title: Protein Phosphatase 2Cs andMicrotubule-Associated Stress Protein 1Control Microtubule Stability, Plant Growth, and Drought Response.
abstract: Plant growth is coordinated with environmental factors, including water availability during times of drought. Microtubules influence cell expansion; however, the mechanisms by which environmental signals impinge upon microtubule organization and whether microtubule-related factors limit growth during drought remains unclear. We found that threeClade E Growth-Regulating(EGR) Type 2C protein phosphatases act as negative growth regulators to restrain growth during drought. Quantitative phosphoproteomics indicated that EGRs target cytoskeleton and plasma membrane-associated proteins. Of these,Microtubule-Associated Stress Protein 1(MASP1), an uncharacterized protein, increased in abundance during stress treatment and could bind, bundle, and stabilize microtubules in vitro. MASP1 overexpression enhanced growth, in vivo microtubule stability, and recovery of microtubule organization during drought acclimation. These MASP1 functions in vivo were dependent on phosphorylation of a single serine. For all EGR and MASP1 mutants and transgenic lines examined, enhanced microtubule recovery and stability were associated with increased growth during drought stress. The EGR-MASP1 system selectively regulates microtubule recovery and stability to adjust plant growth and cell expansion in response to changing environmental conditions. Modification of EGR-MASP1 signaling may be useful to circumvent negative growth regulation limiting plant productivity. EGRs are likely to regulate additional proteins involved in microtubule stability and stress signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Govinal Badiger
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bhaskara
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tuan-Nan
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Thao Thi
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan paulv@gate.sinica.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5340-6010
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Verslues
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055864:Droughts; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; C000624954:MASP1 protein, Arabidopsis; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C000624955:EGR1 protein, Arabidopsis; C000624956:EGR2 protein, Arabidopsis; C000624957:EGR3 protein, Arabidopsis; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C