title: Reciprocal encoding of signal intensity and duration in a glucose-sensing circuit.
abstract: Cells continuously adjust their behavior in response to changing environmental conditions. Both intensity and duration of external signals are critical factors in determining what response is initiated. To understand how intracellular signaling networks process such multidimensional information, we studied the AtRGS1-mediated glucose response system of Arabidopsis. By combining experiments with mathematical modeling, we discovered a reciprocal dose and duration response relying on the orchestrated action of three kinases (AtWNK1, AtWNK8, and AtWNK10) acting on distinct timescales and activation thresholds. Specifically, we find that high concentrations of D-glucose rapidly signal through AtWNK8 and AtWNK10, whereas low, sustained sugar concentration slowly activate the pathway through AtWNK1, allowing the cells to respond similarly to transient, high-intensity signals and sustained, low-intensity signals. This "dose-duration reciprocity" allows encoding of both the intensity and persistence of glucose as an important energy resource and signaling molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Sungmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tunc-Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Nguyen G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: timothy_elston@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Elston
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: alan_jones@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D020710:RGS Proteins; C477755:RGS1 protein, Arabidopsis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1; C465128:WNK1 protein, Arabidopsis; C000588440:WNK10 protein, Arabidopsis; C508913:WNK8 protein, Arabidopsis; D005947:Glucose