A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Knock-down of protein phosphatase 2A subunit B'γ promotes phosphorylation of CALRETICULIN 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Trotta A, Konert G, Rahikainen M, Aro EM, Kangasjärvi S
Publication year: 2011
Journal: Plant Signaling and Behavior
Journal name in source: Plant signaling & behavior
Journal acronym: Plant Signal Behav
Number in series: 11
Volume: 6
Issue: 11
First page : 1665
Last page: 1668
ISSN: 1559-2316
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.6.11.17829
Controlled protein dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulates diverse signaling events in plants. Recently, we showed that a specific B’γ regulatory subunit of PP2A mediates basal repression of immune reactions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Knock-down pp2a-b’γ mutants display constitutive defense reactions and premature yellowing conditionally under moderate light intensity. Here we show that knock-down of PP2A-B’γ renders CALRETI CULIN 1 (CRT 1) highly phosphorylated. Calreticulins are ER-resident chaperonins that operate in the unfolded protein response to prevent ER-stress, components of which are differentially regulated at mRNA level in pp2a-b’γ leaves. We speculate that in dephosphorylated state, CRT 1 promotes the degradation of unfolded proteins in ER. Our findings suggest that in wild type plants, dephosphorylation of CRT 1 is mediated by PP2A-B’γ dependent signaling effects. In pp2a-b’γ, strong phosphorylation of CRT 1 may partially imbalance the quality control of protein folding, thereby eliciting ER-stress and premature yellowing in leaves.