The Arabidopsis thaliana tandem zinc finger 1 (AtTZF1) protein in RNA binding and decay

The Arabidopsis thaliana tandem zinc finger 1 (AtTZF1) protein is characterized by two tandem‐arrayed CCCH‐type zinc fingers. We have previously found that AtTZF1 affects hormone‐mediated growth, stress and gene expression responses. While much has been learned at the genetic and physiological level, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of AtTZF1 on gene expression remain obscure. A human TZF protein, hTTP, is known to bind and trigger the degradation of mRNAs containing AU‐rich elements (AREs) at the 3′ untranslated regions. However, while the TZF motif of hTTP is characterized by C_X8C_X5C_X3H‐_X18‐C_X8C_X5C_X3H, AtTZF1 contains an atypical motif of C_X7C_X5C_X3H‐_X16‐C_X5C_X4C_X3H. Moreover, the TZF motif of AtTZF1 is preceded by an arginine‐rich (RR) region that is unique to plants. Using fluorescence anisotropy and electrophoretic mobility shift binding assays, we have demonstrated that AtTZF1 binds to RNA molecules with specificity and the interaction is dependent on the presence of zinc. Compared with hTTP, in which TZF is solely responsible for RNA binding, both TZF and RR regions of AtTZF1 are required to achieve high‐affinity RNA binding. Moreover, zinc finger integrity is vital for RNA binding. Using a plant protoplast transient expression analysis we have further revealed that AtTZF1 can trigger the decay of ARE‐containing mRNAs in vivo. Taken together, our results support the notion that AtTZF1 is involved in RNA turnover.