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Salt stress activates the CDK8-AHL10-SUVH2/9 module to dynamically regulate salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

Author

Listed:
  • Pengcheng Guo

    (Henan University)

  • Leelyn Chong

    (Henan University)

  • Zhixin Jiao

    (Henan University)

  • Rui Xu

    (Henan University)

  • Qingfeng Niu

    (Anhui Agricultural University)

  • Yingfang Zhu

    (Henan University
    Sanya Institute of Henan University)

Abstract

Salt stress has devastating effects on agriculture, yet the key regulators modulating the transcriptional dynamics of salt-responsive genes remain largely elusive in plants. Here, we discover that salt stress substantially induces the kinase activity of Mediator cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), which is essential for its positive role in regulating salt tolerance. CDK8 is identified to phosphorylate AT-hook motif nuclear-localized protein 10 (AHL10) at serine 314, leading to its degradation under salt stress. Consistently, AHL10 is found to negatively regulate salt tolerance. Transcriptome analysis further indicates that CDK8 regulates over 20% of salt-responsive genes, half of which are co-regulated by AHL10. Moreover, AHL10 is revealed to recruit SU(VAR)3-9 homologs (SUVH2/9) to AT-rich DNA sequences in the nuclear matrix-attachment regions (MARs) of salt-responsive gene promoters, facilitating H3K9me2 deposition and repressing salt-responsive genes. Our study thereby has identified the CDK8-AHL10-SUVH2/9 module as a key molecular switch controlling transcriptional dynamics in response to salt stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Pengcheng Guo & Leelyn Chong & Zhixin Jiao & Rui Xu & Qingfeng Niu & Yingfang Zhu, 2025. "Salt stress activates the CDK8-AHL10-SUVH2/9 module to dynamically regulate salt tolerance in Arabidopsis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57806-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57806-6
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    1. Fang Yuan & Huimin Yang & Yan Xue & Dongdong Kong & Rui Ye & Chijun Li & Jingyuan Zhang & Lynn Theprungsirikul & Tayler Shrift & Bryan Krichilsky & Douglas M. Johnson & Gary B. Swift & Yikun He & Jame, 2014. "OSCA1 mediates osmotic-stress-evoked Ca2+ increases vital for osmosensing in Arabidopsis," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7522), pages 367-371, October.
    2. Omid Karami & Arezoo Rahimi & Patrick Mak & Anneke Horstman & Kim Boutilier & Monique Compier & Bert Zaal & Remko Offringa, 2021. "An Arabidopsis AT-hook motif nuclear protein mediates somatic embryogenesis and coinciding genome duplication," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Linhao Xu & Shiwei Zheng & Katja Witzel & Eveline Slijke & Alexandra Baekelandt & Evelien Mylle & Daniel Damme & Jinping Cheng & Geert Jaeger & Dirk Inzé & Hua Jiang, 2024. "Chromatin attachment to the nuclear matrix represses hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
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