Characterization of PIF4 Phosphorylation by SPA1

Methods Mol Biol. 2024:2795:161-167. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3814-9_16.

Abstract

The PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs) play pivotal roles in regulating thermo- and photo-morphogenesis in Arabidopsis. One of the main hubs in thermomorphogenesis is PIF4, which regulates plant development under high ambient temperature along with other PIFs. PIF4 enhances its own transcription and PIF4 protein is stabilized under high ambient temperature. However, the mechanisms of thermo-stabilization of PIF4 are less understood. Recently, it was shown that SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 1 (SPA1) can function as a serine/threonine kinase to phosphorylate PIF4 in vitro, and the phosphorylated form of PIF4 is more stable under high ambient temperature conditions. In this chapter, we describe the in vitro kinase assay of PIF4 by SPA1. In principle, this protocol can be applied for other putative substrates and kinases.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; In vitro kinase assay; Phytochrome interacting factor 4; Protein purification; SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 1 (SPA1).

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phytochrome* / metabolism
  • Plant Development

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Phytochrome
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • SPA1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • PIF4 protein, Arabidopsis