ABSTRACT: Reversible protein phosphorylation is a post-translational modification involved in virtually all plant processes, as it mediates protein activity and signal transduction. Here, we probe dynamic protein phosphorylation during de novo shoot organogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. We find that application of three kinase inhibitors in various time intervals has different effects on root explants. We furthermore show that short exposures to the putative His kinase inhibitor TCSA during the initial days on shoot induction medium (SIM) are detrimental for regeneration in seven natural accessions. Investigation of ahk and ahp mutants, as well as reporter lines for shoot markers and hormone responses suggests that TCSA at least partially works by impeding cytokinin signal transduction via AHK3, AHK4, AHP2, AHP3, and AHP5. A mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteome analysis further reveals profound deregulation of Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteins related to protein modification, transcriptional regulation, vesicle trafficking, organ morphogenesis, and cation transport. Among TCSA-responsive factors are prior candidates with a role in shoot apical meristem patterning, such as AGO1, BAM1, PLL5, FIP37, TOP1ALPHA, and RBR1, but also proteins involved in polar auxin transport (e.g., PIN1) and brassinosteroid signalling (e.g., BIN2). Potentially novel regeneration determinants regulated by TCSA include RD2, AT1G52780, PVA11, and AVT1C, while NAIP2, OPS, ARR1, QKY, and aquaporins exhibit differential phospholevels on control SIM.
Xiangyu Xu 
