Abstract

Significance Gibberellin (GA)-dependent degradation of DELLA protein, a key negative regulator, is essential for GA action. However, it is unclear how DELLA regulates downstream gene expression. Although possessing strong transactivation activity, DELLA lacks a DNA-binding domain. Therefore, a model has been proposed in which DELLA acts as a transcriptional coactivator with another transcription factor or factors containing a DNA-binding domain. Here, we show that some members of the INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) protein family are such intermediate proteins. The DELLA/IDD complex up-regulates the expression of the GA-positive regulator SCARECROW-LIKE 3 ( SCL3 ). Meanwhile, SCL3 protein also interacts with IDD proteins to suppress its own expression. We propose that a coregulator exchange system between DELLA (as coactivator) and SCL3 (as corepressor) regulates the expression of SCL3 .