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Lu N. Revisiting decade-old questions in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis: current understanding and new challenges. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1373975. [PMID: 38595764 PMCID: PMC11002137 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1373975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Proanthocyanidins (PAs), one of the most abundant natural polymers found in plants, are gaining increasing attention because of their beneficial effects for agriculture and human health. The study of PA biosynthesis has been active for decades, and progress has been drastically accelerated since the discovery of key enzymes such as Anthocyanidin Reductase (ANR), Leucoanthocyanidin Reductase (LAR), and key transcription factors such as Transparent Testa 2 (TT2) and Transparent Testa 8 (TT8) in the early 2000s. Scientists raised some compelling questions regarding PA biosynthesis about two decades ago in the hope that addressing these questions would lead to an enhanced understanding of PA biosynthesis in plants. These questions focus on the nature of starter and extension units for PA biosynthesis, the stereochemistry of PA monomers and intermediates, and how and where the polymerization or condensation steps work subcellularly. Here, I revisit these long-standing questions and provide an update on progress made toward answering them. Because of advanced technologies in genomics, bioinformatics and metabolomics, we now have a much-improved understanding of functionalities of key enzymes and identities of key intermediates in the PA biosynthesis and polymerization pathway. Still, several questions, particularly the ones related to intracellular PA transportation and deposition, as well as enzyme subcellular localization, largely remain to be explored. Our increasing understanding of PA biosynthesis in various plant species has led to a new set of compelling open questions, suggesting future research directions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of PA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Lu
- BioDiscovery Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
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Meng L, Su H, Qu Z, Lu P, Tao J, Li H, Zhang J, Zhang W, Liu N, Cao P, Jin J. Genome-wide identification and analysis of WD40 proteins reveal that NtTTG1 enhances drought tolerance in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). BMC Genomics 2024; 25:133. [PMID: 38302866 PMCID: PMC10835901 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10022-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND WD40 proteins, which are highly prevalent in eukaryotes, play important roles in plant development and stress responses. However, systematic identification and exploration of WD40 proteins in tobacco have not yet been conducted. RESULTS In this study, a total of 399 WD40 regulatory genes were identified in common tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Gene structure and motif analysis revealed structural and functional diversity among different clades of tobacco WD40 regulatory genes. The expansion of tobacco WD40 regulatory genes was mainly driven by segmental duplication and purifying selection. A potential regulatory network of NtWD40s suggested that NtWD40s might be regulated by miRNAs and transcription factors in various biological processes. Expression pattern analysis via transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR revealed that many NtWD40s exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns and might be involved in various biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we have validated the critical role of NtTTG1, which was located in the nuclei of trichome cells, in enhancing the drought tolerance of tobacco plants. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides comprehensive information to better understand the evolution of WD40 regulatory genes and their roles in different stress responses in tobacco.
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Grants
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- CNTC: 110202101008(JY-08), 110202201001(JY-01), 110202202038 the Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
- 232300420220 Natural Science Foundation of HeNan
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Meng
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Huan Su
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Zechao Qu
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Peng Lu
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jiemeng Tao
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - He Li
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- China National Tobacco Quality Supervision & Test Center, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Nan Liu
- China National Tobacco Quality Supervision & Test Center, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Peijian Cao
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jingjing Jin
- China Tobacco Gene Research Center, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, 102200, China.
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