Plant Cell Advance Online Publication Published on August 19, 2004; 10.1105/tpc.104.022897
Received March 24, 2004
Accepted May 11, 2004
The SHINE Clade of AP2 Domain Transcription Factors Activates Wax Biosynthesis, Alters Cuticle Properties, and Confers Drought Tolerance when Overexpressed in Arabidopsis
Asaph Aharoni 1, Shital Dixit 1, Reinhard Jetter 2, Eveline Thoenes 1, Gert van Arkel 1, and Andy Pereira 1*
1 Plant Research International, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
2 Departments of Botany and Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: andy.pereira{at}wur.nl.
The interface between plants and the environment plays a dual role as a protective barrier as well as a medium for the exchange of gases, water, and nutrients. The primary aerial plant surfaces are covered by a cuticle, acting as the essential permeability barrier toward the atmosphere. It is a heterogeneous layer composed mainly of lipids, namely cutin and intracuticular wax with epicuticular waxes deposited on the surface. We identified an Arabidopsis thaliana activation tag gain-of-function mutant shine (shn) that displayed a brilliant, shiny green leaf surface with increased cuticular wax compared with the leaves of wild-type plants. The gene responsible for the phenotype encodes one member of a clade of three proteins of undisclosed function, belonging to the plant-specific family of AP2/EREBP transcription factors. Overexpression of all three SHN clade genes conferred a phenotype similar to that of the original shn mutant. Biochemically, such plants were altered in wax composition (very long fatty acid derivatives). Total cuticular wax levels were increased sixfold in shn compared with the wild type, mainly because of a ninefold increase in alkanes that comprised approximately half of the total waxes in the mutant. Chlorophyll leaching assays and fresh weight loss experiments indicated that overexpression of the SHN genes increased cuticle permeability, probably because of changes in its ultrastructure. Likewise, SHN gene overexpression altered leaf and petal epidermal cell structure, trichome number, and branching as well as the stomatal index. Interestingly, SHN overexpressors displayed significant drought tolerance and recovery, probably related to the reduced stomatal density. Expression analysis using promoter- -glucuronidase fusions of the SHN genes provides evidence for the role of the SHN clade in plant protective layers, such as those formed during abscission, dehiscence, wounding, tissue strengthening, and the cuticle. We propose that these diverse functions are mediated by regulating metabolism of lipid and/or cell wall components.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. J. M. Saibo, T. Lourenco, and M. M. Oliveira
Transcription factors and regulation of photosynthetic and related metabolism under environmental stresses
Ann. Bot.,
November 13, 2008;
(2008)
mcn227v1.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Vernie, S. Moreau, F. de Billy, J. Plet, J.-P. Combier, C. Rogers, G. Oldroyd, F. Frugier, A. Niebel, and P. Gamas
EFD Is an ERF Transcription Factor Involved in the Control of Nodule Number and Differentiation in Medicago truncatula
PLANT CELL,
October 1, 2008;
20(10):
2696 - 2713.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Mintz-Oron, T. Mandel, I. Rogachev, L. Feldberg, O. Lotan, M. Yativ, Z. Wang, R. Jetter, I. Venger, A. Adato, et al.
Gene Expression and Metabolism in Tomato Fruit Surface Tissues
Plant Physiology,
June 1, 2008;
147(2):
823 - 851.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Century, T. L. Reuber, and O. J. Ratcliffe
Regulating the Regulators: The Future Prospects for Transcription-Factor-Based Agricultural Biotechnology Products
Plant Physiology,
May 1, 2008;
147(1):
20 - 29.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. E. Trujillo, M. Sotolongo, C. Menendez, M. E. Ochogavia, Y. Coll, I. Hernandez, O. Borras-Hidalgo, B. P. H. J. Thomma, P. Vera, and L. Hernandez
SodERF3, a Novel Sugarcane Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF), Enhances Salt and Drought Tolerance when Overexpressed in Tobacco Plants
Plant Cell Physiol.,
April 1, 2008;
49(4):
512 - 525.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Yu, X. Chen, Y.-Y. Hong, Y. Wang, P. Xu, S.-D. Ke, H.-Y. Liu, J.-K. Zhu, D. J. Oliver, and C.-B. Xiang
Activated Expression of an Arabidopsis HD-START Protein Confers Drought Tolerance with Improved Root System and Reduced Stomatal Density
PLANT CELL,
April 1, 2008;
20(4):
1134 - 1151.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Taketa, S. Amano, Y. Tsujino, T. Sato, D. Saisho, K. Kakeda, M. Nomura, T. Suzuki, T. Matsumoto, K. Sato, et al.
Barley grain with adhering hulls is controlled by an ERF family transcription factor gene regulating a lipid biosynthesis pathway
PNAS,
March 11, 2008;
105(10):
4062 - 4067.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Fotopoulos, M. C. De Tullio, J. Barnes, and A. K. Kanellis
Altered stomatal dynamics in ascorbate oxidase over-expressing tobacco plants suggest a role for dehydroascorbate signalling
J. Exp. Bot.,
March 1, 2008;
59(4):
729 - 737.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R.-C. Lin, H.-J. Park, and H.-Y. Wang
Role of Arabidopsis RAP2.4 in Regulating Light- and Ethylene-Mediated Developmental Processes and Drought Stress Tolerance
Mol Plant,
January 1, 2008;
1(1):
42 - 57.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Panikashvili, S. Savaldi-Goldstein, T. Mandel, T. Yifhar, R. B. Franke, R. Hofer, L. Schreiber, J. Chory, and A. Aharoni
The Arabidopsis DESPERADO/AtWBC11 Transporter Is Required for Cutin and Wax Secretion
Plant Physiology,
December 1, 2007;
145(4):
1345 - 1360.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Bocobza, A. Adato, T. Mandel, M. Shapira, E. Nudler, and A. Aharoni
Riboswitch-dependent gene regulation and its evolution in the plant kingdom
Genes & Dev.,
November 15, 2007;
21(22):
2874 - 2879.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y.-M. Qin, C.-Y. Hu, Y. Pang, A. J. Kastaniotis, J. K. Hiltunen, and Y.-X. Zhu
Saturated Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Cotton Fiber and Arabidopsis Cell Elongation by Activating Ethylene Biosynthesis
PLANT CELL,
November 1, 2007;
19(11):
3692 - 3704.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Karaba, S. Dixit, R. Greco, A. Aharoni, K. R. Trijatmiko, N. Marsch-Martinez, A. Krishnan, K. N. Nataraja, M. Udayakumar, and A. Pereira
Improvement of water use efficiency in rice by expression of HARDY, an Arabidopsis drought and salt tolerance gene
PNAS,
September 25, 2007;
104(39):
15270 - 15275.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Andriankaja, A. Boisson-Dernier, L. Frances, L. Sauviac, A. Jauneau, D. G. Barker, and F. de Carvalho-Niebel
AP2-ERF Transcription Factors Mediate Nod Factor Dependent Mt ENOD11 Activation in Root Hairs via a Novel cis-Regulatory Motif
PLANT CELL,
September 1, 2007;
19(9):
2866 - 2885.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Li, F. Beisson, J. Ohlrogge, and M. Pollard
Monoacylglycerols Are Components of Root Waxes and Can Be Produced in the Aerial Cuticle by Ectopic Expression of a Suberin-Associated Acyltransferase
Plant Physiology,
July 1, 2007;
144(3):
1267 - 1277.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Kannangara, C. Branigan, Y. Liu, T. Penfield, V. Rao, G. Mouille, H. Hofte, M. Pauly, J. L. Riechmann, and P. Broun
The Transcription Factor WIN1/SHN1 Regulates Cutin Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
PLANT CELL,
April 1, 2007;
19(4):
1278 - 1294.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. H. Middleton, J. Jakab, R. V. Penmetsa, C. G. Starker, J. Doll, P. Kalo, R. Prabhu, J. F. Marsh, R. M. Mitra, A. Kereszt, et al.
An ERF Transcription Factor in Medicago truncatula That Is Essential for Nod Factor Signal Transduction
PLANT CELL,
April 1, 2007;
19(4):
1221 - 1234.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. S. Hooker, P. Lam, H. Zheng, and L. Kunst
A Core Subunit of the RNA-Processing/Degrading Exosome Specifically Influences Cuticular Wax Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
March 1, 2007;
19(3):
904 - 913.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Calo, I. Garcia, C. Gotor, and L. C. Romero
Leaf hairs influence phytopathogenic fungus infection and confer an increased resistance when expressing a Trichoderma {alpha}-1,3-glucanase
J. Exp. Bot.,
November 1, 2006;
57(14):
3911 - 3920.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K.-H. Jung, M.-J. Han, D.-y. Lee, Y.-S. Lee, L. Schreiber, R. Franke, A. Faust, A. Yephremov, H. Saedler, Y.-W. Kim, et al.
Wax-deficient anther1 Is Involved in Cuticle and Wax Production in Rice Anther Walls and Is Required for Pollen Development
PLANT CELL,
November 1, 2006;
18(11):
3015 - 3032.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
O. Rowland, H. Zheng, S. R. Hepworth, P. Lam, R. Jetter, and L. Kunst
CER4 Encodes an Alcohol-Forming Fatty Acyl-Coenzyme A Reductase Involved in Cuticular Wax Production in Arabidopsis
Plant Physiology,
November 1, 2006;
142(3):
866 - 877.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Kerstiens, L. Schreiber, and K. J. Lendzian
Quantification of cuticular permeability in genetically modified plants
J. Exp. Bot.,
August 1, 2006;
57(11):
2547 - 2552.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Kurdyukov, A. Faust, C. Nawrath, S. Bar, D. Voisin, N. Efremova, R. Franke, L. Schreiber, H. Saedler, J.-P. Metraux, et al.
The Epidermis-Specific Extracellular BODYGUARD Controls Cuticle Development and Morphogenesis in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
February 1, 2006;
18(2):
321 - 339.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Nakano, K. Suzuki, T. Fujimura, and H. Shinshi
Genome-Wide Analysis of the ERF Gene Family in Arabidopsis and Rice
Plant Physiology,
February 1, 2006;
140(2):
411 - 432.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|
|