The S-acylation cycle of transcription factor MtNAC80 influences cold stress responses in Medicago truncatula

• Published in: The Plant cell 2024-07, Vol.36 (7), p.2629-2651
• Main Authors: Ye, Qinyi, Zheng, Lihua, Liu, Peng, Liu, Qianwen, Ji, Tuo, Liu, Jinling, Gao, Yajuan, Liu, Li, Dong, Jiangli, Wang, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acylation; Cold Temperature; Cold-Shock Response - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Medicago truncatula - genetics; Medicago truncatula - metabolism; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 1040-4651; 1532-298X; 1532-298X
• DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae103

S-acylation is a reversible post-translational modification catalyzed by protein S-acyltransferases (PATs), and acyl protein thioesterases (APTs) mediate de-S-acylation. Although many proteins are S-acylated, how the S-acylation cycle modulates specific biological functions in plants is poorly understood. In this study, we report that the S-acylation cycle of transcription factor MtNAC80 is involved in the Medicago truncatula cold stress response. Under normal conditions, MtNAC80 localized to membranes through MtPAT9-induced S-acylation. In contrast, under cold stress conditions, MtNAC80 translocated to the nucleus through de-S-acylation mediated by thioesterases such as MtAPT1. MtNAC80 functions in the nucleus by directly binding the promoter of the glutathione S-transferase gene MtGSTU1 and promoting its expression, which enables plants to survive under cold stress by removing excess malondialdehyde and H2O2. Our findings reveal an important function of the S-acylation cycle in plants and provide insight into stress response and tolerance mechanisms.