Transcriptomic analysis reveals calcium regulation of specific promoter motifs in Arabidopsis

Plant Cell. 2011 Nov;23(11):4079-95. doi: 10.1105/tpc.111.090480. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

Increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) mediate plant responses to stress by regulating the expression of genes encoding proteins that confer tolerance. Several plant stress genes have previously been shown to be calcium-regulated, and in one case, a specific promoter motif Abscisic Acid Responsive-Element (ABRE) has been found to be regulated by calcium. A comprehensive survey of the Arabidopsis thaliana transcriptome for calcium-regulated promoter motifs was performed by measuring the expression of genes in Arabidopsis seedlings responding to three calcium elevations of different characteristics, using full genome microarray analysis. This work revealed a total of 269 genes upregulated by [Ca(2+)](c) in Arabidopsis. Bioinformatic analysis strongly indicated that at least four promoter motifs were [Ca(2+)](c)-regulated in planta. We confirmed this finding by expressing in plants chimeric gene constructs controlled exclusively by these cis-elements and by testing the necessity and sufficiency of calcium for their expression. Our data reveal that the C-Repeat/Drought-Responsive Element, Site II, and CAM box (along with the previously identified ABRE) promoter motifs are calcium-regulated. The identification of these promoter elements targeted by the second messenger intracellular calcium has implications for plant signaling in response to a variety of stimuli, including cold, drought, and biotic stress.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Dendrimers
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Response Elements / genetics
  • Wasp Venoms / pharmacology

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Dendrimers
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Wasp Venoms
  • mastoparan
  • Calcium