Brassinosteroid signaling promotes sulfate uptake under sulfur deficiency in Arabidopsis

Sulfur (S) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. It serves as an essential component of amino acids (cysteine and methionine), vitamins, sulfatides, and coenzymes. S deficiency impairs plant productivity; yet, the molecular mechanisms regulating sulfate uptake remain poorly understood. In this study, brassinosteroid (BR) signaling was found to be activated under S deficiency, leading to the nuclear accumulation of BZR1, a central transcription factor in the BR signaling. BZR1 expression increased at both the mRNA and protein levels under S deficiency conditions. SULTR1;2, a high-affinity sulfate transporter, was identified as a direct downstream target of BZR1 through in vitro and in vivo analyses. Genetic and physiological evidence demonstrated that BZR1 promotes sulfate uptake via SULTR1;2 in a BR-dependent manner. These findings uncover a molecular mechanism by which BR signaling regulates the S deficiency response through BZR1-mediated activation of SULTR1;2. This work enhances our understanding of nutrient signaling in Arabidopsis and provides potential targets for improving S use efficiency in crops.