Intronic promoter-mediated feedback loop regulates bean PvSR2 gene expression.

Intronic promoter usage is a widespread regulatory mechanism for increasing the diversity of gene expression regulation. However, its trans-acting mechanisms that modulate host gene expression are poorly characterized. We previously showed that bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) stress-related gene 2 (PvSR2) produces a metal-responsive element (MRE)-binding transcription factor (PvMTF-1) by using an intronic promoter. Interestingly, a functional MRE resides within the upstream PvSR2 promoter, implying that PvMTF-1 is likely to regulate its host gene expression via this MRE. Through DNA-protein interaction studies combined with an analysis of expression of PvMTF-1 in bean leaves, we now report that PvMTF-1 binds to this MRE and thereby up-regulates PvSR2 expression, thus constituting a positive regulatory feedback loop. Our findings provide evidence for a trans-acting mechanism of an intronic promoter in host gene expression, hence, adding a new layer of complexity in intronic promoter-mediated gene regulation. This study may also contribute to the understanding of the intron-mediated regulation of gene expression in trans.