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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368748
Research Project: Exploiting Genetic Diversity through Genomics, Plant Physiology, and Plant Breeding to Increase Competitiveness of U.S. Soybeans in Global Markets

Location: Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research

Title: The membrane-localized protein kinase MAP4K4/TOT3 regulates thermomorphogenesis

Author
item VU, LAM DAI - Ghent University
item ZHU, TINGTING - Ghent University
item XU, XIANGYU - Ghent University
item DE JONG, DORRIT - Ghent University
item VAN ZANTEN, MARTIJN - Utrecht University
item VANREMOORTELE, TIM - Ghent University
item Locke, Anna
item VAN DE COTTE, BRIGITTE - Ghent University
item DE WINNE, NANCY - Ghent University
item STES, ELIZABETH - Ghent University
item DE JAEGER, GEERT - Ghent University
item VAN DAMME, DANIEL - Ghent University
item UAUY, CRISTOBAL - John Innes Center
item GEVAERT, KRIE - Ghent University
item SMET, IVE DE - Ghent University

Submitted to: Nature Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2021
Publication Date: 5/14/2021
Citation: Vu, L., Zhu, T., Xu, X., De Jong, D., Van Zanten, M., Vanremoortele, T., Locke, A.M., Van De Cotte, B., De Winne, N., Stes, E., De Jaeger, G., Van Damme, D., Uauy, C., Gevaert, K., Smet, I. 2021. The membrane-localized protein kinase MAP4K4/TOT3 regulates thermomorphogenesis. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23112-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23112-0

Interpretive Summary: The molecular pathways through which plants signal temperature increases and adjust their growth and physiology are not fully understood. Using protein phosphorylation data, a new molecular signaling complex was identified that plays an important role in how growth responds to temperature in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, this same temperature-responsive signaling complex was identified in protein phosphorylation data from soybean and wheat.

Technical Abstract: Plants respond to warm temperature conditions by increased elongation growth of organs to enhance cooling capacity, in a process called thermomorphogenesis. Our understanding of the genetic regulation of thermomorphogenesis has increased in recent years. However, cellular signaling pathways have been underexplored and hardly anything is known about molecular mechanisms outside the model plant A. thaliana. Therefore, to identify regulators of thermomorphogenesis that are conserved in flowering plants, we mapped changes in protein phosphorylation in both dicots and monocots exposed to warm temperature. Through this approach, we identified a novel, functionally conserved signaling complex of MITOGENACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASE KINASE KINASEs (MAP4KS) in warm temperature-mediated growth regulation. Genetic and molecular data showed that this pathway acts independent of PIF4 and phyB thermosignaling pathways. Understanding the diverse pathways that regulate warm temperature-mediated growth will guarantee food security under a changing climate.