BTS Is a Negative Regulator for the Cellular Energy Level and the Expression of Energy Metabolism-Related Genes Encoded by Two Organellar Genomes in Leaf Tissues

Abstract

E3 ligase BRUTUS (BTS), a putative iron sensor, is expressed in both root and shoot tissues in seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. The role of BTS in root tissues has been well established. However, its role in shoot tissues has been scarcely studied. Comparative transcriptome analysis with shoot and root tissues revealed that BTS is involved in of mitochondrial and chloroplast genes in shoot tissues. Moreover, in shoot tissues of bts-1 plants, levels of ADP and ATP and the ratio of ADP/ATP were greatly increased starch. The decreased starch level in bts-1 shoot tissues was restored to the level of shoot tissues of wild-type plants upon vanadate treatment. Through this study, we expand the role addition to its role of iron deficiency response in roots.