The VQ Motif-Containing Protein Family of Plant-Specific Transcriptional Regulators

Abstract

ORCID IDs: 0000-0002-4772-7923 (Y.J.); 0000-0001-8346-3390 (R.L.).The VQ motif-containing proteins (designated as VQ proteins) are a class of plant-specific proteins with a conserved and single short FxxhVQxhTG amino acid sequence motif. VQ proteins regulate diverse developmental processes, including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, seed development, and photomorphogenesis. In this Update, we summarize and discuss recent advances in our understanding of the regulation and function of VQ proteins and the role of the VQ motif in mediating transcriptional regulation and protein-protein interactions in signaling pathways. Based on the accumulated evidence, we propose a general mechanism of action for the VQ protein family, which likely defines a novel class of transcriptional regulators specific to plants.

Principles and characteristics of the Arabidopsis WRKY regulatory network during early MAMP‐triggered immunity

“…Next to such potential intrinsic capabilities, these WRKY TFs may recruit co-repressors that help to fulfill such functions. Interestingly, group I WRKY TFs that are clearly overrepresented among the constitutively expressed WRKY genes have been shown by yeast-2-hybrid studies to preferentially interact with a family of repressors termed VQ proteins (Cheng et al, 2012;Pecher et al, 2014;Jing and Lin, 2015). VQ proteins do not possess DNA-binding capability but interact via their VQ domain with the DNA-binding domain of the WRKY TFs.…”

Arabidopsis VQ18 and VQ26 proteins interact with ABI5 transcription factor to negatively modulate ABA response during seed germination

“…Recent studies have shown that VQ proteins do not bind DNA but exert their regulatory effects mainly by affecting transcription factor activity through protein-protein interactions (Lai et al, 2011;Jing and Lin, 2015;Lei et al, 2017). Having ascertained that VQ18 and VQ26 physically and genetically interact with ABI5, we hypothesized that they might affect the transcriptional function of ABI5.…”

“…Recently, a family of plant-specific transcriptional regulators containing the conserved VQ motif (FxxxVQxxTG) were identified and defined as VQ proteins (Xie et al, 2010;Cheng et al, 2012;Jing and Lin, 2015). The VQ motif is essential for the functions or actions of VQ proteins.…”

“…For example, the VQ motif is important for protein localization and protein-protein interactions (Petersen et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2010;Lai et al, 2011;Hu et al, 2013a;. Moreover, as a class of transcriptional regulators, the transcriptional activities of VQ proteins can be switched from repression to activation by modifying the VQ motif Pecher et al, 2014;Jing and Lin, 2015). Several members of this family physically interact with WRKY transcription factors to modulate biotic or abiotic stress responses.…”

Transcriptome Analysis of Distinct Cold Tolerance Strategies in the Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

“…We also identified five up-regulated genes in RRIM600 12h compared to GT1 12h containing 336 the VQ motif (Table 4). This domain is a plant-specific domain characteristic of a class of 337 proteins that regulates diverse developmental processes, including responses to biotic and abiotic 338 stresses, seed development, and photomorphogenesis (Jing and Lin, 2015). 339…”