Evolutionarily conserved BIL4 suppresses the degradation of brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 and regulates cell elongation

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 18;7(1):5739. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06016-2.

Abstract

Brassinosteroids (BRs), plant steroid hormones, play important roles in plant cell elongation and differentiation. To investigate the mechanisms of BR signaling, we previously used the BR biosynthesis inhibitor Brz as a chemical biology tool and identified the Brz-insensitive-long hypocotyl4 mutant (bil4). Although the BIL4 gene encodes a seven-transmembrane-domain protein that is evolutionarily conserved in plants and animals, the molecular function of BIL4 in BR signaling has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that BIL4 is expressed in early elongating cells and regulates cell elongation in Arabidopsis. BIL4 also activates BR signaling and interacts with the BR receptor brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BRI1) in endosomes. BIL4 deficiency increases the localization of BRI1 in the vacuoles. Our results demonstrate that BIL4 regulates cell elongation and BR signaling via the regulation of BRI1 localization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / cytology*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Brassinosteroids / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Proteolysis
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • BIL4 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Brassinosteroids
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Kinases
  • BRI1 protein, Arabidopsis