Arabidopsis CDPK6 phosphorylates ADF1 at N-terminal serine 6 predominantly.

KEY MESSAGE: We found that Arabidopsis AtADF1 was phosphorylated by AtCDPK6 at serine 6 predominantly and the phosphoregulation plays a key role in the regulation of ADF1-mediated depolymerization of actin filaments. ABSTRACT: Since actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) is highly conserved among eukaryotes, it is one of the key modulators for actin organization. In plants, ADF is directly involved in the depolymerization of actin filaments, and therefore important for F-actin-dependent cellular activities. The activity of ADF is tightly controlled through a number of molecular mechanisms, including phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of ADF. To investigate Arabidopsis ADF1 phosphoregulation, we generated AtADF1 phosphorylation site-specific mutants. Using transient expression and stable transgenic approaches, we analyzed the ADF1 phosphorylation mutants in the regulation of actin filament organizations in plant cells. By in vitro phosphorylation assay, we showed that AtADF1 is phosphorylated by AtCDPK6 at serine 6 predominantly. Chemically induced expression of AtCDPK6 can negatively regulate the wild-type AtADF1 in depolymerizing actin filaments, but not those of the mutants AtADF1(S6A) and AtADF1(S6D). These results demonstrate a regulatory function of Arabidopsis CDPK6 in the N-terminal phosphorylation of AtADF1.