title: A full-length R-like basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor is required for anthocyanin upregulation whereas the N-terminal region regulates epidermal hair formation.
abstract: Earlier studies have shown that the Lc gene of maize, a member of the R gene family that encode basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, is involved with anthocyanin production and trichome formation in Arabidopsis. We previously reported that the N-terminus of R protein interacts with CAPRICE (CPC), a regulatory protein, in triggering epidermal hair differentiation in Arabidopsis. In this study, we investigated the roles of full-length R, the N-terminal region of R (RN) and the C-terminal region of R (RC) in epidermal cell differentiation and anthocyanin production. We found that the N-terminal region was responsible for leaf trichome and root hair differentiation, whereas full-length R was required for anthocyanin upregulation. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that the C-terminal region was the binding site for the formation of homo- or hetero-dimers of the R-like bHLH transcription factor. To stimulate anthocyanin production, full-length R is required.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Organization, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan. rtominaga@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tominaga-Wada
authors.forename: Mineko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nukumizu
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011485:Protein Binding; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins