Arabidopsis NRT1.2 interacts with the PHOSPHOLIPASE Dα1 (PLDα1) to positively regulate seed germination and seedling development in response to ABA treatment

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 533; no. 1; pp. 104 - 109
• Main Authors: Li, Jianfu, Zhao, Chunyan, Hu, Shi, Song, Xiaoyun, Lv, Mengli, Yao, Dan, Song, Qingwei, Zuo, Kaijing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 26.11.2020
• Subjects: ABA; Abscisic Acid - metabolism; Anion Transport Proteins - genetics; Anion Transport Proteins - metabolism; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Germination; NRT1.2; Phospholipase D - genetics; Phospholipase D - metabolism; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; PLDα1; Protein Interaction Maps; Seed germination; Seedling development; Seedlings - genetics; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; ABA; NRT1.2; PLDα1; Seedling development; Seed germination
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.08.025

NRT1.2 has been characterized as a low-affinity nitrate transporter and an abscisic acid (ABA) transporter in Arabidopsis. In this study, we demonstrate that NRT1.2 positively regulated the ABA response during germination and seedling development. The transgenic Arabidopsis NRT1.2-over-expressionors showed increased sensitivity to ABA during these processes. qRT-PCR assays indicated that NRT1.2 over-production in 7-days-old seedlings up-regulated the expression of ABA-responsive genes: ABI1, ABI2, ABI3, ABI4, ABI5, RAB18, RD29A, and RD29B and PHOSPHOLIPASE Dα1 (PLDα1). The expression of these genes was suppressed in the nrt1.2 mutant in comparison with the wild type following ABA treatment. Importantly, bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays indicated that NRT1.2 interacts with PLDα1 at the plasma membrane. Their interaction was further confirmed by using yeast two hybrid (Y2H) experiments with the mating-based split ubiquitin system (MbSUS). Moreover, genetic assays indicated that PLDα1 acts epistatically on NRT1.2 to affect ABA signaling. Taken together, our results provide detailed mechanisms of NRT1.2 in ABA-mediated seed germination and seedling development. •PLD activity enhanced by ABA and modulated by PLDα1 and NRT1.2 genes.•NRT1.2 physically interacts with PLDα1.•PLDα1 acts epistatically on NRT1.2 to affect ABA signaling.•NRT1.2 in ABA-mediated seed germination and seedling development.