Precursor processing for plant peptide hormone maturation by subtilisin-like serine proteinases.

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Schardon., K., Hohl, M., Graff, L., Schulze, W., Pfannstiel, J., Stintzi, A., Schaller, A.

Year of publication

2016

Published in

Science

Editor

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Band/Volume

354/

DOI

10.1126/science.aai8550

Page (from - to)

1594-1597

Peptide hormones that regulate plant growth and development are derived from larger precursor proteins by proteolytic processing. We addressed the role of subtilisin-like proteinases (SBTs) in this process. Using tissue-specific expression of proteinase inhibitors as a tool to overcome functional redundancy, SBT activity was found to be required for the maturation of IDA (INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION), a peptide signal for the abscission of floral organs in Arabidopsis. We identified three SBTs that process the IDA precursor in vitro, and this processing was shown to be required for the formation of mIDA as the endogenous signaling peptide in vivo. We conclude that SBTs act as pro-hormone convertases in plants, and that several functionally redundant SBTs contribute to signal biogenesis.