MORN motifs in plant PIPKs are involved in the regulation of subcellular localization and phospholipid binding

Cell Res. 2006 May;16(5):466-78. doi: 10.1038/sj.cr.7310058.

Abstract

Multiple repeats of membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) motifs were detected in plant phosphatidylinositl monophosphate kinase (PIPK), a key enzyme in PI-signaling pathway. Structural analysis indicates that all the MORN motifs (with varied numbers at ranges of 7-9), which shared high homologies to those of animal ones, were located at N-terminus and sequentially arranged, except those of OsPIPK1 and AtPIPK7, in which the last MORN motif was separated others by an approximately 100 amino-acid "island" region, revealing the presence of two kinds of MORN arrangements in plant PIPKs. Through employing a yeast-based SMET (sequence of membrane-targeting) system, the MORN motifs were shown being able to target the fusion proteins to cell plasma membrane, which were further confirmed by expression of fused MORN-GFP proteins. Further detailed analysis via deletion studies indicated the MORN motifs in OsPIPK1, together with the 104 amino-acid "island" region are involved in the regulation of differential subcellular localization, i.e. plasma membrane or nucleus, of the fused proteins. Fat Western blot analysis of the recombinant MORN polypeptide, expressed in Escherichia coli, showed that MORN motifs could strongly bind to PA and relatively slightly to PI4P and PI(4,5)P2. These results provide informative hints on mechanisms of subcellular localization, as well as regulation of substrate binding, of plant PIPKs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Amino Acid Motifs / physiology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Onions / cytology
  • Onions / metabolism
  • Oryza / enzymology
  • Phospholipids / metabolism*
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Phospholipids
  • Plant Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • 1-phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase