Isolation of CONSTANS as a TGA4/OBF4 interacting protein

Mol Cells. 2008 Jun 30;25(4):559-65. Epub 2008 Jun 30.

Abstract

Members of the TGA family of basic domain/leucine zipper transcription factors regulate defense genes through physical interaction with NON-EXPRESSOR OF PR1 (NPR1). Of the seven TGA family members, TGA4/octopine synthase (ocs)-element-binding factor 4 (OBF4) is the least understood. Here we present evidence for a novel function of OBF4 as a regulator of flowering. We identified CONSTANS (CO), a positive regulator of floral induction, as an OBF4-interacting protein, in a yeast two-hybrid library screen. OBF4 interacts with the B-box region of CO. The abundance of OBF4 mRNA cycles with a 24 h rhythm under both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions, with significantly higher levels during the night than during the day. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that OBF4 binds to the promoter of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, a direct target of CO. We also found that, like CO and FT, an OBF4:GUS construct was prominently expressed in the vascular tissues of leaf, indicating that OBF4 can regulate FT expression through the formation of a protein complex with CO. Taken together, our results suggest that OBF4 may act as a link between defense responses and flowering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Flowers / genetics*
  • Flowers / growth & development
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Organ Specificity
  • Plant Structures / genetics*
  • Plant Structures / growth & development
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / isolation & purification
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • CONSTANS protein, Arabidopsis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FT protein, Arabidopsis
  • OBF4 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors