RCD1 nuclear shuttling releases WRKY47 to trigger bHLH105/bHLH115-dependent iron acquisition
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Updated: Nov 1, 2026

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) for the Study of RNA-Protein Interactions: The IRE/IRP Example
Published on: December 3, 2014
Xi Wu1,2, Qian Ma1, Mengfan Wu1
1School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China.
Abstract:
Iron (Fe) deficiency limits plant growth, yet its upstream regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identify WRKY47 as a positive regulator of Fe-deficiency responses in Arabidopsis. WRKY47 directly binds and activates bHLH105 and bHLH115, key IVc bHLH factors that trigger the Fe uptake cascade. We further show that RCD1 interacts with WRKY47 and suppresses its DNA-binding and transcriptional activity. Fe deficiency also promotes the redistribution of RCD1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, suggesting a potential mechanism for modulating WRKY47 activity during the response. Our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized regulatory mechanism linking WRKY transcription factors and the bHLH cascade through RCD1-mediated modulation, providing a conceptual framework for engineering crops with enhanced Fe acquisition and stress resilience.
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