ASR1 mediates glucose-hormone cross talk by affecting sugar trafficking in tobacco plants

Plant Physiol. 2013 Mar;161(3):1486-500. doi: 10.1104/pp.112.208199. Epub 2013 Jan 9.

Abstract

Asr (for ABA, stress, ripening) genes are exclusively found in the genomes of higher plants, and the encoded proteins have been found localized both to the nucleus and cytoplasm. However, before the mechanisms underlying the activity of ASR proteins can be determined, the role of these proteins in planta should be deciphered. Results from this study suggest that ASR is positioned within the signaling cascade of interactions among glucose, abscisic acid, and gibberellins. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) transgenic lines with reduced levels of ASR protein showed impaired glucose metabolism and altered abscisic acid and gibberellin levels. These changes were associated with dwarfism, reduced carbon dioxide assimilation, and accelerated leaf senescence as a consequence of a fine regulation exerted by ASR to the glucose metabolism. This regulation resulted in an impact on glucose signaling mediated by Hexokinase1 and Snf1-related kinase, which would subsequently have been responsible for photosynthesis, leaf senescence, and hormone level alterations. It thus can be postulated that ASR is not only involved in the control of hexose uptake in heterotrophic organs, as we have previously reported, but also in the control of carbon fixation by the leaves mediated by a similar mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / metabolism
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism* / drug effects
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism* / genetics
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Gene Silencing / drug effects
  • Gibberellins / metabolism
  • Gibberellins / pharmacology
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / drug effects
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Photosynthesis / drug effects
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism*
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Gibberellins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Abscisic Acid
  • gibberellic acid
  • Glucose