title: How the nucleus and mitochondria communicate in energy production during stress: nuclear MtATP6, an early-stress responsive gene, regulates the mitochondrial F₁F₀-ATP synthase complex.
abstract: A small number of stress-responsive genes, such as those of the mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase complex, are encoded by both the nucleus and mitochondria. The regulatory mechanism of these joint products is mysterious. The expression of 6-kDa subunit (MtATP6), a relatively uncharacterized nucleus-encoded subunit of F0 part, was measured during salinity stress in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivated wheat genotypes, as well as in the wild wheat genotypes, Triticum and Aegilops using qRT-PCR. The MtATP6 expression was suddenly induced 3 h after NaCl treatment in all genotypes, indicating an early inducible stress-responsive behavior. Promoter analysis showed that the MtATP6 promoter includes cis-acting elements such as ABRE, MYC, MYB, GTLs, and W-boxes, suggesting a role for this gene in abscisic acid-mediated signaling, energy metabolism, and stress response. It seems that 6-kDa subunit, as an early response gene and nuclear regulatory factor, translocates to mitochondria and completes the F1F0-ATP synthase complex to enhance ATP production and maintain ion homeostasis under stress conditions. These communications between nucleus and mitochondria are required for inducing mitochondrial responses to stress pathways. Dual targeting of 6-kDa subunit may comprise as a mean of inter-organelle communication and save energy for the cell. Interestingly, MtATP6 showed higher and longer expression in the salt-tolerant wheat and the wild genotypes compared to the salt-sensitive genotype. Apparently, salt-sensitive genotypes have lower ATP production efficiency and weaker energy management than wild genotypes; a stress tolerance mechanism that has not been transferred to cultivated genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Institute, Shiraz University, Bajgah, 71441-65186 Shiraz, Iran. aamoghadam@shirazu.ac.ir
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.forename: Eemaeil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ebrahimie
authors.forename: Seyed Mohsen
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Taghavi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.forename: Mahbobeh Zamani
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Babgohari
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deihimi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djavaheri
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramezani
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D005838:Genotype; D006706:Homeostasis; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C474451:F1F0-ATP synthase; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases