Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Polysome Profiling Protocol for Studying Translational Regulation in Arabidopsis Under Heat Stress
Published on: October 11, 2024
The TabHLH35-TaWAK20-TaSPL5 pathway positively regulates Cd stress in wheat
Xuye Du1, Lizhou Zhou1, Bin Zhu1
1School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
Key Message:
Cadmium-induced TaWAK20 regulates the cadmium stress response by phosphorylating TaSPL5 in wheat. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are thought to play important roles in responses to abiotic stresses in plants. In this study, we identified a cadmium (Cd)-induced RLK in wheat, TaWAK20, which is a positive regulator of the Cd stress response. TaWAK20 is specifically expressed in root tissue. Overexpression of TaWAK20 significantly improved the tolerance of Cd stress in wheat and decreased Cd accumulation in wheat plants by regulating reactive oxygen species production and scavenging. Yeast one-hybrid assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and firefly luciferase activity analyses demonstrated that the TaWAK20 promoter was bound by the TabHLH35 transcription factor. TaWAK20 interacted with and phosphorylated squamosa promoter binding protein-like 5 (TaSPL5). Furthermore, phosphorylation of TaSPL5 increased its DNA-binding activity. In addition, Arabidopsis-expressing phosphorylated TaSPL5 exhibited greater Cd tolerance than Arabidopsis-expressing unphosphorylated TaSPL5. Taken together, these data identify a TabHLH35-TaWAK20-TaSPL5 module that regulates Cd stress.
Related Concept Videos
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Cell Signaling in Plants
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Protein Transport to the Thylakoids

