Ethylene regulates arabidopsis development via the modulation of DELLA protein growth repressor function.

Journal article

Phytohormones regulate plant development via a poorly understood signal response network. Here, we show that the phytohormone ethylene regulates plant development at least in part via alteration of the properties of DELLA protein nuclear growth repressors, a family of proteins first identified as gibberellin (GA) signaling components. This conclusion is based on the following experimental observations. First, ethylene inhibited Arabidopsis root growth in a DELLA-dependent manner. Second, ethylene delayed the GA-induced disappearance of the DELLA protein repressor of ga1-3 from root cell nuclei via a constitutive triple response-dependent signaling pathway. Third, the ethylene-promoted "apical hook" structure of etiolated seedling hypocotyls was dependent on the relief of DELLA-mediated growth restraint. Ethylene, auxin, and GA responses now can be attributed to effects on DELLA function, suggesting that DELLA plays a key integrative role in the phytohormone signal response network.

Authors: Achard, P; Vriezen, W; Van Der Straeten, D; Harberd, N

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Plant cell
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2816-2825
• Publication date: 2003-12-01
• DOI: 10.1105/tpc.015685
• EISSN: 1532-298X
• ISSN: 1040-4651
• Language: English
• Keywords: Multigene Family; Plant Roots; Seeds; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Arabidopsis Proteins; Luminescent Proteins; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Ethylenes; Protein Kinases; Indoleacetic Acids; Signal Transduction; Plant Growth Regulators; Germination; Arabidopsis; Gibberellins; Plant Proteins; Transcription Factors