TY - JOUR TI - Shade-induced nuclear localization of PIF7 is regulated by phosphorylation and 14-3-3 proteins in Arabidopsis AU - Huang, Xu AU - Zhang, Qian AU - Jiang, Yupei AU - Yang, Chuanwei AU - Wang, Qianyue AU - Li, Lin A2 - Wang, Zhi-Yong VL - 7 PY - 2018 DA - 2018/06/21 SP - e31636 C1 - eLife 2018;7:e31636 DO - 10.7554/eLife.31636 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.31636 AB - Shade avoidance syndrome enables shaded plants to grow and compete effectively against their neighbors. In Arabidopsis, the shade-induced de-phosphorylation of the transcription factor PIF7 (PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 7) is the key event linking light perception to stem elongation. However, the mechanism through which phosphorylation regulates the activity of PIF7 is unclear. Here, we show that shade light induces the de-phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of PIF7. Phosphorylation-resistant site mutations in PIF7 result in increased nuclear localization and shade-induced gene expression, and consequently augment hypocotyl elongation. PIF7 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins. Blocking the interaction between PIF7 and 14-3-3 proteins or reducing the expression of 14-3-3 proteins accelerates shade-induced nuclear localization and de-phosphorylation of PIF7, and enhances the shade phenotype. By contrast, the 14-3-3 overexpressing line displays an attenuated shade phenotype. These studies demonstrate a phosphorylation-dependent translocation of PIF7 when plants are in shade and a novel mechanism involving 14-3-3 proteins, mediated by the retention of PIF7 in the cytoplasm that suppresses the shade response. KW - shade avoidance syndrome KW - phytochrome interacting factor 7 KW - dephosphorylation KW - subcellular localization KW - 14-3-3 proteins KW - cytoplasmic-retention JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -