14-3-3 proteins participate in light signaling through association with PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Dec 9;15(12):22801-14. doi: 10.3390/ijms151222801.

Abstract

14-3-3 proteins are regulatory proteins found in all eukaryotes and are known to selectively interact with phosphorylated proteins to regulate physiological processes. Through an affinity purification screening, many light-related proteins were recovered as 14-3-3 candidate binding partners. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that the 14-3-3 kappa isoform (14-3-3κ) could bind to PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR3 (PIF3) and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1). Further analysis by in vitro pull-down assay confirmed the interaction between 14-3-3κ and PIF3. Interruption of putative phosphorylation sites on the 14-3-3 binding motifs of PIF3 was not sufficient to inhibit 14-3-3κ from binding or to disturb nuclear localization of PIF3. It was also indicated that 14-3-3κ could bind to other members of the PIF family, such as PIF1 and PIF6, but not to LONG HYPOCOTYL IN FAR-RED1 (HFR1). 14-3-3 mutants, as well as the PIF3 overexpressor, displayed longer hypocotyls, and a pif3 mutant displayed shorter hypocotyls than the wild-type in red light, suggesting that 14-3-3 proteins are positive regulators of photomorphogenesis and function antagonistically with PIF3. Consequently, our results indicate that 14-3-3 proteins bind to PIFs and initiate photomorphogenesis in response to a light signal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins / genetics
  • 14-3-3 Proteins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis / radiation effects
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Light*
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Photosynthesis
  • Phytochrome / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Transport
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Phytochrome