PIF4 interacts with ABI4 to serve as a transcriptional activator complex to promote seed dormancy by enhancing ABA biosynthesis and signaling

Transcriptional regulation plays a key role in the control of seed dormancy,and many transcription factors(TFs)have been documented.However,the mechanisms underlying the interactions between different TFs within a transcriptional complex regulating seed dormancy remain largely unknown.Here,we showed that TF PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR4(PIF4)physically interacted with the abscisic acid(ABA)signaling responsive TF ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4(ABI4)to act as a transcriptional complex to promote ABA biosynthesis and signaling,finally deepening primary seed dormancy.Both pif4 and abi4 single mutants exhibited a decreased primary seed dormancy phenotype,with a synergistic effect in the pif4/abi4 double mutant.PIF4 binds to ABI4 to form a heterodimer,and ABI4 stabilizes PIF4 at the protein level,whereas PIF4 does not affect the protein stabilization of ABI4.Subsequently,both TFs independently and synergistically promoted the expression of ABI4 and NCED6,a key gene for ABA anabolism.The genetic evidence is also consistent with the phenotypic,physiological and biochemical analysis results.Altogether,this study revealed a transcriptional regulatory cascade in which the PIF4–ABI4 transcriptional activator complex synergistically enhanced seed dormancy by facilitating ABA biosynthesis and signaling.

蛋白质磷酸化修饰与种子休眠及萌发调控

种子休眠与萌发是截然不同而又紧密联系的两个生理过程,也是植物生命周期中的关键阶段,对自然状态下的植物物种繁殖与地理分布以及农业生产均具有重要意义,且两个过程受不同内源激素和环境信号之间的精确互作调控。大量研究表明,蛋白质磷酸化修饰作为一种重要的翻译后修饰方式,参与调控种子休眠与萌发以及植物逆境胁迫响应等过程并发挥重要作用。该文简要介绍了蛋白质磷酸化、去磷酸化修饰过程及其功能,系统总结了蛋白质磷酸化修饰在种子休眠与萌发过程中的调控作用,并展望了未来的研究方向。