PP2A activates brassinosteroid-responsive gene expression and plant growth by dephosphorylating BZR1

Nat Cell Biol. 2011 Feb;13(2):124-31. doi: 10.1038/ncb2151. Epub 2011 Jan 23.

Abstract

When brassinosteroid levels are low, the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 phosphorylates and inactivates the BZR1 transcription factor to inhibit growth in plants. Brassinosteroid promotes growth by inducing dephosphorylation of BZR1, but the phosphatase that dephosphorylates BZR1 has remained unknown. Here, using tandem affinity purification, we identified protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as a BZR1-interacting protein. Genetic analyses demonstrated a positive role for PP2A in brassinosteroid signalling and BZR1 dephosphorylation. Members of the B' regulatory subunits of PP2A directly interact with BZR1's putative PEST domain containing the site of the bzr1-1D mutation. Interaction with and dephosphorylation by PP2A are enhanced by the bzr1-1D mutation, reduced by two intragenic bzr1-1D suppressor mutations, and abolished by deletion of the PEST domain. This study reveals a crucial function for PP2A in dephosphorylating and activating BZR1 and completes the set of core components of the brassinosteroid-signalling cascade from cell surface receptor kinase to gene regulation in the nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / anatomy & histology
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / genetics
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Triazoles / pharmacology
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • BZR1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Triazoles
  • Protein Phosphatase 2
  • brassinazole