Salt stress in Arabidopsis: lipid transfer protein AZI1 and its control by mitogen-activated protein kinase MPK3.

ABSTRACT: A plant's capability to cope with environmental challenges largely relies on signal transmission through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MPK3 is particularly strongly associated with numerous abiotic and biotic stress responses. Identification of MPK3 substrates is a milestone towards improving stress resistance in plants. Here, we characterize AZI1, a lipid transfer protein (LTP)-related hybrid proline-rich protein (HyPRP), as a novel target of MPK3. AZI1 is phosphorylated by MPK3 in vitro. As documented by co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments, AZI1 interacts with MPK3 to form protein complexes in planta. Furthermore, null mutants of azi1 are hypersensitive to salt stress, while AZI1-overexpressing lines

SUBMITTER: Pitzschke A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3973493 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature