Type 2C protein phosphatases directly regulate abscisic acid-activated protein kinases in Arabidopsis.
Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling is important for stress responses and developmental processes in plants. A subgroup of protein phosphatase 2C (group A PP2C) or SNF1-related protein kinase 2 (subclass III SnRK2) have been known as major negative or positive regulators of ABA signaling, respectively. Here, we demonstrate the physical and functional linkage between these two major signaling factors. Group A PP2Cs interacted physically with SnRK2s in various combinations, and efficiently inactivated ABA-activated SnRK2s via dephosphorylation of multiple Ser/Thr residues in the activation loop. This step was suppressed by the RCAR/PYR ABA receptors in response to ABA. However the abi1-1 mutated PP2C did not respond to the receptors and constitutively inactivated SnRK2. Our results demonstrate that group A PP2Cs act as 'gatekeepers' of subclass III SnRK2s, unraveling an important regulatory mechanism of ABA signaling.
Umezawa
Taishi
T
Gene Discovery Research Team, RIKEN Plant Science Center, 3-1-1 Kouyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan.
Sugiyama
Naoyuki
N
Mizoguchi
Masahide
M
Hayashi
Shimpei
S
Myouga
Fumiyoshi
F
Yamaguchi-Shinozaki
Kazuko
K
Ishihama
Yasushi
Y
Hirayama
Takashi
T
Shinozaki
Kazuo
K
D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D007700:Kinetics; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D031307:Vicia faba / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000040:Abscisic Acid; D011494:Protein Kinases; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C