KIN10/11 Are Master Regulators of the Convergent Stress Transcriptome

Abstract

Different types of stress result in both specific and convergent responses that modulate plant growth and development. The elucidation of common regulatory nodes may provide insight into the functional basis of stress tolerance and cross-protection. Large-scale generation and comparison of microarray data has recently revealed that part of the cross-talk among the various stress response pathways occurs at the gene expression level, with diverse types of stress triggering overlapping transcriptional responses. We have identified Arabidopsis KIN10 and KIN11 as central regulators of the convergent stress transcriptome. Sensing and signaling stress-associated energy deprivation, these protein kinases (PKs) trigger global gene expression reprogramming, enabling the adjustment of energy homeostasis necessary for coping with stress. The remarkably broad transcriptional program promotes catabolism and autophagy, and suppresses anabolism and ribosome biogenesis. Significantly, KIN10/11 also target a plethora of transcriptional and signaling regulators to orchestrate global responses beyond metabolic regulation. Analyses of gain- and loss-of-function mutants uncover the picture that KIN10/11 are central regulators for the integration of metabolic, environmental and hormonal cues during plant growth and development.