DAYSLEEPER: a nuclear and vesicular-localized protein that is expressed in proliferating tissues

Abstract

BackgroundDAYSLEEPER is a domesticated transposase that is essential for development in Arabidopsis thaliana [Nature, 436:282–284, 2005]. It is derived from a hAT-superfamily transposon and contains many of the features found in the coding sequence of these elements [Nature, 436:282–284, 2005, Genetics, 158:949–957, 2001]. This work sheds light on the expression of this gene and localization of its product in protoplasts and in planta. Using deletion constructs, important domains in the protein were identified.ResultsDAYSLEEPER is predominantly expressed in meristems, developing flowers and siliques. The protein is mainly localized in the nucleus, but can also be seen in discrete foci in the cytoplasm. Using several vesicular markers, we found that these foci belong to vesicular structures of the trans-golgi network, multivesicular bodies (MVB’s) and late endosomes. The central region as well as both the N- and the C-terminus are essential to DAYSLEEPER function, since versions of DAYSLEEPER deleted for these regions are not able to complement the daysleeper phenotype. Like hAT-transposases, we show that DAYSLEEPER has a functionally conserved dimerization domain [J Biol Chem, 282:7563–7575, 2007].ConclusionsDAYSLEEPER has retained the global structure of hAT transposases and it seems that most of these conserved features are essential to DAYSLEEPER’s cellular function. Although structurally similar, DAYSLEEPER seems to have broadened its range of action beyond the nucleus in comparison to transposases.

Identification of Evening Complex Associated Proteins in Arabidopsis by Affinity Purification and Mass Spectrometry

“…GER3 is a germin protein, which is part of a family of proteins with roles in metabolism, defense, stress responses, and growth ( 116 ). DAYSLEEPER is an hAT transposase that is required for proper embryonic development and localizes to the nucleus ( 117 , 138 ). FT-IP1 functions in flowering by regulating the vascular transport of FT, the florigen molecule in A. thaliana ( 113 ).…”

What makes up plant genomes: The vanishing line between transposable elements and genes

“…Arabidopsis, suggesting that DAYSLEEPER is a transcription factor. Like a transposase, the DAYSLEEPER protein is mainly located in the nucleus, but can also be seen in discrete foci in the cytoplasm [158]. It seems that DAYSLEEPER retained the overall structure of hATtransposase and such conservation appears to be essential for its cellular function.…”

“…It seems that DAYSLEEPER retained the overall structure of hATtransposase and such conservation appears to be essential for its cellular function. Yet DAYSLEEPER seems to extend its function beyond the nucleus [158]. Moreover, SLEEPER genes (DAYSLEEPER-like genes) possess the three SLEEPERmotifs which are distinguished from hAT transposase [159].…”

Regulation of rice root development by a retrotransposon acting as a microRNA sponge

“…The domestication of hAT and Mutator-like transposases contributed to the evolution of the DAYSLEEPER and MUSTANG gene families, respectively. DAYSLEEPER was shown to play a critical role in plant development ( Bundock and Hooykaas, 2005 ; Cowan et al, 2005 ; Knip et al, 2013 ; Knip et al, 2012 ). More recently, a protein derived from the transposase of the Pif/Harbinger transposon family was shown to be an inhibitor of POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 2 ( Liang et al, 2015 ).…”