Signaling pathways mediating the suppression of Arabidopsis thaliana Ku gene expression by abscisic acid

The Ku heterodimer facilitates the regulation of DNA repair, DNA replication, cell cycle, and telomere maintenance. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth inhibitor. This study investigates how Arabidopsis thaliana Ku (AtKu) genes are regulated by ABA in 3-week-old seedlings. First, β-Glucuronidase assay and real time quantitative PCR analysis results indicate that ABA represses the AtKu gene in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. However, adding of ABA biosynthesis inhibitors, fluride and tungate, did not eliminate AtKu suppression. Moreover, analysis of inhibitor treatments and ABA-responsive mutants suggested that AtKu repression by ABA was mediated through the pathway of extracellular Ca2+, phospholipase D alpha, p38-type mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPK6 and ABA transcription factors, ABI3 and ABI5. Finally, no cross-talk in modulating AtKu gene expression existed between ABA and antagonist hormones (auxins and gibberellic acid).