SNRK3.15 is a crucial component of the sulfur deprivation response in Arabidopsis thaliana

Sulfate deprivation (-S) results in numerous metabolic and phenotypic alterations in plants. Kinases are often key players in transducing nutrient status signals to molecular components involved in metabolic and developmental program regulation, but despite the physiological importance of sulfur, to date, no signaling kinases have been identified in sulfur-deficiency signaling response programs. Here we show that the serine/threonine protein kinase CIPK14/SNRK3.15 plays a regulatory role in the –S response in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Multiple molecular and physiological responses to -S are attenuated in snrk3.15 mutants, including both early adaptive responses and later emergency salvage processes including nutrient deficiency induced senescence. When grown in soil with sufficient sulfur supply, snrk3.15 mutants showed no clear phenotypes, including no difference in seed sulfur content. Lastly, the proteome dataset generated from Col-0 and snrk3.15.1 Arabidopsis seedlings under –S conditions for this project is the first of its kind and will be a valuable research resource. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD046612.