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Genomic distribution and context dependent functionality of novel WRKY transcription factor binding sites
Laureen Christin Arndt1, Susanne Heine1, Lino Wendt1
1Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
BMC Genomics
|September 27, 2022
Summary
WT-boxes are novel microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-responsive cis-regulatory sequences. They are important WRKY transcription factor (TF) binding sites for basal and MAMP-induced gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Plant genetics
- Gene regulation
Background:
- WT-boxes (NGACTTTN) are novel cis-regulatory sequences responsive to microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs).
- Many WT-boxes function as uncommon binding sites for WRKY transcription factors (TFs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional relevance of WT-boxes in gene regulation.
- To analyze the genomic distribution and role of WT-boxes in MAMP-responsive gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Genomic distribution analysis of 16 possible WT-boxes in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- Functional analysis of a WT-box rich promoter from the MAMP-responsive gene ATEP3.
- Reporter gene expression assays to assess WT-box function and WRKY TF binding.
Main Results:
- Specific WT-boxes are enriched upstream of Arabidopsis genes, with some overlapping W-box motifs.
- The ATEP3 promoter, containing seven WT-boxes, shows MAMP responsiveness conferred by proximal WT-boxes.
- WRKY50 negatively regulates and WRKY70 positively regulates ATEP3 expression via WT-box binding.
Conclusions:
- WT-boxes are crucial for basal and MAMP-induced gene expression, acting as novel WRKY TF binding sites.
- WT-boxes, particularly those not part of W-boxes, may be essential for accurate WRKY target gene prediction.
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