Regulation of genes associated with auxin, ethylene and ABA pathways by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in Arabidopsis.
The chemical 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) regulates plant growth and development and mimics auxins in exhibiting a biphasic mode of action. Although gene regulation in response to the natural auxin indole acetic acid (IAA) has been examined, the molecular mode of action of 2,4-D is poorly understood. Data from biochemical studies, (Grossmann (2000) Mode of action of auxin herbicides: a new ending to a long, drawn out story. Trends Plant Sci 5:506-508) proposed that at high concentrations, auxins and auxinic herbicides induced the plant hormones ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA), leading to inhibited plant growth and senescence. Further, in a recent gene expression study (Raghavan et al. (2005) Effect of herbicidal application of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in Arabidopsis. Funct Integr Genomics 5:4-17), we have confirmed that at high concentrations, 2,4-D induced the expression of the gene NCED1, which encodes 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, a key regulatory enzyme of ABA biosynthesis. To understand the concentration-dependent mode of action of 2,4-D, we further examined the regulation of whole genome of Arabidopsis in response to a range of 2,4-D concentrations from 0.001 to 1.0 mM, using the ATH1-121501 Arabidopsis whole genome microarray developed by Affymetrix. Results of this study indicated that 2,4-D induced the expression of auxin-response genes (IAA1, IAA13, IAA19) at both auxinic and herbicidal levels of application, whereas the TIR1 and ASK1 genes, which are associated with ubiquitin-mediated auxin signalling, were down-regulated in response to low concentrations of 2,4-D application. It was also observed that in response to low concentrations of 2,4-D, ethylene biosynthesis was induced, as suggested by the up-regulation of genes encoding 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase. Although genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis were not regulated in response to 0.1 and 1.0 mM 2,4-D, ethylene signalling was induced as indicated by the down-regulation of CTR1 and ERS, both of which play a key role in the ethylene signalling pathway. In response to 1.0 mM 2,4-D, both ABA biosynthesis and signalling were induced, in contrast to the response to lower concentrations of 2,4-D where ABA biosynthesis was suppressed. We present a comprehensive model indicating a molecular mode of action for 2,4-D in Arabidopsis and the effects of this growth regulator on the auxin, ethylene and abscisic acid pathways.
Raghavan
Chitra
C
School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
Ong
Eng Kok
EK
Dalling
Michael J
MJ
Stevenson
Trevor W
TW
D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005030:Ethylenes; D006540:Herbicides; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D000040:Abscisic Acid; C036216:ethylene