Ethylene response factor 6 is a regulator of reactive oxygen species signaling in Arabidopsis

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 5;8(8):e70289. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070289. Print 2013.

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in plant cells in response to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses as well as during normal growth and development. Although a large number of transcription factor (TF) genes are up- or down-regulated by ROS, currently very little is known about the functions of these TFs during oxidative stress. In this work, we examined the role of ERF6 (ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR6), an AP2/ERF domain-containing TF, during oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis. Mutant analyses showed that NADPH oxidase (RbohD) and calcium signaling are required for ROS-responsive expression of ERF6. erf6 insertion mutant plants showed reduced growth and increased H2O2 and anthocyanin levels. Expression analyses of selected ROS-responsive genes during oxidative stress identified several differentially expressed genes in the erf6 mutant. In particular, a number of ROS responsive genes, such as ZAT12, HSFs, WRKYs, MAPKs, RBOHs, DHAR1, APX4, and CAT1 were more strongly induced by H2O2 in erf6 plants than in wild-type. In contrast, MDAR3, CAT3, VTC2 and EX1 showed reduced expression levels in the erf6 mutant. Taken together, our results indicate that ERF6 plays an important role as a positive antioxidant regulator during plant growth and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Catalase / genetics
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • ERF6 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Transcription Factors
  • CAT3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Catalase
  • respiratory burst oxidase homolog D, Arabidopsis
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, Arabidopsis
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the University of Queensland, the Australian Research Council (DP1094749) and the Egyptian Government (Ministry of Higher Education). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.