An atypical heterotrimeric G-protein gamma-subunit is involved in guard cell K+-channel regulation and morphological development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Chakravorty, David, Trusov, Yuri, Zhang, Wei, Acharya, Biswa R., Sheahan, Michael B., McCurdy, David W., Assmann, Sarah M. and Botella, José Ramón (2011) An atypical heterotrimeric G-protein gamma-subunit is involved in guard cell K+-channel regulation and morphological development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Journal, 67 5: 840-851.


Author Chakravorty, David
Trusov, Yuri
Zhang, Wei
Acharya, Biswa R.
Sheahan, Michael B.
McCurdy, David W.
Assmann, Sarah M.
Botella, José Ramón
Title An atypical heterotrimeric G-protein gamma-subunit is involved in guard cell K+-channel regulation and morphological development in Arabidopsis thaliana
Journal name Plant Journal  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2011-09
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04638.x
Volume number 67
Issue number 5
ISSN 0960-7412
Start page 840
End page 851
Total pages 12
Place of publication United Kingdom
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Collection year 2012
Language eng
Abstract Currently, there are strong inconsistencies in our knowledge of plant heterotrimeric G-proteins that suggest the existence of additional members of the family. We have identified a new Arabidopsis G-protein γ-subunit (AGG3) that modulates morphological development and ABA-regulation of stomatal aperture. AGG3 strongly interacts with the Arabidopsis G-protein β-subunit in vivo and in vitro. Most importantly, AGG3-deficient mutants account for all but one of the ‘orphan’ phenotypes previously unexplained by the two known γ-subunits in Arabidopsis. AGG3 has unique characteristics never before observed in plant or animal systems, such as its size (more than twice that of canonical γ-subunits) and the presence of a C-terminal Cys-rich domain. AGG3 thus represent a novel class of G-protein γ-subunits, widely spread throughout the plant kingdom but not present in animals. Homologues of AGG3 in rice have been identified as important quantitative trait loci for grain size and yield, but due to the atypical nature of the proteins their identity as G-protein subunits was thus far unknown. Our work demonstrates a similar trend in seeds of Arabidopsis agg3 mutants, and implicates G-proteins in such a crucial agronomic trait. The discovery of this highly atypical subunit reinforces the emerging notion that plant and animal G-proteins have distinct as well as shared evolutionary pathways.
Keyword Heterotrimeric G-proteins
Signal transduction
Guard cells
Potassium channels
Electrophysiology
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2012 Collection
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences
 
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