The -Induced Arabidopsis Transcription Factor Attenuates ABA Signaling and Renders Seedlings Sugar Insensitive when Present in the Nucleus

Summary

In plants, sugars function as signaling molecules that control important processes such as photosynthesis, growth, carbon distribution over different organs and the production of storage compounds. Sugar signaling requires the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and the ABA-induced regulatory transcription factor ABI4. In this study, a genetic analysis identified the transcription factor ANAC060 as an important component in establishing sugar sensitivity. It was found that, in natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations, the ANAC060 protein may occur as a long or a short version due to differential ANAC060 mRNA splicing caused by a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The long ANAC060 protein with an intact transmembrane domain (TMD) is excluded from the nucleus, whereas the short version lacking the TMD is always present in the nucleus, where it regulates gene expression. Functional analyses indicated that Col ANAC060 is involved in a novel negative feedback loop in the sugar-ABA signaling pathway. In this feedback loop model, ABI4 activates ANAC060 expression, but the nuclear presence of Col ANAC060 suppresses Glc-induced ABA accumulation and ABI4 expression, thereby reducing responsiveness to sugar signals.

Introduction

Plant growth and development depends on the energy and carbon building blocks provided by soluble sugars. For efficient carbon nutrient utilization, prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms have evolved a range of sophisticated signal transduction pathways that link sugar status to growth and reproduction [1]–[3]. In plants, such sugar-sensing and -signaling systems regulate the expression of thousands of genes involved in the control of metabolic processes, growth, development and responses to the environment [4], [5]. Sugar signaling pathways closely interact with other signaling pathways, including those for light [6], phytohormones [7], stress [8], defense [9] and other nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphate [10].

Seedling growth and greening is inhibited when high concentrations of sugars are added to the medium. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this phenomenon of early seedling development repression has been widely used as a convenient way of identifying mutants affected in sugar-sensing or signaling processes [11], [12]. Mutants that are insensitive or oversensitive to different sugars have been isolated in this way, and the genes involved have been identified. However, such genes function in a variety of biological processes [11]–[18], and it is thus challenging to understand how these genes participate specifically in sugar signaling pathways. Prominent among these genes are HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1), which functions as a glucose (Glc) sensor [7], and genes involved in ABA and ethylene synthesis and signaling [11], [12], [17], [19]. The sugar-ABA cascade regulates many genes involved in photosynthesis and metabolism and is antagonized by ethylene signaling via the EIN3 protein [20], [21]. A central regulator in sugar-responsive gene expression in plants is the ABI4 gene, which encodes an ERF/AP2 transcription factor [11], [13], [22]–[24]. ABI4 is a regulator of seed germination, plastid-to-nucleus signaling and photosynthesis, redox status, lipid biosynthesis and breakdown, lateral root development and cell wall modification (reviewed in [25], [26]). ABI4 is a versatile transcription factor, acting as both an activator and a repressor of gene expression. ABI4 binds directly to the identified ABI4 binding motif in the promoters of target genes [27]–[29].

Natural variation analysis provides an important tool for analyzing complex biological processes [30]. Previously, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for seedling sugar sensitivity in Ler/Cvi recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations led to the identification of several loci and genes controlling sugar sensitivity. For example, Glc sensing QTL5 (GSQ5) [31] encodes the delay of germination 1(DOG1) gene, a major dormancy determinant. The sugar-ABA cascade induces GSQ5/DOG1 expression, and the Cvi GSQ5/DOG1 allele effectively enhances sugar-ABA signaling, thereby increasing sugar sensitivity [31]. Arabidopsis fructose (Frc) sensing QTL6 (FSQ6) is another interesting QTL that is Frc specific, and the study of this QTL revealed an HXK1-independent Frc signaling pathway [32]. FSQ6 encodes the ANAC089 transcription factor, and the Cvi ANAC089 allele specifies a dominant fructose insensitivity trait [32].

In this study, a novel sugar-sensing QTL (GSQ11) was identified in a Col X C24 F₂ population using a selective genotyping approach. GSQ11 associates with the segregation distortion region in highly Glc-insensitive F₂ individuals, and the QTL was confirmed in near-isogenic lines (NILs). Further studies showed that GSQ11 encodes the Arabidopsis NAC family transcription factor 060 (ANAC060). The Col ANAC060 allele gene harbors a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that affects intron splicing, leading to a truncated protein that lacks the C-terminal membrane anchor domain. This truncated ANAC060 protein is constitutively located in the nucleus. ANAC060 is likely a direct ABI4 target, but, interestingly, the Col ANAC060 allele attenuates sugar-induced ABA accumulation and renders seedlings insensitive to sugar.

Results

Selective genotyping identification of a Glc-sensing QTL in the Col X C24 F₂ population

The sugar sensitivity of Col and C24 seedlings was investigated on half-strength MS medium supplemented with increasing Glc concentrations, and it was found that C24 is substantially more sensitive to Glc than Col. On media supplemented with 5.5% Glc, the Col seedlings turned green and developed normally (Figure 1A), whereas the C24 seedlings were developmentally arrested and remained pale (Figure 1B). The growth of both accessions on 5.5% sorbitol (Sor) medium was not inhibited, showing that the sugar effect was not due to an osmotic effect (Figure 1C, D).

The selective genotyping strategy [33] was followed to identify QTLs for Glc sensitivity in the Col X C24 F₂ population. Approximately 2000 F₂ seeds were sown on 1/2 MS with 7% Glc, and 106 Glc insensitive seedlings were obtained. The genotypes of the insensitive F₂ individuals were established using 81 polymorphic simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers (http://www.arabidopsis.org, http://www.inra.fr/vast/msat.php, http://amp.genomics.org.cn/). A segregation distortion region including SSLP markers F7K15, F13I12, CDC2BG and NGA112 was found on the long arm of chromosome 3 (Figure 1E, Table S1). The segregation ratios of these markers fit the 1∶2∶1 ratio in an unselected F₂ population using 94 individuals (Table S1). Thus, it is likely that a Glc-sensing QTL (GSQ) is located in this region.

Confirmation and fine mapping of the Glc-sensing QTL

Near-isogenic lines (NILs) were used to further study the GSQ identified on chromosome 3. NILs N08, N12 and N40 have single genomic regions from C24 integrated into the Col background ([34], Figure 1F). Conversely, NILs M35 and M09 have single genomic regions from Col integrated into the C24 background ([34], Figure 1F). These NILs were tested for seedling Glc sensitivity. Of the NILs with a Col background, N08 and N40 showed Glc-sensitive phenotypes (Figure 1G, H), whereas NIL N12 showed Glc insensitivity comparable to Col (Figure 1I). Of the NILs with a C24 background, both M35 and M09 showed Glc insensitivity compared to C24 (Figure 1J, K). These results confirm the presence of a Glc-sensing QTL in this genomic region, with the Col sequence presenting Glc insensitivity. The QTL was named GSQ11, and its confidence interval was deduced from the NIL genotypes and Glc-sensing phenotypes. GSQ11 was localized to a 1.86-Mb region between markers MASC05045 (14.3 Mb) and MASC07090 (16.16 Mb) (Figure 1F).

GSQ11 encodes the transcription factor ANAC060

A total of 458 annotated genes are located in the GSQ11 candidate region. Conspicuously present among these genes is ANAC060 (At3g44290), which belongs to the OsNAC8 subgroup of group I NAC transcription factors that includes ANAC089 and ANAC040 [35]. ANAC089 was previously identified as determining seedling Frc sensitivity. The Cvi ANAC089 allele specifically suppresses Frc signaling, allowing seedling development to proceed on high-fructose-containing media [32]. Therefore, the effect of ANAC060 on Glc sensitivity and the possible association between ANAC060 and GSQ11 were investigated further.

A T-DNA insertion mutant of anac060 (Salk_012554C, Col background), in which a T-DNA insert is present in the second intron of the gene, was obtained (Figure S1A), and the insertion was confirmed by a PCR analysis (Figure S1B). No ANAC060 mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR in this mutant (Figure S1C). Interestingly, the growth of anac060 on 5.5% Glc resulted in seedling developmental arrest (Figure 2A), whereas Col is Glc insensitive. The Glc-sensitive phenotype of anac060 was found not to be the result of osmotic stress, as indicated by normal growth on 5.5% Sor (Figure 2B).

Allelism tests for GSQ11 and ANAC060 were performed, and the F₁ seedlings of Col X anac060 and Col X N40 were both found to be insensitive to 5.5% Glc, similar to Col. This finding further indicated that both the C24 GSQ11 allele and anac60 are recessive (Figure 2C, D). Importantly, the F₁ seedlings of the anac060 X N40 cross were found to be Glc sensitive, as are the N40 and anac060 parents (Figure 2E), strongly suggesting that GSQ11 and ANAC060 are allelic.

GSQ11 and ANAC060 allelism was confirmed by transferring the Col ANAC060 gene into N40 and anac060 using the floral dip transformation method. Seedlings of the N40 and anac060 lines transformed with the Col ANAC060 gene were Glc insensitive, unlike the Glc-sensitive N40 and anac060 parents (Figure 2F, G). These results identify ANAC060 as GSQ11.

The Frc sensitivities of anac060 and of anac060 transformed with Col ANAC060 were then investigated. Seedling development of anac060 was arrested on media containing 6.5% Frc (Figure S2B), whereas the seedlings of anac60 transformed with Col ANAC060 and of wild-type Col were green and developed normally (Figure S2A, C). The Frc-sensitive phenotype of the anac060 seedlings also reverted to Frc insensitivity in anac060 harboring the Col ANAC060 transgene (Figure S2C). These results show that ANAC060 is involved in both Glc and Frc signaling.

ANAC060 expression levels were determined in different plant tissues by qPCR. ANAC060 was found to be highly expressed in both seedlings and roots and weakly expressed in the leaf, stem, flower and silique (Figure 2H).

Differential mRNA splicing renders Col GSQ11/ANAC060 insensitive to Glc

ANAC060 is annotated as a NAC transcription factor with a transmembrane domain (TMD) and was named NAC with transmembrane motif 1-like 5 (NTL5) [36]. The TAIR (www.arabidopsis.org)-annotated ANAC060 protein consists of 335 amino acids with a C-terminally located TMD. Remarkably, the Col ANAC060 full-length cDNA clone GSLTLS7ZC02 (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nucleotide/BX823820) encodes a protein of 228 amino acids that lacks the TMD. In yeast, the Col ANAC060 protein fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding protein strongly activated a GAL4 UAS promoter-containing reporter gene (Figure S3), suggesting that ANAC060 functions as a transcriptional activator. Serial deletions of the Col ANAC060 protein were tested for transcriptional activity in yeast, resulting in the identification of a region including V¹⁹⁶ D¹⁹⁷ F¹⁹⁸ that is conserved in ANAC060 and ANAC089 as essential for transcriptional activity (Figure S3). An alignment analysis showed that, in the Col ANAC060 mRNA coding sequence, 20 base pairs (bp) are inserted that include an in-frame TAA stop codon, explaining the Col ANAC060 protein truncation. These 20 bp are absent in the C24 ANAC060 mRNA. It appears that the Col and C24 ANAC060 mRNAs are spliced differently (Figure 3A).

Comparing the genomic sequences of the Col and C24 ANAC060 genes revealed the probable cause for the differential splicing. An SNP is located precisely at the 3′ end of the 3rd intron splicing acceptor site of the Col ANAC060 gene. In Col, a G nucleotide is located at this position, whereas this is a T in C24 (Figure 3B). This G to T transversion affects the splicing pattern: a functional AG acceptor splice site is present in Col and a non-functional AT site is present in C24 (Figure 3B). However, the annotation in the TAIR database does not include this AG acceptor splice site, producing the 335-amino acid-long version of the ANAC60 protein that includes the TMD (Figure 3C).

The association between the ANAC060 splicing pattern and Glc sensitivity was illustrated by introducing a G to T point mutation in the Col ANAC060 gene and transforming this mutated Col gene into anac060 and NIL N40. cDNA derived from the mRNA of transgenic anac060 harboring the Col ANAC060^G-T construct was sequenced. Importantly, the Col ANAC060^G-T lines showed the same splicing pattern as C24 (Figure S4A). The splicing pattern in the transgenic anac060 lines transformed with the wild-type Col ANAC060 gene was identical to that of the Col accession (Figure S4B). As expected, the introduced mutated ANAC060^G-T gene did not complement the Glc-sensitivity phenotypes of anac060 and NIL N40 (Figure 3D, E). These results confirm that the G-T SNP is responsible for the differential splicing in Col and C24 and establishes this SNP as a quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) for sugar sensitivity.

The frequency of the natural G-T substitution causing the Glc-sensitive phenotype was investigated in Arabidopsis accessions. A cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker that specifically detects this SNP was developed (Figure 3F), and the haplotypes of 66 accessions were established. Six of the 66 accessions tested were of the Col type, and the remaining 60 accessions were of the C24 type (Table S2). The ANAC060 SNP was further analyzed using public data on 507 resequenced Arabidopsis accessions (http://signal.salk.edu/atg1001/3.0/gebrowser.php). The haplotypes of 436 accessions were T, including C24; those of 69 accessions were G, including Col (Table S3). Accessions Got-22 and Got-7 have a C nucleotide at the splice site position, differing from both Col and C24.

Differential localization of the Col and C24 ANAC060 proteins

The absence of a TMD in the truncated Col-type ANAC060 protein most likely results in differential protein localization compared to the C24-type ANAC060 protein, which includes the TMD. Differential localization of Col and C24 ANAC060 proteins was investigated by fusing these proteins N-terminally to GFP, followed by transient expression in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts using the PA7 vector (created by Dr. Katrin Czempinski, Potsdam University, Germany). As expected, the PA7 vector expressing only the GFP protein was localized by confocal laser-scanning microscopy in the cytosol and nucleus (Figure 4A–D). Interestingly, the Col GFP::ANAC060 fusion protein was located exclusively in the nucleus (Figure 4E–H), whereas the C24 GFP::ANAC060 fusion protein was located in the cytosol (Figure 4I–L). Therefore, the presence of the TMD effectively retains the C24 ANAC060 protein in the cytosol, most likely in association with endomembranes [37].

Glc induction of ANAC060 requires ABA signaling

The Glc responsiveness of ANAC060 was investigated, and it was found that this gene is strongly induced by Glc (Figure 5A). Many Glc-responsive genes depend on ABA synthesis and signaling. Interestingly, ANAC060 does not respond to Glc in the aba2-1 ABA-deficient mutant and the abi4-1 ABA signaling mutant (Figure 5A). Thus, ANAC060 is responsive to the sugar-ABA signaling cascade. The genetic interaction between the ABA signaling pathway and GSQ11/ANAC060 in determining Glc sensitivity was investigated in anac060 aba2 and anac060 abi4 double mutants. Both the anac060 aba2 and anac060 abi4 double mutants showed sugar-insensitive phenotypes similar to the aba2 and abi4 single mutants (Figure 5B, C). These results show that ABA2 and ABI4 are epistatic to GSQ11/ANAC060.

ABI4 binds to and activates the ANAC060 promoter

ABI4 regulates many sugar-responsive genes by direct promoter binding via the ABI4 binding motif [28]. In ANAC060, a CACCG ABI4 binding motif is located 1649 bp upstream of the ATG initiation codon (Figure 6A), suggesting that ABI4 induces ANAC060 by directly binding to the promoter. Accordingly, direct ABI4 binding to the ANAC060 promoter was investigated using ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation)-qPCR in a 35S-ABI4::GFP transgenic line (Col accession) [38]. This transgenic line showed a Glc-sensitive phenotype, indicating that the ABI4::GFP fusion protein retained its biological function (Figure S5A–B). The ANAC060 mRNA level in this ABI4-overexpressing line grown on glucose was approximately 5-fold higher than in wild-type (). Fragmented chromatin was immunoprecipitated using an anti-GFP antibody, and ANAC060 promoter fragments were quantitated using qPCR. In these experiments, a close to four-fold enrichment was observed for the CACCG-containing region (P1) in the ANAC060 promoter relative to the control; no such enrichment was found in a control region (P2) of the promoter (Figure 6B). Thus, it is likely that ABI4 binds directly to the CACCG region of the ANAC060 promoter in vivo.

The regulation of ANAC060 expression by ABI4 was investigated using Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts and the dual luciferase transient expression system. A luciferase reporter plasmid was constructed containing the P3 part of the ANAC060 promoter fused to LUC (P3-LUC) in the pGreenII vector (Figure 6A). High relative luciferase activity was detected only when the reporter construct was co-transfected with the 35S-ABI4 construct in the pGreenII vector (35S-ABI4) (Figure 6C). The transfection of vectors lacking either 35S-ABI4 or the P3 target promoter element resulted in low relative luciferase activity comparable to single transfections of 35S-ABI4 or P3-LUC (Figure 6C). The role of the CACCG ABI4 binding motif in ANAC060 promoter activation was investigated by mutational analysis. Cotransfection of 35S-ABI4 and the P3 element harboring a mutated CACCG sequence (P3m-LUC) caused reduced luciferase activity compared to the wild-type P3-LUC sequence (Figure 6C). These findings, together with the ChIP-qPCR results, support the conclusion that ABI4 induces ANAC060 transcription in vivo.

ANAC060 attenuates Glc-induced ABA accumulation and ABA sensitivity

ABA levels were quantitated in 5-day-old Col and anac060 seedlings grown on 5.5% Glc or on a Sor osmotic control. Growth on Glc increased the ABA content both in Col and anac060 (Figure 7A) compared to the osmotic control. Interestingly, the ABA levels in the Glc-grown anac060 seedlings were ∼twofold higher than in Col (Figure 7A). As expected, Glc induced ABI4 expression in Col, but a nearly fourfold higher ABI4 mRNA level was detected in anac060 (Figure 7B). The increases in ABA and ABI4 expression in anac060 likely explain the anac060 Glc-sensitive phenotype.

ABA sensitivity was investigated in Col, anac060 and NIL N40 in the absence of added sugars. Supplementing the 1/2 MS growth medium with 0.5 µmol/L ABA repressed seedling development in anac060 and NIL N40 compared to a control medium, whereas Col seedling development was unaffected (Figure 7C, Figure S6). These results indicate that the Col ANAC060 reduces sensitivity to ABA.

Discussion

The preparation of RIL populations for QTL mapping is laborious and time consuming. In contrast, selective genotyping represents a rapid and convenient way to locate QTLs [33], [39]. Selective genotyping has been used to map QTLs in maize [40], wheat [41], barley [42], tomato [43]–[45] and rat [46]. Glc sensitivities of C24 and Col accessions were compared, and it was found that C24 is substantially more sensitive to Glc than is Col. Glc insensitivity was investigated in Col X C24 F₂ individuals, and a segregation distortion region was identified. The segregation distortion-associated QTL, GSQ11, was confirmed in NIL lines with Col and C24 backgrounds.

Previously, QTL analysis for sugar sensitivity was undertaken in the Ler/Cvi RIL population, and nine QTLs specifying Glc or Frc sensitivity were identified [31], [32]. The GSQ11 locus identified here represents a novel locus not previously observed in the Ler/Cvi RIL population. GSQ11 is identical to ANAC060, a novel gene that determines sugar sensitivity. In natural populations, ANAC060 is present in two variants: the Col variant, encoding a 228-amino acid-long protein that lacks the TMD, and a C24 variant encoding a 335-amino acid-long protein that includes the TMD. In the Col ANAC060 allele, an SNP creates a functional AG splice acceptor site, resulting in differential splicing that introduces a premature stop codon; conversely, an AT sequence is present at this location in C24, resulting in normal splicing and a full-length protein. As a consequence, the Col protein is constitutively localized to the nucleus, whereas the C24 protein is retained in the cytosol by its TMD.

Membrane-tethered transcription factors (MTTFs) are found in virtually all major transcription factor families in plants [47]. The TMDs of MTTFs are essential for membrane insertion, thereby excluding the proteins from the nucleus. However, developmental, metabolic and environmental stimuli can induce proteolytic cleavage of the TMD in MTTFs, resulting in their nuclear migration, where they can regulate target genes [48]. This mechanism allows for rapid responses to changing conditions. For example, membrane-attached ANAC089 TMD cleavage is controlled by the cellular redox status, and reducing conditions promote the nuclear migration of this protein [37]. At least 18 NAC transcription factors with TMDs are encoded by the Arabidopsis genome, including ANAC060 and ANAC089 [47]. Previously, a natural variation analysis identified the Cvi allele of the ANAC089/FSQ6 transcription factor as promoting seedling Frc insensitivity. This Cvi ANAC089 allele lacks a TMD, similar to Col ANAC060, and the truncated Cvi ANAC089 protein is also localized to the nucleus. However, truncated ANAC089 is specifically Frc insensitive, whereas truncated ANAC060 suppresses the response to both Glc and Frc. Further investigations are needed to understand the mechanism by which nuclear-localized ANAC060 and ANAC089 proteins establish different responses to sugars and the role of ABA signaling in this process. Such investigations include the identification of genes differentially regulated by Glc and Frc in variants of ANAC060 and ANAC089.

Glc induces GSQ11/ANAC060 expression, and this induction requires an intact ABA signaling pathway. The Glc sensitivity of the anac060 mutant depends on an intact ABA signaling pathway, and anac060 becomes Glc insensitive when combined with ABA biosynthesis (aba2) or signaling (abi4) mutants. The ABA-induced transcription factor ABI4 is a central regulator of sugar-responsive gene expression in plants. ABI4 induces ANAC060 expression by interacting with the ABI4 binding motif in the ANAC060 promoter. Two- to threefold higher Glc-induced ABA accumulation was reported in the Glc-treated gin6/abi4 mutant [13], suggesting that ABI4 induction inhibits ABA accumulation in the sugar-ABA signaling pathway. In the present study, enhanced sugar-induced ABA accumulation was also observed in the anac060 mutant. Therefore, ANAC060 localized to the nucleus also appears to be part of a negative feedback loop in the ABA-mediated sugar signaling pathway. The sugar-ABA signaling pathway induces the expression of ANAC060 through ABI4, whereas the nuclear presence of the ANAC060 protein represses sugar-ABA signaling, rendering seedlings insensitive to sugars.

Materials and Methods

Plant materials

The F₂ population derived from a cross between Col and C24 was used for the QTL analysis. N08, N12 and N40 are NILs with single genomic regions of C24 integrated into the Col background; M35 and M09 are NILs with single genomic regions of Col integrated into the C24 background [34]. The anac060 T-DNA insertion mutant, Salk_012554C, was obtained from ABRC. 35S-ABI4::GFP transgenic line was provided by Dr. Xie [38].

Analysis of sugar sensitivity and ABA sensitivity

Sterilized seeds were placed on 0.1% agarose for 4 days at 4°C in the dark for stratification and then plated on solidified 1/2 MS medium, pH 5.8. Sugars, sorbitol and ABA were added at the concentrations indicated. The plates were incubated at 22°C under continuous fluorescent light for 9 days, and the sugar- and ABA-sensitivity phenotypes were scored.

QTL analysis by selective genotyping

A total of 106 Col X C24 F₂ individuals insensitive to 7% Glc were selected and genotyped together with an unselected F₂ population of 94 individuals. Eighty-one polymorphic SSLP markers between Col and C24 were used for genotyping (http://www.arabidopsis.org, http://www.inra.fr/vast/msat.php, http://amp.genomics.org.cn/). The statistical approach for QTL identification was as previously described [44].

Constructs

The promoter (1794 bp upstream of the start codon) and coding regions (2111 bp) of ANAC060 were amplified separately from Col genomic DNA using the primers presented in Table S4 and individually cloned into the pCAMBIA1301 to construct complementation vectors. The G-T point mutation was introduced into the complementation vector using the QuikChange Multi Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Stratagene). The coding sequences of the ANAC060 gene from C24 (1028 bp) and Col (687 bp) were amplified from cDNA using the primers presented in Table S5 and subcloned into PA7 to construct vectors for the protein localization assay in protoplasts.

Transactivation activity assay in yeast

The transactivation activity assays in yeast were performed using the Matchmaker GAL4 Two-Hybrid System 3 (Clontech), with modifications as described [49]. The full-length ANAC060 cDNA (clone GSLTLS7ZC02) was used to create pANAC060ΔC1, pANAC060ΔC2 and pANAC060ΔC3 by PCR amplification using the primers presented in Table S6. The PCR products were digested with BamHI and PstI and inserted into PGBKT7, resulting in an in-frame fusion of ANAC060 sequences with the GAL4 DNA-binding domain. The plasmids were transformed into yeast strain PJ69-4A, and the yeast cultures were grown overnight in liquid medium and diluted to an OD600 of 0.5. Serially dilutions were dropped onto either -Trp SD media or -Trp/-His/-Ade SD media.

ChIP-qPCR

Seeds of Col and the 35S-ABI4::GFP transgenic line were grown on 1/2 MS medium for approximately 2 weeks. Seedlings (3 g) were harvested and crosslinked with 1% formaldehyde for 15 minutes under vacuum; the crosslinking was stopped by the addition of 0.125 M glycine. The seedlings were homogenized in liquid nitrogen, and nuclei were isolated. The isolated nuclei were treated with ultrasonic waves (Bioruptor UCD-200) to fragment the chromatin into 200–300-bp fragments. Immunoprecipitations were performed with an anti-GFP antibody (Abcam) and protein A beads (Millipore). Mock immunoprecipitations in the absence of anti-GFP served as controls. DNA was precipitated by isopropanol, washed with 70% ethanol and dissolved in 35 µl water containing 10 µg/µl RNase. The qPCR analysis was performed using primers (Table S7) corresponding to different promoter regions of ANAC060. The relative enrichment of each fragment was calculated by normalizing the values for transgenic plants against the values for wild-type, as described [50].

Dual luciferase essay

The Arabidopsis protoplast isolation and transfection followed the protocols of Dr. Sheen's laboratory [51]. The P3 region of the ANAC060 promoter was amplified (Table S8) and cloned into the pGreenII 0800-LUC (firefly luciferase) vector [52] to construct the pGreenII P3-LUC vector. The mutated P3 fragment (P3m) was artificially synthesized (Shanghai Generay Biotech Co., Ltd.) and cloned into the pGreenII 0800-LUC vector, similar to the P3 fragment. The ABI4 cDNA was fused to the pGreenII 62-SK vector [52] to construct the pGreenII 35S-ABI4 vector. In each co-transfection assay, 6 µg pGreenII P3-LUC plasmid and 12 µg 35S-ABI4 plasmid were used. Protoplasts that had been incubated for 16 h were subjected to luciferase assays using the Promega dual-luciferase reporter assay system and the GloMax 20/20 luminometer.

Real-time RT-PCR

Total RNA was isolated using the Plant RNA Kit from Yuanpinghao Bio (www.yph-bio.com). Aliquots (1 µg) were reverse transcribed using TransScript One-Step gDNA Removal and cDNA Synthesis SuperMix (TransGen Biotech). Five µl of cDNA was used per real-time PCR reaction with 20 µl GoTaq q-PCR Master Mix from Promega (http://www.promega.com) and 0.8 µl of primers diluted to 10 pM (Table S9). PCR was performed using the Roche LightCycler 96 SW 1.0 Real-Time PCR system sequence detector. The expression levels of the ANAC060 and ABI4 genes were calculated relative to the PP2A [53] levels using the Q-gene method, which takes the relative efficiencies of the different primer pairs into account [54], [55]. The sequences of the primers used for the amplification of ANAC060 and ABI4 are presented in Table S9.

Quantification of endogenous ABA

Seedlings were ground in liquid nitrogen, and 150 mg of the powder was homogenized and extracted for 24 h in methanol containing D6-ABA (OIChemIm Co. Ltd.) as an internal standard. ABA was purified using an Oasis Max solid-phase extraction cartridge (150 mg/6 cc; Waters) and eluted with 5% formic acid in methanol. The eluate was dried, and ABA was quantitated as described [38] using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system with an Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (Acquity UPLC; Waters) and a triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometer (Quattro Premier XE; Waters). Three biological replications were performed for each treatment.

Supporting Information

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