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Summary In mammalian cells, the transcription factor p53 plays a crucial role in transmitting DNA damage signals to maintain genome integrity. However, in plants, orthologous genes for p53 and checkpoint proteins are absent. Instead, the plant‐specific transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 ( SOG 1) controls most of the genes induced by gamma irradiation and promotes DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and stem cell death. To date, the genes directly controlled by SOG 1 remain largely unknown, limiting the understanding of DNA damage signaling in plants. Here, we conducted a microarray analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation (Ch IP )‐sequencing, and identified 146 Arabidopsis genes as direct targets of SOG 1. By using Ch IP ‐sequencing data, we extracted the palindromic motif CTT (N) 7 AAG as a consensus SOG 1‐binding sequence, which mediates target gene induction in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, DNA damage‐triggered phosphorylation of SOG 1 is required for efficient binding to the SOG 1‐binding sequence. Comparison between SOG 1 and p53 target genes showed that both transcription factors control genes responsible for cell cycle regulation, such as CDK inhibitors, and DNA repair, whereas SOG 1 preferentially targets genes involved in homologous recombination. We also found that defense‐related genes were enriched in the SOG 1 target genes. Consistent with this finding, SOG 1 is required for resistance against the hemi‐biotrophic fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum , suggesting that SOG 1 has a unique function in controlling the immune response.
Ogita et al. (Sun,) studied this question.