The calcium transporter ANNEXIN1 mediates cold‐induced calcium signaling and freezing tolerance in plants

Liu, Qiangbo; Ding, Yanglin; Shi, Yiting; Ma, Liang; Wang, Yi; Song, Chunpeng; Wilkins, Katie A; Davies, Julia M; Knight, Heather; Knight, Marc R; Gong, Zhizhong; Guo, Yan; Yang, Shuhua

Abstract

The transient elevation of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) induced by cold stress is a well-established phenomenon; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that the Ca2+-permeable transporter ANNEXIN1 (AtANN1) mediates cold-triggered Ca2+ influx and freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. The loss of function of AtANN1 substantially impaired freezing tolerance, reducing the cold-induced [Ca2+]cyt increase and upregulation of the cold-responsive CBF and COR genes. Further analysis showed that the OST1/SnRK2.6 kinase interacted with and phosphorylated AtANN1, which consequently enhanced its Ca2+ transport activity, thereby potentiating Ca2+ signaling. Consistent with these results and freezing sensitivity of ost1 mutants, the cold-induced [Ca2+]cyt elevation in the ost1-3 mutant was reduced. Genetic analysis indicated that AtANN1 acts downstream of OST1 in responses to cold stress. Our data thus uncover a cascade linking OST1-AtANN1 to cold-induced Ca2+ signal generation, which activates the cold response and consequently enhances freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Citation

Liu, Q., Ding, Y., Shi, Y., Ma, L., Wang, Y., Song, C., Wilkins, K. A., Davies, J. M., Knight, H., Knight, M. R., Gong, Z., Guo, Y., & Yang, S. (2021). The calcium transporter ANNEXIN1 mediates cold‐induced calcium signaling and freezing tolerance in plants. The EMBO Journal, 40(2), Article e104559. https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020104559

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Dec 29, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 15, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2021
• Journal: The EMBO Journal
• Print ISSN: 0261-4189
• Electronic ISSN: 1460-2075
• Publisher: EMBO Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: e104559
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020104559
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1251399