Mitogen-activated protein kinase-regulated AZI1 – an attractive candidate for genetic engineering

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinases and their targets have been in the limelight of plant stress research. Signaling pathways mediating the responses to multiple stresses deserve particular attention. In a recent study, we reported AZI1, a member of the lipid transfer protein family, to play a role in MPK3-mediated responses to salt stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. MPK3 controls AZI1 at the transcriptional and posttranslational level. The AZI1 protein has several properties that make it very attractive for genetic engineering. A model of multi-level control of AZI1 by MPK3 is proposed, and strategies toward optimizing AZI1 protein properties are briefly discussed.

Keywords: :

• AZI1
• Arabidopsis
• Mitogen-activated protein kinase
• WRKY
• lipid transfer protein
• multiple control
• phosphorylation
• salt stress
• stress response

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Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

Funding by the Austrian Research Foundation (FWF), projects P21851 (H.P, S.D.) and V-167-B09 (A.P.) is gratefully acknowledged.