Expression and Subcellular Localization of Arabidopsis thaliana Auxin-Binding Protein 1 (ABP1)

Expression of Arabidopsis thaliana ABP1 (AUXIN-BINDING PROTEIN 1) was studied using a promoter:GUS approach. Two promoter regions were analyzed. The 1585-bp promoter region upstream of the translation start site (P-ABP1) showed different activity compared to the promoter region that included, in addition, the first two introns and three exons of the transcribed ABP1 sequence (P-ABP1i1,P-2), indicating that cis elements were present downstream of the start codon. P-ABP1i1,P-2-driven beta-glucuronidase activity was highest in growing leaves, in the root meristem, in vascular tissues, and in hydathodes. ABP1 promoter activities overlapped largely but not completely with that of DR5, which is a marker for the ARF-AuxRE-dependent auxin response. Subcellular ABP1 localization was studied using a constitutively overexpressed EGFP-ABP1 fusion protein. Results confirmed predominant localization to the endoplasmic reticulum as was concluded previously.