692 / 2019-05-01 13:35:58

ABF and NF-Y complex transcription factors co-regulate SOC1 expression and modulate drought escape response in Arabidopsis

drought escape,abscisic acid,ABF3,ABF,NF-YC,SOC1

全体主题 > Abiotic Stress

Early flowering is a common characteristic in drought escape response, which allows plants to produce seeds and to complete their life cycle before water deprivation leads to lethality. Several genes such as FT, TSF, and SOC1 were identified as essential target genes during drought-accelerated flowering, although the molecular mechanism is not clearly defined. Here we propose the molecular mechanism of drought escape response by identifying transcription factors that modulate SOC1 expression during drought escape response. ABA-responsive element-binding factor 3 (ABF3) and ABF4 interact with nuclear factor Y subunit C (NF-YC3/4/9) and co-regulate SOC1 expression. Both ABF and NF-Y transcription factors were found to be enriched in the SOC1 promoter in an ABA-dependent manner. Interestingly, the increase of SOC1 expression by ABA and drought were dependent on ABF3, ABF4, and NF-Y complex. Furthermore, the abf3 abf4, nf-yc3 yc4 yc9, and soc1 mutants displayed a reduced drought escape response. Taken together, our results suggest that ABF3 and ABF4 act with NF-Y complex to promote flowering by positively regulating SOC1 transcription under ABA and drought conditions.