S-nitrosylation of the zinc finger protein SRG1 regulates plant immunity

Nat Commun. 2018 Oct 12;9(1):4226. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06578-3.

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) orchestrates a plethora of incongruent plant immune responses, including the reprograming of global gene expression. However, the cognate molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we show a zinc finger transcription factor (ZF-TF), SRG1, is a central target of NO bioactivity during plant immunity, where it functions as a positive regulator. NO accumulation promotes SRG1 expression and subsequently SRG1 occupies a repeated canonical sequence within target promoters. An EAR domain enables SRG1 to recruit the corepressor TOPLESS, suppressing target gene expression. Sustained NO synthesis drives SRG1 S-nitrosylation predominantly at Cys87, relieving both SRG1 DNA binding and transcriptional repression activity. Accordingly, mutation of Cys87 compromises NO-mediated control of SRG1-dependent transcriptional suppression. Thus, the SRG1-SNO formation may contribute to a negative feedback loop that attenuates the plant immune response. SRG1 Cys87 is evolutionary conserved and thus may be a target for redox regulation of ZF-TF function across phylogenetic kingdoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Plant Immunity / genetics
  • Plant Immunity / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics
  • Zinc Fingers / physiology*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • SRG1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors