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ABA-responsive RNA-binding proteins are involved in chloroplast and stromule function in Arabidopsis seedlings

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Abstract

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates essential growth and developmental processes in plants. Recently, RNA-binding proteins have been described as components of ABA signaling during germination. We have identified ten ABA-regulated RNA-binding proteins in Arabidopsis seedlings. Among those genes, AtCSP41B and cpRNP29 are highly expressed in seedlings. Using promoter:reporter gene analyses, we showed that both AtCSP41B and cpRNP29 were in particular expressed in photosynthetically active organs like green cotyledons, leaves, and petioles. The analysis of CFP-fusion proteins demonstrates that cpRNP29 localized to chloroplasts and AtCSP41B to chloroplasts and stromules. Whereas RNA-binding of cpRNP29 has previously been shown, we demonstrated through in vitro RNA-binding assays that recombinant AtCSP41B binds to RNA, and that chloroplast petD RNA can serve as a target of AtCSP41B. Developmental or environmental stimuli affected the expression of AtCSP41B and cpRNP29 in seedlings. Both genes were repressed during senescence, but only AtCSP41B was significantly repressed upon water stress. In addition, AtCSP41B and cpRNP29 exhibited low expression in etiolated seedlings compared to green seedlings, and cpRNP29 was regulated during the day photoperiod. Homozygous T-DNA insertion lines were isolated, characterized on the molecular level, and monitored for phenotypic changes. Taken together, the data show that both proteins are regulated during processes that are known to involve ABA signaling. Their localization in chloroplasts and RNA-binding activity suggest a role in chloroplast RNA metabolism in Arabidopsis seedlings.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AtCSP41B:

Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast stem-loop-binding protein of 41 kDa

CFP:

Cyan fluorescent protein

cpRNP29:

Chloroplast ribonucleoprotein 29

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

GUS:

Beta-glucuronidase

NW:

Northwestern

PPR:

Pentatricopeptide repeat

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Acknowledgments

We thank Petra Dietrich, Ulrich Hammes, and Norbert Sauer for comments on the manuscript, Franz Klebl for support with real-time RT-PCRs, and Susanne Schrack and Stefanie Geigner for excellent technical assistance. We thank Peter Hare and Nam-Hai Chua (Rockefeller University, New York) for providing the CFP-pBA002 vector, the Riken Biosource Center for providing the RAFL cDNA clones, and the SALK Institute for providing seeds for the T-DNA insertion lines. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (through grants to S.H. and T.S. in the SFB473).

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  1. Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    Sabine Raab, Christian de Groot & Stefan Hoth

  2. Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 4, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Zsolt Toth & Thomas Stamminger

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  1. Sabine Raab
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  2. Zsolt Toth
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  3. Christian de Groot
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Correspondence to Stefan Hoth.

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Raab, S., Toth, Z., de Groot, C. et al. ABA-responsive RNA-binding proteins are involved in chloroplast and stromule function in Arabidopsis seedlings. Planta 224, 900–914 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0282-4

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