The functional characterization of the SnRK1 protein complex in hybrid poplar
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Abstract
The sucrose-nonfermenting-1 related kinase 1 (SnRK1) protein complex is a heterotrimeric serine/threonine protein kinase complex conserved in eukaryotes that acts as a regulator of carbon metabolism and energy homeostasis. The objective of this study was to determine if the SnRK1 protein complex has a role in the nitrogen response and during dormancy acquisition in poplar. Gene expression profiling of the PtdSnRK1, PtdAKINbeta, and PtdAKINgamma gene family members was carried out using a robust qRT-PCR assay. A subset of these genes showed modified expression patterns under differential nitrogen availability and during dormancy acquisition, suggesting that SnRK1 complexes comprised of specific subunits may be involved in the regulation of the response to nitrogen and during dormancy acquisition. The regulatory subunits PtdAKINbeta1.1, PtdAKINgamma1.1 and PtdAKINgamma2.3 were often identified using principal component analysis as significantly responsible for distinguishing treatments from one another and therefore merit further study.