title: Degradation of class E MADS-domain transcription factors in Arabidopsis by a phytoplasmal effector, phyllogen.
abstract: Members of the SEPALLATA (SEP) gene sub-family encode class E floral homeotic MADS-domain transcription factors (MADS TFs) that specify the identity of floral organs. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains 4 ancestrally duplicated and functionally redundant SEP genes, SEP1-4. Recently, a gene family of unique effectors, phyllogens, was identified as an inducer of leaf-like floral organs in phytoplasmas (plant pathogenic bacteria). While it was shown that phyllogens target some MADS TFs, including SEP3 for degradation, it is unknown whether the other SEPs (SEP1, SEP2, and SEP4) of Arabidopsis are also degraded by them. In this study, we found that all 4 SEP proteins of Arabidopsis are degraded by a phyllogen using a transient co-expression assay in Nicotiana benthamiana. This finding indicates that phyllogens may broadly target class E MADS TFs of plants.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology ; Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences; The University of Tokyo ; Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kensaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maejima
authors.forename: Yugo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomomitsu
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yusa
authors.forename: Yutaro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neriya
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Himeno
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaji
authors.forename: Kenro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Shigetou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namba
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development; D059748:Proteolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; C587509:SEPALLATA protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Arabidopsis; MADS transcription factors; SEPALLATA; floral development; phyllody; phyllogen; phytoplasma