Protein Domains of Vitis CBF1 and Translational Regulation of Cold-Induced Genes via Codon Usage

Abstract

CBF (C-repeat Binding Factor) transcription factors are vital in ABA-independent signalling during cold acclimation and subsequent freezing tolerance in Vitis. We investigated nuclear localization signals within CBF1; known to be rapidly expressed following exposure to cold; as well as potential alternative translation products of CBF1 stemming from stop codon readthrough. As a result of our interest in suppressor tRNA species and their potential influence on alternative translation products of CBF1, and due to recent developments concerning codon use of genes which demonstrate tissue-specific expression in Vitis, we also examined codon use of genes involved in cold acclimation and freezing tolerance. We demonstrate roles in both activation and localization for two domains of CBF1, while previously each domain was ascribed a single role. We additionally demonstrate that cold regulated genes share a distinct pattern of codon use in Vitis.