Regulation of mRNA stability in the central pathway of abscisic acid signaling

• Grant number: 14/05957-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Michel Georges Albert Vincentz
• Grantee: João Guilherme Portugal Vieira
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/52071-0 - Energetic homeostasis and sugar signaling: diversification of the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of the energetic balance in angiosperms, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

The capability to respond efficiently to biotic and abiotic stress represents an important adaptive aspect in plants, reflecting directly on their development, growth and propagation. The phytohormones are central elements in the control of these responses and, in this context; the role of Abscisic Acid (ABA) not only affects transcription, but is also involved in post-transcriptional regulation, through the control of mRNA stability. It is, however, poorly understood how ABA mediates the control of these different levels of regulation. Recent studies have demonstrated the relevance of post-transcriptional regulation for the adaptive responses. For instance, the control of the expression of the transcription factor AtbZIP63, as part of a regulatory chain to integrate responses to abiotic and energetic stress, involves transcriptional and post-transcriptional responses modulated by ABA and glucose in Arabidopsis thaliana. Recently through the transcriptome analysis of A. thaliana, we have identified 245 transcripts that are potential targets of post-transcriptional regulation mediated by ABA. Among these, there is the presence of transcripts that are part of the central node of ABA signaling itself, and this may represent the capacity and/or necessity for rapid adjustment to abiotic stress mediated by ABA. The mechanisms involved in post-transcriptional regulation, however, as well as physiological meaning, are some aspects that need to be better understood. In this context, the project aims to reveal which mechanisms for post-transcriptional control are associated with the mRNA stability in central ABA signaling pathway, as well as, elucidate the physiological meaning of this regulation in A. thaliana. (AU)