the promoter and induced promoter activity. mybs1 mutant exhibited hypersensitivity to glucose, whereas mybs2 seedlings were hyposensitive to it. MYBS1 and MYBS2 are involved in the control of glucose-responsive gene expression, as the mybs1 mutant displayed increased expression of a hexokinase gene (HXK1), chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene (CAB1), ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (APL3), and chalcone synthase gene (CHS), whereas the mybs2 mutant exhibited decreased expression of these genes. mybs1 also showed an enhanced response to abscisic acid (ABA) in the seed germination and seedling growth stages, while mybs2 showed reduced responses. The ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone rescued the mybs1 glucose-hypersensitive phenotype. Moreover, the mRNA levels of three ABA biosynthesis genes, ABA1, NCED9, and AAO3, and three ABA signaling genes, ABI3, ABI4, and ABI5, were increased upon glucose treatment of mybs1 seedlings, but were decreased in mybs2 seedlings. These results indicate that MYBS1 and MYBS2 play opposite roles in regulating glucose and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis during seed germination and early seedling development.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants (104-2321-B-008-001 and 105-2321-B-008-001) from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China, Taiwan.

Authors’ contributions

YC, YC, and CL participated in the design of the study. YC, YC, and TT carried out the gene cloning, real-time RT-PCR, and subcellular localization. PL and CH carried out the GUS activity assay. TT, and CH carried out the bioinformatics analysis. YC, and CL carried out data analysis, and wrote manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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    1. Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan

      Yi-Shih Chen, Yi-Chi Chao, Tzu-Wei Tseng, Chun-Kai Huang, Pei-Ching Lo & Chung-An Lu

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    1. Yi-Shih Chen
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    Correspondence to Chung-An Lu.

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    Yi-Shih Chen and Yi-Chi Chao have contributed equally to this work.

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    Chen, YS., Chao, YC., Tseng, TW. et al. Two MYB-related transcription factors play opposite roles in sugar signaling in Arabidopsis . Plant Mol Biol 93, 299–311 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-016-0562-8

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