NaHD20: An HD-Zip transcription factor from Nicotiana attenuata that regulates abscisic acid and bencyl acetone levels

RÉ DELFINA A.,; BONAVENTURE G; CHAN RL

Mar del Plata

Congreso; RAFV; 2014

Transcription factors (TFs) modify plants? transcriptomes. By this mean, TFs trigger the modifications of hormones and other molecules levels. NaHD20 codify an HD-Zip TF from Nicotiana attenuata. The expression of this TF is induced by abscisic acid (ABA) and by water stress in leaves; it is also highly expressed in corollas during the opening of Nicotiana attenuata flowers, just before pollination occurs. NaHD20 regulates gene expression in ABA signalling and biogenesis, affecting the endogenous levels of this phytohormone. The mentioned regulation take place in leaves and in flowers, although is different in each tissue. NaHD20 induces ABA synthesis during water stress in leaves. In flowers, this TF controls ABA levels to finely regulate the emission of a volatile compound specific from Nicotiana attenuata, bencyl acetone. In leaves, NaHD20 does not modify volatile levels. We conclude that this TF participates in pollinators? attraction by regulating ABA levels and floral volatiles? emission in Nicotiana attenuata.