Multi-omics analysis reveals interplay between BR and TORC signaling (bioRxiv)

Plants have evolved well-coordinated crosstalk between different signaling pathways to respond and adapt to various environmental stresses. Brassinosteriods (BRs) and Target of Rapamycin Complex (TORC) have multiple roles, through transcription, translation and autophagy, to control the balance between plant growth and stress response. Montes et al. performed a comprehensive multi-omics analysis (transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome) of  changes that occur in mutants with altered levels of BIN2 (Brassinosteriod-insensitive 2, a GSK3-like kinase) and the TORC subunit RAPTOR1B. They found BIN2 and RAPTOR1B regulate a common core set of gene products related to growth and stress responses. By employing Multiplexed Assay of Kinase Specificity (MAKS), they identified a proteome-wide view of BIN2 direct targets. The phosphoproteomics data was used to reconstruct the molecular relationships of BIN2 and TORC pathways to predict BR- and TORC-regulated genes. Mutants of 42 predicted genes were assayed and 26 showed a significant response to BR and/or altered level of autophagy. (Summary by Min May Wong @wongminmay) bioRxiv 10.1101/2021.02.12.431003