AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 Are Required for the Subcellular Localization of the SNARE Complex That Mediates the Trafficking of Seed Storage Proteins in Arabidopsis

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 17;11(3):e0151658. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151658. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The SNARE complex composed of VAMP727, SYP22, VTI11 and SYP51 is critical for protein trafficking and PSV biogenesis in Arabidopsis. This SNARE complex directs the fusion between the prevacuolar compartment (PVC) and the vacuole, and thus mediates protein trafficking to the vacuole. In this study, we examined the role of AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 in regulating this SNARE complex and its function in protein trafficking. We found that AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 were required for seed production, protein trafficking and PSV biogenesis. We further found that the nhx5 nhx6 syp22 triple mutant showed severe defects in seedling growth and seed development. The triple mutant had short siliques and reduced seed sets, but larger seeds. In addition, the triple mutant had numerous smaller protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) and accumulated precursors of the seed storage proteins in seeds. The PVC localization of SYP22 and VAMP727 was repressed in nhx5 nhx6, while a significant amount of SYP22 and VAMP727 was trapped in the Golgi or TGN in nhx5 nhx6. AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 were co-localized with SYP22 and VAMP727. Three conserved acidic residues, D164, E188, and D193 in AtNHX5 and D165, E189, and D194 in AtNHX6, were essential for the transport of the storage proteins, indicating the importance of exchange activity in protein transport. AtNHX5 or AtNHX6 did not interact physically with the SNARE complex. Taken together, AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 are required for the PVC localization of the SNARE complex and hence its function in protein transport. AtNHX5 and AtNHX6 may regulate the subcellular localization of the SNARE complex by their transport activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Protein Transport / physiology*
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / physiology
  • Qb-SNARE Proteins / physiology
  • SNARE Proteins / physiology*
  • Seeds / metabolism*
  • Subcellular Fractions / physiology
  • Vacuoles / physiology

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • NHX5 protein, Arabidopsis
  • NHX6 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • Qb-SNARE Proteins
  • SNARE Proteins
  • Vam3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • vesicle transport v-SNARE 11 protein, Arabidopsis

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 project, 2013CB429904 to QSQ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC,31070222 to QSQ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC,31371438 to QSQ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC,31571464 to QSQ), Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (RFDP, 20130211110001 to QSQ), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2013-k10 to QSQ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.