AB15: A bZIP Protein Regulating ABA Response

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The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates many aspects ofplant growth and development affecting crop productivity, includingembryogenesis, water relations and tolerance of a variety of environmentalstresses. Our long-term goal is to study the function and interaction ofelements involved in response to ABA. One gene required for normal ABAresponse, the Arabidopsis ABA-insensitive 5 (ABI5) locus, has beenidentified by positional cloning in our lab and found to encode a proteinwith homology to the bZIP-domain class of transcription factors. Theexperiments outlined in this proposal will characterize the expression andbiochemical function of ABI5, and investigate its interactions with othergene products in coordinating seed development and response to ABA. Ourhypothesis is that ABI5 participates in seed- and/or ABA-regulation of geneexpression, possibly in combination with other transcription factors. Thesestudies should have general relevance to understanding the signalingnetwork(s) regulating embryonic and hormonally regulated gene expression.Furthermore, they may have practical significance for potentialmanipulation of seed nutritional and storage qualities or vegetative stresstolerance.