Josep Vilardell

Gene sequence, developmental expression, and protein phosphorylation of RAB-17 in maize

The ABA-induced MA12 cDNA from maize, which encodes a set of highly phosphorylated embryo proteins, was used to isolate the corresponding genomic clone. This gene, called RAB-17 (responsive to ABA), encodes a basic, glycine-rich protein (mol. wt. 17 164) containing a cluster of 8 serine residues, seven of them contiguous. It is a homologue of the rice RAB-21 gene (Mundy J, Chua NH, EMBO J 7; 2279–2286, 1988). Phosphoamino acid analysis of the isolated protein indicates that only the serine residues are phosphorylated and a putative casein-type kinase phosphorylatable sequence was identified in the protein. The pattern of expression and in vivo phosphorylation of the RAB-17 protein was studied during maize embryo germination and in calli of both meristematic or embryonic origin. ABA treatment induced the synthesis of RAB-17 mRNA and protein in calli, however, the RAB-17 proteins were found to be highly phosphorylated only in embryos.

The cis-regulatory element CCACGTGG is involved in ABA and water-stress responses of the maize gene rab28

The maize gene rab28 has been identified as ABA-inducible in embryos and vegetative tissues. It is also induced by water stress in young leaves. The proximal promoter region contains the conserved cis-acting element CCACGTGG (ABRE) reported for ABA induction in other plant genes. Transient expression assays in rice protoplasts indicate that a 134 bp fragment (-194 to -60 containing the ABRE) fused to a truncated cauliflower mosaic virus promoter (35S) is sufficient to confer ABA-responsiveness upon the GUS reporter gene. Gel retardation experiments indicate that nuclear proteins from tissues in which the rab28 gene is expressed can interact specifically with this 134 bp DNA fragment. Nuclear protein extracts from embryo and water-stressed leaves generate specific complexes of different electrophoretic mobility which are stable in the presence of detergent and high salt. However, by DMS footprinting the same guanine-specific contacts with the ABRE in both the embryo and leaf binding activities were detected. These results indicate that the rab28 promoter sequence CCACGTGG is a functional ABA-responsive element, and suggest that distinct regulatory factors with apparent similar affinity for the ABRE sequence may be involved in the hormone action during embryo development and in vegetative tissues subjected to osmotic stress.

Differential regulation of ABA-induced 23-25 kDa proteins in embryo and vegetative tissues of the viviparous mutants of maize.

Previous studies have identified a set of highly phosphorylated proteins of 23–25 kDa accumulated during normal embryogenesis of Zea mays L. and which disappear in early germination. They can be induced precociously in embryos by abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Here the synthesis and accumulation of this group of proteins and their corresponding mRNAs were examined in ABA-deficient viviparous embryos at different developmental stages whether treated or not with ABA, and in water-stressed leaves of both wild-type and viviparous mutants.During embryogenesis and precocious germination of viviparous embryos the pattern of expression of the 23–25 kDa proteins and mRNAs closely resembles that found in non-mutant embryo development. They are also induced in young viviparous embryos by ABA treatment. In contrast, leaves of ABA-deficient mutants fail to accumulate mRNA in water stress, yet do respond to applied ABA. In water-stressed leaves of wild type plants the mRNAs are induced and translated into 4 proteins with a molecular weight and isoelectric point identical to those found in embryos.These results indicate that the 23–25 kDa protein set is a new member of the recently described class or proteins involved in generalized plant ABA responses.The different pattern of expression for the ABA-regulated 23–25 kDa proteins and mRNAs found in embryo and in vegetative tissues of viviparous mutants is discussed.

Regulation of the maizerab17 gene promoter in transgenic heterologous systems

The maizerab17 gene is expressed in different plant parts in response to ABA and osmotic stress (J. Vilardellet al., Plant Mol Biol 14 (1990) 423–432). Here we demonstrate that 5′ upstream sequences of therab17 gene confer the appropriate patterns of expression on the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene in transgenic tobacco plants, as well as in protoplasts derived from cultured rice cells. Specifically, a CAT construct containing a large 5′ upstream fragment ofrab17 (−1330/+29) results in high levels of CAT activity in embryos, leaves and roots of transgenic plants subjected to water stress or ABA treatment. Transient expression assays in rice protoplasts transfected with CAT genes fused torab17 promoter deletions indicate that a 300 bp DNA fragment (−351/−102) is sufficient to confer ABA responsiveness upon the reporter gene. Furthermore, a 100 bp sequence (−219/−102) is capable of conferring ABA responsiveness upon a minimal promoter derived from the 35S CaMV promoter. Gel retardation experiments indicate that maize nuclear proteins bind to this fragment. This region of 100 bp contains a sequence (ACGTGGC) which has been identified as an abscisic acid response element in studies of other ABA-responsive plant genes.

Regulation of the rab17 gene promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis wild-type, ABA-deficient and ABA-insensitive mutants

The abscisic acid-responsive gene rab17 is induced during maize embryo maturation and in vegetative tissues under water stress conditions. To investigate how ABA is involved in the induction of the rab17 gene, we present here a genetic approach to analyse the transcriptional regulation of the 1.3 kb rab17 promoter fragment in transgenic wild-type Arabidopsis and mutants which are deficient (aba) and insensitive (abi1, abi2 and abi3) to ABA. During seed development the rab17 promoter fragment confers similar temporal and spatial regulation on the reporter gene GUS, both in transgenic wild-type and ABA-deficient and ABA-insensitive mutants. The rab17 promoter was only active in embryo and endosperm during late seed development, although the ABA-deficient embryo mutant showed a reduction in the level of GUS activity. During germination rab17 promoter activity decreases, and GUS activity is not enhanced by water stress in transgenic wild-type and mutant plants. In contrast, transcription of the Arabidopsis endogenous rab gene is stimulated by water stress, both in wild-type and ABA-insensitive mutants. Our data suggest that different molecular mechanisms mediate seed-specific expression and ABA water stress induction of the rab17 gene and indicate strong conservation of the seed-specific regulatory mechanism for rab genes in monocot and dicot plants.

SUS1 introns are required for efficient mRNA nuclear export in yeast

Efficient coupling between mRNA synthesis and export is essential for gene expression. Sus1/ENY2, a component of the SAGA and TREX-2 complexes, is involved in both transcription and mRNA export. While most yeast genes lack introns, we previously reported that yeast SUS1 bears two. Here we show that this feature is evolutionarily conserved and critical for Sus1 function. We determine that while SUS1 splicing is inefficient, it responds to cellular conditions, and intronic mutations either promoting or blocking splicing lead to defects in mRNA export and cell growth. Consistent with this, we find that an intron-less SUS1 only partially rescues sus1Δ phenotypes. Remarkably, splicing of each SUS1 intron is also affected by the presence of the other and by SUS1 exonic sequences. Moreover, by following SUS1 RNA and protein levels we establish that nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway and the splicing factor Mud2 both play a role in SUS1 expression. Our data (and those of the accompanying work by Hossain et al.) provide evidence of the involvement of splicing, translation, and decay in the regulation of early events in mRNP biogenesis; and imply the additional requirement for a balance in splicing isoforms from a single gene.

Molecular Biological Responses to Drought in Maize

Almost all plants can withstand extremes of osmotic stress at some stages of their life cycle. This is the case in cereal seed whose embryos can tolerate reductions in water content of about 80%. Such severe desiccation kills cells from other parts of the plant. During growth, plants also endure mild water deficits (10–15% reduction of their water content) in dry periods. However, the molecular mechanisms contributing to tolerance of dehydration are largely unresolved. The hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), appears to modulate the responses of plants under conditions of water deficit. Developmental studies of seeds and physiological studies of the effects of water stress indicate that ABA controls quantitative and qualitative aspects of the accumulation of specific mRNAs and proteins. Despite considerable research in this field, the function of the ABA- responsive proteins remains elusive and the mode of action of the hormone is unknown. The rab genes of maize are expressed in different plant tissues in response to ABA and osmotic stress. Current evidence indicates that more than one mechanism determines the level of expression of the rab genes. One level of control involves transcription of the rab genes. Specific sequence elements directing hormone responsiveness are localised in discrete regions of the rab gene promoters, rab mRNAs are induced in all tissues by ABA. In contrast, the level of rab proteins differs between embryo and vegetative tissues since they are strongly accumulated in dry embryos but poorly represented in the overall protein pattern of ABA- treated or water-stressed vegetative tissues. These data indicate that different levels of control are involved in the regulation of rab mRNA stability and protein accumulation during ABA-induced responses.

DNA structure directs positioning of the mitochondrial genome packaging protein Abf2p

The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is assembled into nucleo-protein structures termed nucleoids and maintained differently compared to nuclear DNA, the involved molecular basis remaining poorly understood. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), mtDNA is a ∼80 kbp linear molecule and Abf2p, a double HMG-box protein, packages and maintains it. The protein binds DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner, but displays a distinct ‘phased-binding’ at specific DNA sequences containing poly-adenine tracts (A-tracts). We present here two crystal structures of Abf2p in complex with mtDNA-derived fragments bearing A-tracts. Each HMG-box of Abf2p induces a 90° bend in the contacted DNA, causing an overall U-turn. Together with previous data, this suggests that U-turn formation is the universal mechanism underlying mtDNA compaction induced by HMG-box proteins. Combining this structural information with mutational, biophysical and computational analyses, we reveal a unique DNA binding mechanism for Abf2p where a characteristic N-terminal flag and helix are crucial for mtDNA maintenance. Additionally, we provide the molecular basis for A-tract mediated exclusion of Abf2p binding. Due to high prevalence of A-tracts in yeast mtDNA, this has critical relevance for nucleoid architecture. Therefore, an unprecedented A-tract mediated protein positioning mechanism regulates DNA packaging proteins in the mitochondria, and in combination with DNA-bending and U-turn formation, governs mtDNA compaction.

Cwc21p promotes the second step conformation of the spliceosome and modulates 3′ splice site selection

Pre-mRNA splicing involves two transesterification steps catalyzed by the spliceosome. How RNA substrates are positioned in each step and the molecular rearrangements involved, remain obscure. Here, we show that mutations in PRP16, PRP8, SNU114 and the U5 snRNA that affect this process interact genetically with CWC21, that encodes the yeast orthologue of the human SR protein, SRm300/SRRM2. Our microarray analysis shows changes in 3′ splice site selection at elevated temperature in a subset of introns in cwc21Δ cells. Considering all the available data, we propose a role for Cwc21p positioning the 3′ splice site at the transition to the second step conformation of the spliceosome, mediated through its interactions with the U5 snRNP. This suggests a mechanism whereby SRm300/SRRM2, might influence splice site selection in human cells.

Genes Induced by Abscisic Acid and Water Stress in Maize

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) appears to modulate the responses of plants under conditions of water deficit (Davies and Mansfield, 1983). In general, there are two basic types of response to ABA which have been correlated with regulation of gene expression. First, a slow response during angiosperm embryo development (Quatrano, 1986), with ABA levels increasing (Jones and Brenner, 1987) during the embryogenic period prior to the desiccation of the embryo, and inducing the synthesis of specific proteins and mRNAs (Galau et al. 1987, Sanchez-Martinez et al. 1986). Second, a rapid response in water-stressed plant tissues where the level of ABA increases (Wright and Hiron, 1969) and alters the level of specific gene expression (Heikkila et al. 1984).