The transcription factor WIN1/SHN1 regulates Cutin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The composition and permeability of the cuticle has a large influence on its ability to protect the plant against various forms of biotic and abiotic stress. WAX INDUCER1 (WIN1) and related transcription factors have recently been shown to trigger wax production, enhance drought tolerance, and modulate cuticular permeability when overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that WIN1 influences the composition of cutin, a polyester that forms the backbone of the cuticle. WIN1 overexpression induces compositional changes and an overall increase in cutin production in vegetative and reproductive organs, while its downregulation has the opposite effect. Changes in cutin composition are preceded by the rapid and coordinated induction of several genes known or likely to be involved in cutin biosynthesis. This transcriptional response is followed after a delay by the induction of genes associated with wax biosynthesis, suggesting that the regulation of cutin and wax production by WIN1 is a two-step process. We demonstrate that at least one of the cutin pathway genes, which encodes long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase LACS2, is likely to be directly targeted by WIN1. Overall, our results suggest that WIN1 modulates cuticle permeability in Arabidopsis by regulating genes encoding cutin pathway enzymes.
Kannangara
Rubini
R
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK.
Branigan
Caroline
C
Liu
Yan
Y
Penfield
Teresa
T
Rao
Vijaya
V
Mouille
Grégory
G
Höfte
Herman
H
Pauly
Markus
M
Riechmann
José Luis
JL
Broun
Pierre
P
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014885:Waxes / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; C493656:Shn1 protein, Arabidopsis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C487812:WIN1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014885:Waxes; C000521:cutin; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases