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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #312650

Title: The arabidopsis polyamine transporter LHRI/AtPUT3 modulates heat responsive gene expression by regulating mRNA stability

Author
item SHEN, YUN - Texas Tech University
item RUAN, OINGXIA - Texas Tech University
item CHAI, HAOXI - Texas Tech University
item YUAN, YONGZE - Central China Normal University
item YANG, WANNIAN - Central China Normal University
item Chen, Junping
item Xin, Zhanguo
item SHI, HUAZHONG - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Plant Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2016
Publication Date: 10/19/2016
Citation: Shen, Y., Ruan, O., Chai, H., Yuan, Y., Yang, W., Chen, J., Xin, Z., Shi, H. 2016. The arabidopsis polyamine transporter LHRI/AtPUT3 modulates heat responsive gene expression by regulating mRNA stability. Plant Journal. 88(6):1006-1021.

Interpretive Summary: (PAs) are polycationic compounds present in most organisms. Studies have showed that PAs play key roles in protecting plants from various abiotic stresses. Nevertheless, the underline mechanisms of polyamines involved in abiotic stress response are largely unknown. In this study, we isolated an Arabidopsis lhr1 (lower expression of heat responsive gene 1) mutant, identified the mutated LHR1 gene as the polyamine transporter AtPUT3 and examined the function of the LHR1/RMV1 in heat stress response in Arabidopsis. Genome-wide gene expressions of lhr1 mutant and wild type plants under normal and heat-stressed conditions were also examined using RNAseq technology. The results showed that, comparing with wild type plant, the lhr1 mutant was 1) more sensitive to high temperature than the wild type plant, 2) more tolerant to the non-selective herbicide paraquat (PQ), and 3) more resistant the eukaryotic protein inhibitor cycloheximide and that the LHR1/AtPUT3 function is required for the uptake of extracellular PQ and PA and for stabilizing the mRNAs of several crucial heat stress responsive genes at high temperature. Genome-wide gene expression analysis revealed that mutation of LHR1/AtPUT3 significantly reduced transcript levels of several key heat shock protein (HSP) genes under prolonged heat stress conditions. This study indicates the intercellular polyamine content regulated by the polyamine influx transporter LHR1/AtPUT3 modulates Arabidopsis heat stress response through affecting the mRNA stability of key HSP genes.

Technical Abstract: Polyamines (PA) involve in the gene regulation by interacting with various anionic macromolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins and modulating their structure and function. Previous studies have showed that changing in polyamine biosynthesis alters plant response to different abiotic stresses. Here, we present the identification and functional analysis of the Arabidopsis polyamine transporter LHR1/RMV1 in heat stress response. The lhr1 (lower expression of heat responsive gene 1) mutant was more sensitive to high temperature than the wild type plant and showed reduced induction of heat stress response gene when exposed to high temperatures. Phenotyping analysis revealed that the lhr1 mutant was more resistant to the non-selective herbicide paraquat (PQ) and the eukaryotic protein inhibitor cycloheximide. Map-based cloning revealed that the LHR1 gene encodes the polyamine transporter AtPUT3 localized in the plasma membrane. The LHR1/AtPUT3 function is required for the uptake of extracellular PQ and PA and plays an important role in stabilizing the mRNAs of several crucial heat stress responsive genes at high temperature. Genome-wide gene expression analysis that mutation of LHR1/AtPUT3 significantly reduced transcript levels of several key heat shock protein (HSP) genes under heat stress conditions. This study indicates the intercellular polyamine content regulated by the polyamine influx transporter LHR1/AtPUT3 modulates Arabidopsis heat stress response through affecting the mRNA stability of key HSP genes.