AtMKK1 mediates ABA-induced CAT1 expression and H₂O₂ production via AtMPK6-coupled signaling in Arabidopsis

Catalase controls cellular H₂O₂ and plays important roles in the adaptation of plants to various stresses, but little is known about the signaling events that lead to the expression of CAT1 and the production of H₂O₂. Here we report the dependence of CAT1 expression and H₂O₂ production on a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. CAT1 transcript was induced in an ABA-dependent way and the induction was abolished in the T-DNA insertion mutant mkk1 (SALK_015914), while AtMKK1 overexpression significantly enhanced the ABA-induced CAT1 expression and H₂O₂ production. AtMPK6, another component in the MAPK cascade, was also involved: mpk6 mutant blocked and overexpressing AtMPK6 enhanced the ABA-dependent expression of CAT1 and H₂O₂ production. The activity of AtMPK6 was increased by ABA in an AtMKK1-dependent manner. These data clearly suggest an ABA-dependent signaling pathway connecting CAT1 expression through a phosphorelay including AtMKK1 and AtMPK6. In further support of this view, mkk1 mutant reduced both the sensitivity to ABA during germination and the drought tolerance of seedlings, whereas the AtMKK1 overexpression line showed the opposite responses when compared with the wild type. The data suggest AtMKK1-AtMPK6 to be a key module in an ABA-dependent signaling cascade causing H₂O₂ production and stress responses.