title: ERD15--an attenuator of plant ABA responses and stomatal aperture.
abstract: Plants are continuously challenged by abiotic and biotic stress factors and need to mount appropriate responses to ensure optimal growth and survival. We have identified ERD15 as a central component in several stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Comparative genomics demonstrates that ERD15 is a member of a small but highly conserved protein family ubiquitous but specific to the plant kingdom. The origin of ERD15 family of proteins can be traced to the time of emergence of land plants. The presence of the conserved PAM2 motif in ERD15 proteins is indicative of a possible interaction with poly(A) binding proteins and could suggest a role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. The function of the other highly conserved motifs in ERD15 remains to be elucidated. The biological role of all ERD15 family members studied so far appears associated to stress responses and stress adaptation. Studies in Arabidopsis demonstrate a role in abiotic stress tolerance where ERD15 is a negative regulator of ABA signaling. The role in ABA signaling may also explain how ERD15 regulates stomatal aperture and consequently controls plant water relations.
authors: Department of Biosciences, Division of Genetics, POB 56, Viikki Biocenter, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. markku.k.aalto@helsinki.fi
authors: Markku K
authors: MK
authors: Aalto
authors: Elina
authors: E
authors: Helenius
authors: Tarja
authors: T
authors: Kariola
authors: Ville
authors: V
authors: Pennanen
authors: Pekka
authors: P
authors: Heino
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Hõrak
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Puzõrjova
authors: Hannes
authors: H
authors: Kollist
authors: E Tapio
authors: ET
authors: Palva
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C441601:ERD15 protein, Arabidopsis; D000040:Abscisic Acid