GLABRA2 Transcription Factor integrates Arsenic tolerance with cell differentiation in Epidermal Cells [Exp1]
Arsenic poses a global threat to living organisms, compromising crop security and yield. Limited understanding of the transcriptional network integrating arsenic tolerance mechanisms with plant developmental responses hinders the development of strategies against this menace. Here, we employed an integrative genomic approach in Arabidopsis thaliana, involving a high-throughput yeast one-hybrid assay, and a transcriptomic analysis coupled with a transcription factor binding site enrichment analysis in gene expression clusters, to uncover novel transcriptional regulators of the arsenic response. We identified the GLABRA2 (GL2) transcription factor as a novel regulator of arsenic tolerance, revealing a wider regulatory role beyond its established function as a repressor of root hair formation. Furthermore, we found that ANTHOCYANINLESS2 (ANL2), a GL2 subfamily member, acts redundantly with this transcription factor in the regulation of arsenic signaling. Both transcription factors act as repressors of arsenic response. gl2 and anl2 mutants exhibit enhanced tolerance and reduced arsenic accumulation. Transcriptional analysis in the gl2 mutant unveils potential regulators of arsenic tolerance. These findings highlight GL2 and ANL2 as novel integrators of the arsenic response with developmental outcomes, offering insights for developing safer crops with reduced arsenic content and increased tolerance to this hazardous metalloid. Overall design: 2 replicates for mock and As(V)-treated samples, 3 time points