Abscisic acid increases Arabidopsis ABI5 transcription factor levels by promoting KEG E3 ligase self-ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation

Plant Cell. 2010 Aug;22(8):2630-41. doi: 10.1105/tpc.110.076075. Epub 2010 Aug 3.

Abstract

The Arabidopsis thaliana RING-type E3 ligase KEEP ON GOING (KEG) is a negative regulator of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. Seedlings homozygous for T-DNA insertions in KEG accumulate high levels of the ABA-responsive transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5). Here, we demonstrate that KEG E3 ligase activity is required for the regulation of ABI5 abundance. KEG ubiquitinates ABI5 in vitro, and a functional KEG RING domain is required to restore the levels of ABI5 in keg-1 to that of the wild type. Overexpression of KEG leads to ABA insensitivity, which correlates with KEG protein levels. In the presence of ABA, ABI5 levels increase drastically via a decrease in ubiquitin-meditated proteasomal degradation. Our results indicate that ABA promotes ABI5 accumulation by inducing the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of KEG. A functional RING domain is required for the ABA-induced degradation of KEG, suggesting that the loss is due to self-ubiquitination. Mutations within KEG's kinase domain or treatments with kinase inhibitors prohibit the ABA-induced ubiquitination and degradation of KEG, indicating that phosphorylation, possibly self-phosphorylation, is involved in the ABA regulation of KEG protein levels. We discuss a model for how ABA may negatively regulate KEG protein abundance, leading to accumulation of ABI5 and ABA-dependent cellular responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Arabidopsis / enzymology
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / enzymology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • ABI5 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Abscisic Acid
  • KEG protein, Arabidopsis
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex