title: The plant RWP-RK transcription factors: key regulators of nitrogen responses and of gametophyte development.
abstract: The plant specific RWP-RK family of transcription factors, initially identified in legumes and Chlamydomonas, are found in all vascular plants, green algae, and slime molds. These proteins possess a characteristic RWP-RK motif, which mediates DNA binding. Based on phylogenetic and domain analyses, we classified the RWP-RK proteins of six different species in two subfamilies: the NIN-like proteins (NLPs), which carry an additional PB1 domain at their C-terminus, and the RWP-RK domain proteins (RKDs), which are divided into three subgroups. Although, the functional analysis of this family is still in its infancy, several RWP-RK proteins have a key role in regulating responses to nitrogen availability. The nodulation-specific NIN proteins are involved in nodule organogenesis and rhizobial infection under nitrogen starvation conditions. Arabidopsis NLP7 in particular is a major player in the primary nitrate response. Several RKDs act as transcription factors involved in egg cell specification and differentiation or gametogenesis in algae, the latter modulated by nitrogen availability. Further studies are required to extend the general picture of the functional role of these exciting transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1318, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chardin
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1318, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Girin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR8197, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1024, Paris, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roudier
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1318, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1318, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, RD10, F-78000 Versailles, France anne.krapp@versailles.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krapp
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013559:Symbiosis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009566:Nitrates; D014157:Transcription Factors; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: NLP; RKD proteins; RWP-RK family; Transcription factors; nitrogen; regulation.