TFs (transcription factors) are modular proteins minimally containing a DBD (DNA-binding domain) and a TRD (transcription regulatory domain). NAC [for NAM (no apical meristem), ATAF, CUC (cup-shaped cotyledon)] proteins comprise one of the largest plant TF families. They are key regulators of stress perception and developmental programmes, and most share an N-terminal NAC domain. On the basis of analyses of gene expression data and the phylogeny of Arabidopsis thaliana NAC TFs we systematically decipher structural and functional specificities of the conserved NAC domains and the divergent C-termini. Nine of the ten NAC domains analysed bind a previously identified conserved DNA target sequence with a CGT[GA] core, although with different affinities. Likewise, all but one of the NAC proteins analysed is dependent on the C-terminal region for transactivational activity. In silico analyses show that the NAC TRDs contain group-specific sequence motifs and are characterized by a high degree of intrinsic disorder. Furthermore, ANAC019 was identified as a new positive regulator of ABA (abscisic acid) signalling, conferring ABA hypersensitivity when ectopically expressed in plants. Interestingly, ectopic expression of the ANAC019 DBD or TRD alone also resulted in ABA hypersensitivity. Expression of stress-responsive marker genes [COR47 (cold-responsive 47), RD29b (responsive-to-desiccation 29b) and ERD11 (early-responsive-to-dehydration 11)] were also induced by full-length and truncated ANAC019. Domain-swapping experiments were used to analyse the specificity of this function. Chimaeric proteins, where the NAC domain of ANAC019 was replaced with the analogous regions from other NAC TFs, also have the ability to positively regulate ABA signalling. In contrast, replacing the ANAC019 TRD with other TRDs abolished ANAC019-mediated ABA hypersensitivity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the biochemical and functional specificity of NAC TFs is associated with both the DBDs and the TRDs.
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Research Article|
February 09 2010
The Arabidopsis thaliana NAC transcription factor family: structure–function relationships and determinants of ANAC019 stress signalling
Michael K. Jensen;
Michael K. Jensen
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Trine Kjaersgaard;
Trine Kjaersgaard
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Michael M. Nielsen;
Michael M. Nielsen
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Pernille Galberg;
Pernille Galberg
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Klaus Petersen;
Klaus Petersen
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Charlotte O'Shea;
Charlotte O'Shea
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
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Karen Skriver
Karen Skriver
1
1Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email kskriver@bio.ku.dk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 11 2009
Revision Received:
November 20 2009
Accepted:
December 08 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
December 08 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society
2010
Biochem J (2010) 426 (2): 183–196.
Article history
Received:
August 11 2009
Revision Received:
November 20 2009
Accepted:
December 08 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
December 08 2009
Citation
Michael K. Jensen, Trine Kjaersgaard, Michael M. Nielsen, Pernille Galberg, Klaus Petersen, Charlotte O'Shea, Karen Skriver; The Arabidopsis thaliana NAC transcription factor family: structure–function relationships and determinants of ANAC019 stress signalling. Biochem J 1 March 2010; 426 (2): 183–196. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20091234
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