Genetic evidence for an indispensable role of somatic embryogenesis receptor kinases in brassinosteroid signaling

The Arabidopsis thaliana somatic embryogenesis receptor kinases (SERKs) consist of five members, SERK1 to SERK5, of the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase subfamily II (LRR-RLK II). SERK3 was named BRI1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 (BAK1) due to its direct interaction with the brassinosteroid (BR) receptor BRI1 in vivo, while SERK4 has also been designated as BAK1-Like 1 (BKK1) for its functionally redundant role with BAK1. Here we provide genetic and biochemical evidence to demonstrate that SERKs are absolutely required for early steps in BR signaling. Overexpression of four of the five SERKs-SERK1, SERK2, SERK3/BAK1, and SERK4/BKK1-suppressed the phenotypes of an intermediate BRI1 mutant, bri1-5. Overexpression of the kinase-dead versions of these four genes in the bri1-5 background, on the other hand, resulted in typical dominant negative phenotypes, resembling those of null BRI1 mutants. We isolated and generated single, double, triple, and quadruple mutants and analyzed their phenotypes in detail. While the quadruple mutant is embryo-lethal, the serk1 bak1 bkk1 triple null mutant exhibits an extreme de-etiolated phenotype similar to a null bri1 mutant. While overexpression of BRI1 can drastically increase hypocotyl growth of wild-type plants, overexpression of BRI1 does not alter hypocotyl growth of the serk1 bak1 bkk1 triple mutant. Biochemical analysis indicated that the phosphorylation level of BRI1 in serk1 bak1 bkk1 is incapable of sensing exogenously applied BR. As a result, the unphosphorylated level of BES1 has lost its sensitivity to the BR treatment in the triple mutant, indicating that the BR signaling pathway has been completely abolished in the triple mutant. These data clearly demonstrate that SERKs are essential to the early events of BR signaling.     

BAK1 and BKK1 regulate brassinosteroid-dependent growth and brassinosteroid-independent cell-death pathways

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are phytosteroid hormones controlling various physiological processes critical for normal growth and development. BRs are perceived by a protein complex containing two transmembrane receptor kinases, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1) [1-3]. BRI1 null mutants exhibit a dwarfed stature with epinastic leaves, delayed senescence, reduced male fertility, and altered light responses. BAK1 null mutants, however, only show a subtle phenotype, suggesting that functionally redundant proteins might be present in the Arabidopsis genome. Here we report that BAK1-LIKE 1 (BKK1) functions redundantly with BAK1 in regulating BR signaling. Surprisingly, rather than the expected bri1-like phenotype, bak1 bkk1 double mutants exhibit a seedling-lethality phenotype due to constitutive defense-gene expression, callose deposition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and spontaneous cell death even under sterile growing conditions. Our detailed analyses demonstrate that BAK1 and BKK1 have dual physiological roles: positively regulating a BR-dependent plant growth pathway, and negatively regulating a BR-independent cell-death pathway. Both BR signaling and developmentally controlled cell death are critical to optimal plant growth and development, but the mechanisms regulating early events in these pathways are poorly understood. This study provides novel insights into the initiation and crosstalk of the two signaling cascades.     

A Mathematical Model for BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-Mediated Signaling in Root Growth and Hypocotyl Elongation

Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling is essential for plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), BRs are perceived by the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) receptor. Root growth and hypocotyl elongation are convenient downstream physiological outputs of BR signaling. A computational approach was employed to predict root growth solely on the basis of BRI1 receptor activity. The developed mathematical model predicts that during normal root growth, few receptors are occupied with ligand. The model faithfully predicts root growth, as observed in bri1 loss-of-function mutants. For roots, it incorporates one stimulatory and two inhibitory modules, while for hypocotyls, a single inhibitory module is sufficient. Root growth as observed when BRI1 is overexpressed can only be predicted assuming that a decrease occurred in the BRI1 half-maximum response values. Root growth appears highly sensitive to variation in BR concentration and much less to reduction in BRI1 receptor level, suggesting that regulation occurs primarily by ligand availability and biochemical activity.     

BRL1, a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase, is functionally redundant with BRI1 in regulating Arabidopsis brassinosteroid signaling

BRI1-like receptor kinase (BRL1) was identified as an extragenic suppressor of a weak bri1 allele, bri1-5, in an activation-tagging genetic screen for novel brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction regulators. BRL1 encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase (LRR-RLK). Sequence alignment revealed that BRL1 is closely related to BRI1, which is involved in BR perception. Overexpression of a BRL1 cDNA, driven by a constitutive CaMV 35S promoter, recapitulates the bri1-5 suppression phenotypes, and partially complements the phenotypes of a null bri1 allele, bri1-4. Analysis of a BR-specific feedback response gene, CPD, indicates that BRL1 functions in BR signaling. BRL1 expression pattern overlaps with, but is distinct from, that of BRI1. In addition, both the expression level and in vitro kinase autophosphorylation activity of BRL1 are significantly lower than those of BRI1. bri1-5 brl1-1 double mutant plants have enhanced developmental defects relative to bri1-5 mutant plants, revealing that BRL1 plays a partially redundant role with BRI1 in controlling Arabidopsis growth and development. These findings enhance our understanding of functional redundancy and add an additional layer of complexity to RLK-mediated BR signaling transduction in Arabidopsis.     

受体激酶介导的油菜素内酯信号转导途径

油菜素内酯（brassinosteroids,BRs）是一类重要的类固醇激素,参与调控植物生长发育的许多过程。结合应用遗传学、生物化学以及蛋白质组学等研究手段现已基本阐明了BR信号转导的主要过程。BRI1作为受体在细胞表面感知BR,BRI1抑制子BKI1从质膜上解离下来,使BRI1与其共受体BAK1结合。BRI1和BAK1通过顺序磷酸化将BR信号完全激活。活化的BRI1将BSK磷酸化激活,BSK活化BSU1,BSU1将BIN2去磷酸化使其失活,解除BIN2对BES1/BZR1的抑制功能。PP2A可以将BES1/BZR1去磷酸化激活,又可以将受体BRI1去磷酸化促使其降解。BR信号的传递最终使去磷酸化状态的BES1/BZR1在细胞内累积,激活BR信号通路下游的转录调控。     

SMALL ACIDIC PROTEIN1 Acts with RUB Modification Components, the COP9 Signalosome, and AXR1 to Regulate Growth and Development of Arabidopsis

Previously, a dysfunction of the SMALL ACIDIC PROTEIN1 (SMAP1) gene was identified as the cause of the anti-auxin resistant1 (aar1) mutant of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). SMAP1 is involved in the response pathway of synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and functions upstream of the auxin/indole-3-acetic acid protein degradation step in auxin signaling. However, the exact mechanism by which SMAP1 functions in auxin signaling remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that SMAP1 is required for normal plant growth and development and the root response to indole-3-acetic acid or methyl jasmonate in the auxin resistant1 (axr1) mutation background. Deletion analysis and green fluorescent protein/glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays showed that SMAP1 physically interacts with the CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC9 SIGNALOSOME (CSN) via the SMAP1 F/D region. The extremely dwarf phenotype of the aar1-1 csn5a-1 double mutant confirms the functional role of SMAP1 in plant growth and development under limiting CSN functionality. Our findings suggest that SMAP1 is involved in the auxin response and possibly in other cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase-regulated signaling processes via its interaction with components associated with RELATED TO UBIQUITIN modification.     

BAK1 plays contrasting roles in regulating abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure and abscisic acid-inhibited primary root growth in Arabidopsis

The mechanisms that balance plant growth and stress responses are poorly understood, but they appear to involve abscisic acid (ABA) signaling mediated by protein kinases. Here, to explore these mechanisms, we examined the responses of Arabidopsis thaliana protein kinase mutants to ABA treatment. We found that mutants of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1) were hypersensitive to the effects of ABA on both seed germination and primary root growth. The kinase OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) was more highly activated by ABA in bak1 mutant than the wild type. BAK1 was not activated by ABA treatment in the dominant negative mutant abi1-1 or the pyr1 pyl4 pyl5 pyl8 quadruple mutant, but it was more highly activated by this treatment in the abi1-2 abi2-2 hab1-1 loss-of-function triple mutant than the wild type. BAK1 phosphorylates OST1 T146 and inhibits its activity. Genetic analyses suggested that BAK1 acts at or upstream of core components in the ABA signaling pathway, including PYLs, PP2Cs, and SnRK2s, during seed germination and primary root growth. Although the upstream brassinosteroid (BR) signaling components BAK1 and BR INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) positively regulate ABA-induced stomatal closure, mutations affecting downstream components of BR signaling, including BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASEs (BSKs) and BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2), did not affect ABA-mediated stomatal movement. Thus, our study uncovered an important role of BAK1 in negatively regulating ABA signaling during seed germination and primary root growth, but positively modulating ABA-induced stomatal closure, thus optimizing the plant growth under drought stress.     

The plant beneficial rhizobacterium Achromobacter sp. 5B1 influences root development through auxin signaling and redistribution

Roots provide physical and nutritional support to plant organs that are above ground and play critical roles for adaptation via intricate movements and growth patterns. Through screening the effects of bacterial isolates from roots of halophyte Mesquite (Prosopis sp.) on Arabidopsis thaliana, we identified Achromobacter sp. 5B1 as a probiotic bacterium that influences plant functional traits. Detailed genetic and architectural analyses in Arabidopsis grown in vitro and in soil, cell division measurements, auxin transport and response gene expression and brefeldin A treatments demonstrated that root colonization with Achromobacter sp. 5B1 changes the growth and branching patterns of roots, which were related to auxin perception and redistribution. Expression analysis of auxin transport and signaling revealed a redistribution of auxin within the primary root tip of wild‐type seedlings by Achromobacter sp. 5B1 that is disrupted by brefeldin A and correlates with repression of auxin transporters PIN1 and PIN7 in root provasculature, and PIN2 in the epidermis and cortex of the root tip, whereas expression of PIN3 was enhanced in the columella. In seedlings harboring AUX1, EIR1, AXR1, ARF7ARF19, TIR1AFB2AFB3 single, double or triple loss‐of‐function mutations, or in a dominant (gain‐of‐function) mutant of SLR1, the bacterium caused primary roots to form supercoils that are devoid of lateral roots. The changes in growth and root architecture elicited by the bacterium helped Arabidopsis seedlings to resist salt stress better. Thus, Achromobacter sp. 5B1 fine tunes both root movements and the auxin response, which may be important for plant growth and environmental adaptation.     

The Arabidopsis transthyretin-like protein is a potential substrate of BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1

BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) is a Leu-rich-repeat (LRR) receptor kinase that functions as a critical component of a transmembrane brassinosteroid (BR) receptor. It is believed that BRI1 becomes activated through heterodimerization with BAK1, a similar LRR receptor kinase, in response to BR signal. A yeast two-hybrid screen using the kinase domain of BRI1 identified an Arabidopsis thaliana Transthyretin-Like protein (TTL) as a potential BRI1 substrate. TTL interacts with BRI1 in a kinase-dependent manner in yeast and is phosphorylated by BRI1 in vitro. TTL displays a similar expression pattern with BRI1 and is associated with the plasma membrane. Overexpression of the TTL gene results in a phenotype that was observed in weak bri1 mutants and null bak1 mutants. By contrast, two T-DNA insertional mutations in the TTL gene promote plant growth and enhance BR sensitivity. We hypothesized that TTL might directly regulate certain biochemical activities near the plasma membrane to control plant growth.     

Transgenic rice plants ectopically expressing AtBAK1 are semi-dwarfed and hypersensitive to 24-epibrassinolide

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are endogenous plant hormones essential for plant growth and development. Brassinosteroid insensitive1 (BRI1)-assocaiated receptor kinase (BAK1) is one of the key components in the BR signal transduction pathway due to its direct association with the BR receptor, BRI1. Although BRI1 and its orthologs have been identified from both dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, less is known about BAK1 and its orthologs in higher plants other than Arabidopsis. This article provides the first piece of evidence that AtBAK1 can greatly affect growth and development of rice plants when ectopically expressed, suggesting that rice may share similar BR perception mechanism via BRI1/BAK1 complex. Interestingly, transgenic rice plants displayed semi-dwarfism and shortened primary roots. Physiological analysis and cell morphology assay demonstrated that the observed phenotypes in transgenic plants were presumably caused by hypersensitivity to endogenous levels of BRs, different from BR insensitive and deficient rice mutants. Consistently, several known BR inducible genes were also upregulated in transgenic rice plants, further suggesting that BAK1 was able to affect BR signaling in rice. On the other hand, the transgenic plants generated by overproducing AtBAK1 may potentially have agricultural applications because the dwarfed phenotype is generally resistant to lodging, while the fertility remains unaffected.     

Ethylene regulates arabidopsis development via the modulation of DELLA protein growth repressor function

Phytohormones regulate plant development via a poorly understood signal response network. Here, we show that the phytohormone ethylene regulates plant development at least in part via alteration of the properties of DELLA protein nuclear growth repressors, a family of proteins first identified as gibberellin (GA) signaling components. This conclusion is based on the following experimental observations. First, ethylene inhibited Arabidopsis root growth in a DELLA-dependent manner. Second, ethylene delayed the GA-induced disappearance of the DELLA protein repressor of ga1-3 from root cell nuclei via a constitutive triple response-dependent signaling pathway. Third, the ethylene-promoted "apical hook" structure of etiolated seedling hypocotyls was dependent on the relief of DELLA-mediated growth restraint. Ethylene, auxin, and GA responses now can be attributed to effects on DELLA function, suggesting that DELLA plays a key integrative role in the phytohormone signal response network.     

CRISPR/Cas9介导靶向敲除拟南芥BRI1突变体的鉴定

以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)油菜素内酯受体BRI1为目的基因,利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术定向编辑拟南芥BRI1,以期获得更多BRI1的突变体,为后续BRI1功能的进一步深入研究奠定基础。通过筛选转基因植株,对编辑后的BRI1进行测序分析,结果显示该突变体中BRI1基因序列由于新碱基的插入导致提前终止。同BRI1强突变体bri1-710一样,相比于野生型对照均对BL处理不敏感,但相比于bri1-710,该突变体植株较大,暗示BRI1 N端可能在BR信号途径中有重要作用。因此该研究可为后续进一步研究拟南芥及其他同源物种的BRI1功能提供可靠的参考依据。     

A novel brassinolide-enhanced gene identified by cDNA microarray is involved in the growth of rice

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are growth-promoting natural substances required for normal plant growth and development. To understand the molecular mechanism of BR action, a cDNA microarray containing 1265 rice genes was analyzed for expression differences in rice lamina joint treated with brassinolide (BL). A novel BL-enhanced gene, designated OsBLE2, was identified and cloned. The full-length cDNA is 3243 bp long, encoding a predicted polypeptide of 761 amino acid residues and nine possible transmembrane regions. OsBLE2 expression was most responsive to BL in the lamina joint and leaf sheath in rice seedlings. Besides, auxin and gibberellins also increased its expression. OsBLE2 expressed more, as revealed by in situ hybridization, in vascular bundles and root primordia, where the cells are actively undergoing division, elongation, and differentiation. Transgenic rice expressing antisense OsBLE2 exhibits various degrees of repressed growth. BL could not enhance its expression in transgenic rice expressing antisense BRI1, a BR receptor, indicating that BR signaling to the enhanced expression of OsBLE2 is through BRI1. BL effect in the d1 mutant rice was much weaker than that in its wild-type control, indicating that heterotrimeric G protein may be a component of BRs signaling. These results suggest that OsBLE2 is involved in BL-regulated growth and development processes in rice.     

BRL1 and BRL3 are novel brassinosteroid receptors that function in vascular differentiation in Arabidopsis

Plant steroid hormones, brassinosteroids (BRs), are perceived by the plasma membrane-localized leucine-rich-repeat-receptor kinase BRI1. Based on sequence similarity, we have identified three members of the BRI1 family, named BRL1, BRL2 and BRL3. BRL1 and BRL3, but not BRL2, encode functional BR receptors that bind brassinolide, the most active BR, with high affinity. In agreement, only BRL1 and BRL3 can rescue bri1 mutants when expressed under the control of the BRI1 promoter. While BRI1 is ubiquitously expressed in growing cells, the expression of BRL1 and BRL3 is restricted to non-overlapping subsets of vascular cells. Loss-of-function of brl1 causes abnormal phloem:xylem differentiation ratios and enhances the vascular defects of a weak bri1 mutant. bri1 brl1 brl3 triple mutants enhance bri1 dwarfism and also exhibit abnormal vascular differentiation. Thus, Arabidopsis contains a small number of BR receptors that have specific functions in cell growth and vascular differentiation.     

Brassinosteroids control meristem size by promoting cell cycle progression in Arabidopsis roots

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play crucial roles in plant growth and development. Previous studies have shown that BRs promote cell elongation in vegetative organs in several plant species, but their contribution to meristem homeostasis remains unexplored. Our analyses report that both loss- and gain-of-function BR-related mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana have reduced meristem size, indicating that balanced BR signalling is needed for the optimal root growth. In the BR-insensitive bri1-116 mutant, the expression pattern of the cell division markers CYCB1;1, ICK2/KRP2 and KNOLLE revealed that a decreased mitotic activity accounts for the reduced meristem size; accordingly, this defect could be overcome by the overexpression of CYCD3;1. The activity of the quiescent centre (QC) was low in the short roots of bri1-116, as reported by cell type-specific markers and differentiation phenotypes of distal stem cells. Conversely, plants treated with the most active BR, brassinolide, or mutants with enhanced BR signalling, such as bes1-D, show a premature cell cycle exit that results in early differentiation of meristematic cells, which also negatively influence meristem size and overall root growth. In the stem cell niche, BRs promote the QC renewal and differentiation of distal stem cells. Together, our results provide evidence that BRs play a regulatory role in the control of cell-cycle progression and differentiation in the Arabidopsis root meristem.     

Steroid signaling in plants: from the cell surface to the nucleus.

Steroid hormones are signaling molecules important for normal growth, development and differentiation of multicellular organisms. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of polyhydroxylated steroids that are necessary for plant development. Molecular genetic studies in Arabidopsis thaliana have led to the cloning and characterization of the BR receptor, BRI1, which is a transmembrane receptor serine/threonine kinase. The extracellular domain of BRI1, which is composed mainly of leucine-rich repeats, can confer BR responsivity to heterologous cells and is required for BR binding. Although downstream components of BR action are mostly unknown, multiple genes whose expression are regulated by BRs have been identified and suggest mechanisms by which BRs affect cell elongation and division.     

BIN2, a new brassinosteroid-insensitive locus in Arabidopsis

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play important roles throughout plant development. Although many genes have been identified that are involved in BR biosynthesis, genetic approaches in Arabidopsis have led to the identification of only one gene, BRI1, that encodes a membrane receptor for BRs. To expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanism(s) of plant steroid signaling, we analyzed many dwarf and semidwarf mutants collected from our previous genetic screens and identified a semidwarf mutant that showed little response to exogenous BR treatments. Genetic analysis of the bin2 (BR-INSENSITIVE 2) mutant indicated that the BR-insensitive dwarf phenotype was due to a semidominant mutation in the BIN2 gene that mapped to the middle of chromosome IV between the markers CH42 and AG. A direct screening for similar semidwarf mutants resulted in the identification of a second allele of the BIN2 gene. Despite some novel phenotypes observed with the bin2/+ mutants, the homozygous bin2 mutants were almost identical to the well-characterized bri1 mutants that are defective in BR perception. In addition to the BR-insensitive dwarf phenotype, bin2 mutants exhibited BR insensitivity when assayed for root growth inhibition and feedback inhibition of CPD gene expression. Furthermore, bin2 mutants displayed an abscisic acid-hypersensitive phenotype that is shared by the bri1 and BR-deficient mutants. A gene dosage experiment using triploid plants suggested that the bin2 phenotypes were likely caused by either neomorphic or hypermorphic gain-of-function mutations in the BIN2 gene. Thus, the two bin2 mutations define a novel genetic locus whose gene product might play a role in BR signaling.