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Rehman S, Bahadur S, Xia W. Unlocking nature's secrets: The pivotal role of WRKY transcription factors in plant flowering and fruit development. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 346:112150. [PMID: 38857658 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The WRKY transcription factor family is a key player in the regulatory mechanisms of flowering plants, significantly influencing both their biotic and abiotic response systems as well as being vital to numerous physiological and biological functions. Over the past two decades, the functionality of WRKY proteins has been the subject of extensive research in over 50 plant species, with a strong focus on their roles in responding to various stresses. Despite this extensive research, there remains a notable gap in comprehensive studies aimed at understanding how specific WRKY genes directly influence the timing of flowering and fruit development. This review offers an up-to-date look at WRKY family genes and provides insights into the key genes of WRKY to control flowering, enhance fruit ripening and secondary metabolism synthesis, and maintain fruit quality of various plants, including annuals, perennials, medicinal, and crop plants. The WRKY transcription factors serve as critical regulators within the transcriptional regulatory network, playing a crucial role in the precise enhancement of flowering processes. It is also involved in the up-regulation of fruit ripening was strongly demonstrated by combined transcriptomics and metabolomic investigation. Therefore, we speculated that the WRKY family is known to be a key regulator of flowering and fruiting in plants. This detailed insight will enable the identification of the series of molecular occurrences featuring WRKY proteins throughout the stages of flowering and fruiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazia Rehman
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institution, Hainan University, Sanya, China; College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Saraj Bahadur
- College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; College of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Wei Xia
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institution, Hainan University, Sanya, China; College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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Zhang W, Tang S, Li X, Chen Y, Li J, Wang Y, Bian R, Jin Y, Zhu X, Zhang K. Arabidopsis WRKY1 promotes monocarpic senescence by integrative regulation of flowering, leaf senescence, and nitrogen remobilization. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:1289-1306. [PMID: 39003499 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Monocarpic senescence, characterized by whole-plant senescence following a single flowering phase, is widespread in seed plants, particularly in crops, determining seed harvest time and quality. However, how external and internal signals are systemically integrated into monocarpic senescence remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor WRKY1 plays essential roles in multiple key steps of monocarpic senescence. WRKY1 expression is induced by age, salicylic acid (SA), and nitrogen (N) deficiency. Flowering and leaf senescence are accelerated in the WRKY1 overexpression lines but are delayed in the wrky1 mutants. The combined DNA affinity purification sequencing and RNA sequencing analyses uncover the direct target genes of WRKY1. Further studies show that WRKY1 coordinately regulates three processes in monocarpic senescence: (1) suppressing FLOWERING LOCUS C gene expression to initiate flowering, (2) inducing SA biosynthesis genes to promote leaf senescence, and (3) activating the N assimilation and transport genes to trigger N remobilization. In summary, our study reveals how one stress-responsive transcription factor, WRKY1, integrates flowering, leaf senescence, and N remobilization processes into monocarpic senescence, providing important insights into plant lifetime regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Shufei Tang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Xuying Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Jiajia Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Yuyang Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Ruichao Bian
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Ying Jin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxian Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China
| | - Kewei Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology on Specialty Economic Plants, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, P.R. China.
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Jia X, Xu S, Wang F, Jia Y, Qing Y, Gao T, Zhang Z, Liu X, Yang C, Ma F, Li C. Sorbitol mediates age-dependent changes in apple plant growth strategy through gibberellin signaling. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhae192. [PMID: 39145197 PMCID: PMC11322524 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Plants experience various age-dependent changes during juvenile to adult vegetative phase. However, the regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the changes remain largely unknown in apple (Malus domestica). This study showed that tissue-cultured apple plants at juvenile, transition, and adult phase exhibit age-dependent changes in their plant growth, photosynthetic performance, hormone levels, and carbon distribution. Moreover, this study identified an age-dependent gene, sorbitol dehydrogenase (MdSDH1), a key enzyme for sorbitol catabolism, highly expressed in the juvenile phase in apple. Silencing MdSDH1 in apple significantly decreased the plant growth and GA3 levels. However, exogenous GA3 rescued the reduced plant growth phenotype of TRV-MdSDH1. Biochemical analysis revealed that MdSPL1 interacts with MdWRKY24 and synergistically enhance the repression of MdSPL1 and MdWRKY24 on MdSDH1, thereby promoting sorbitol accumulation during vegetative phase change. Exogenous sorbitol application indicated that sorbitol promotes the transcription of MdSPL1 and MdWRKY24. Notably, MdSPL1-MdWRKY24 module functions as key repressor to regulate GA-responsive gene, Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis (MdGASA1) expression, thereby leading to a shift from the quick to the slow-growth strategy. These results reveal the pivotal role of sorbitol in controlling apple plant growth, thereby improving our understanding of vegetative phase change in apple.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumei Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuo Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yiwei Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yubin Qing
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tengteng Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaomin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chao Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fengwang Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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Niu F, Rehmani MS, Yan J. Multilayered regulation and implication of flowering time in plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 213:108842. [PMID: 38889533 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Initiation of flowering is a key switch for plants to shift from the vegetative growth to the phase of reproductive growth. This critical phase is essential not only for achieving successful reproduction, but also for facilitating environmental adaptation and maximizing yield potential. In the past decades, the environmental factors and genetic pathways that control flowering time have undergone extensive investigation in both model plant Arabidopsis and various crop species. The impact of environmental factors on plant flowering time is well documented. This paper focuses on the multilayered modulation of flowering time. Recent multi-omics approaches, and genetic screens have revealed additional components that modulate flowering time across various levels, encompassing chromatin modification, transcriptional and post-transcriptional control, as well as translational and post-translational regulation. The interplay between these various layers of regulation creates a finely-tuned system that can respond to a wide variety of inputs and allows plants to adjust flowering time in response to changing environmental conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent progress made in understanding the intricate regulation of flowering time in plants, emphasizing the pivotal molecular components and their intricate interactions. Additionally, we provide an exhaustive list of key genes implicated in the intricate modulation of flowering time and offer a detailed summary of regulators of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and FLOWERING LOCUS (FLC). We also discuss the implications of this knowledge for crop improvement and adaptation to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Niu
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell and Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Jingli Yan
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
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Zhao L, Liu Y, Zhu Y, Chen S, Du Y, Deng L, Liu L, Li X, Chen W, Xu Z, Xiong Y, Ming Y, Fang S, Chen L, Wang H, Yu D. Transcription factor OsWRKY11 induces rice heading at low concentrations but inhibits rice heading at high concentrations. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:1385-1407. [PMID: 38818952 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The heading date of rice is a crucial agronomic characteristic that influences its adaptability to different regions and its productivity potential. Despite the involvement of WRKY transcription factors in various biological processes related to development, the precise mechanisms through which these transcription factors regulate the heading date in rice have not been well elucidated. The present study identified OsWRKY11 as a WRKY transcription factor which exhibits a pivotal function in the regulation of the heading date in rice through a comprehensive screening of a clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) ‒ CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 mutant library that specifically targets the WRKY genes in rice. The heading date of oswrky11 mutant plants and OsWRKY11-overexpressing plants was delayed compared with that of the wild-type plants under short-day and long-day conditions. Mechanistic investigation revealed that OsWRKY11 exerts dual effects on transcriptional promotion and suppression through direct and indirect DNA binding, respectively. Under normal conditions, OsWRKY11 facilitates flowering by directly inducing the expression of OsMADS14 and OsMADS15. The presence of elevated levels of OsWRKY11 protein promote formation of a ternary protein complex involving OsWRKY11, Heading date 1 (Hd1), and Days to heading date 8 (DTH8), and this complex then suppresses the expression of Ehd1, which leads to a delay in the heading date. Subsequent investigation revealed that a mild drought condition resulted in a modest increase in OsWRKY11 expression, promoting heading. Conversely, under severe drought conditions, a significant upregulation of OsWRKY11 led to the suppression of Ehd1 expression, ultimately causing a delay in heading date. Our findings uncover a previously unacknowledged mechanism through which the transcription factor OsWRKY11 exerts a dual impact on the heading date by directly and indirectly binding to the promoters of target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirong Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Yunwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Shidie Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650092, China
| | - Yang Du
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Luyao Deng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Lei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Xia Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650092, China
| | - Wanqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Zhiyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yangyang Xiong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - You Ming
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Siyu Fang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Ligang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, 666303, China
| | - Houping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Diqiu Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650092, China
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Fang X, Liu L, Li M, Song H, Zhou Y. WRKY transcription factors modulate flowering time in four Arachis species: a bioinformatics analysis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:620. [PMID: 38943100 PMCID: PMC11212391 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05343-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WRKY proteins are important transcription factors (TFs) in plants, involved in growth and development and responses to environmental changes. Although WRKY TFs have been studied at the genome level in Arachis genus, including oil crop and turfgrass, their regulatory networks in controlling flowering time remain unclear. The aim of this study was to predict the molecular mechanisms of WRKY TFs regulation flowering time in Arachis genus at the genome level using bioinformatics approaches. RESULTS The flowering-time genes of Arachis genus were retrieved from the flowering-time gene database. The regulatory networks between WRKY TFs and downstream genes in Arachis genus were predicted using bioinformatics tools. The results showed that WRKY TFs were involved in aging, autonomous, circadian clock, hormone, photoperiod, sugar, temperature, and vernalization pathways to modulate flowering time in Arachis duranensis, Arachis ipaensis, Arachis monticola, and Arachis hypogaea cv. Tifrunner. The WRKY TF binding sites in homologous flowering-time genes exhibited asymmetric evolutionary pattern, indicating that the WRKY TFs interact with other transcription factors to modulate flowering time in the four Arachis species. Protein interaction network analysis showed that WRKY TFs interacted with FRUITFULL and APETALA2 to modulate flowering time in the four Arachis species. WRKY TFs implicated in regulating flowering time had low expression levels, whereas their interaction proteins had varying expression patterns in 22 tissues of A. hypogaea cv. Tifrunner. These results indicate that WRKY TFs exhibit antagonistic or synergistic interactions with the associated proteins. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals complex regulatory networks through which WRKY TFs modulate flowering time in the four Arachis species using bioinformatics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Fang
- School of Animation and Media, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700# Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266019, China
| | - Lubin Liu
- College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700# Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266019, China
| | - Meiran Li
- College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700# Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266019, China
| | - Hui Song
- College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700# Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266019, China.
| | - Yihui Zhou
- School of Animation and Media, Qingdao Agricultural University, 700# Changcheng Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266019, China.
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Song H, Duan Z, Zhang J. WRKY transcription factors modulate flowering time and response to environmental changes. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 210:108630. [PMID: 38657548 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors (TFs), originating in green algae, regulate flowering time and responses to environmental changes in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of WRKY TFs in the correlation between flowering time and environmental changes remain unclear. Therefore, this review summarizes the association of WRKY TFs with flowering pathways to accelerate or delay flowering. WRKY TFs are implicated in phytohormone pathways, such as ethylene, auxin, and abscisic acid pathways, to modulate flowering time. WRKY TFs can modulate salt tolerance by regulating flowering time. WRKY TFs exhibit functional divergence in modulating environmental changes and flowering time. In summary, WRKY TFs are involved in complex pathways and modulate response to environmental changes, thus regulating flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Song
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
| | - Zhenquan Duan
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Grassland Resources and Ecology in the Yellow River Delta, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jiancheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Peanut, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China, Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao 266000, China
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Maple R, Zhu P, Hepworth J, Wang JW, Dean C. Flowering time: From physiology, through genetics to mechanism. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:190-212. [PMID: 38417841 PMCID: PMC11060688 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Plant species have evolved different requirements for environmental/endogenous cues to induce flowering. Originally, these varying requirements were thought to reflect the action of different molecular mechanisms. Thinking changed when genetic and molecular analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that a network of environmental and endogenous signaling input pathways converge to regulate a common set of "floral pathway integrators." Variation in the predominance of the different input pathways within a network can generate the diversity of requirements observed in different species. Many genes identified by flowering time mutants were found to encode general developmental and gene regulators, with their targets having a specific flowering function. Studies of natural variation in flowering were more successful at identifying genes acting as nodes in the network central to adaptation and domestication. Attention has now turned to mechanistic dissection of flowering time gene function and how that has changed during adaptation. This will inform breeding strategies for climate-proof crops and help define which genes act as critical flowering nodes in many other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Maple
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Pan Zhu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jo Hepworth
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Jia-Wei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics (NKLPMG), CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS), Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200032, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Caroline Dean
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
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Xu WB, Cao F, Liu P, Yan K, Guo QH. The multifaceted role of RNA-based regulation in plant stress memory. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1387575. [PMID: 38736453 PMCID: PMC11082352 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1387575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Plants have evolved interconnected regulatory pathways which enable them to respond and adapt to their environments. In plants, stress memory enhances stress tolerance through the molecular retention of prior stressful experiences, fostering rapid and robust responses to subsequent challenges. Mounting evidence suggests a close link between the formation of stress memories and effective future stress responses. However, the mechanism by which environmental stressors trigger stress memory formation is poorly understood. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding the RNA-based regulation on stress memory formation in plants and discuss research challenges and future directions. Specifically, we focus on the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and alternative splicing (AS) in stress memory formation. miRNAs regulate target genes via post-transcriptional silencing, while siRNAs trigger stress memory formation through RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). lncRNAs guide protein complexes for epigenetic regulation, and AS of pre-mRNAs is crucial to plant stress memory. Unraveling the mechanisms underpinning RNA-mediated stress memory formation not only advances our knowledge of plant biology but also aids in the development of improved stress tolerance in crops, enhancing crop performance and global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Bo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Fan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Qian-Huan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
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Xin H, Zhang L, Wang H, Zhu X. Dynamic transcriptome analysis provides molecular insights into underground floral differentiation in Adonis Amurensis Regel & Radde. BMC Genom Data 2024; 25:33. [PMID: 38515034 PMCID: PMC10956236 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-024-01220-2] [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: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding flower developmental processes is a prerequisite for improving flowering 'plants' production. Adonis amurensis is a fascinating spring ephemeral plant that develops its flower organs underground. Nevertheless, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms driving this particular process is scarce. Herein, we examined transcriptional changes during underground flower differentiation in A. amurensis and unveiled key differently regulated genes and pathways. High-throughput RNA sequencing of meristems at different flower developmental stages, including flower primordium (FP), sepal stage (SE), perianth primordium (PE), stamen stage (ST), and pistil stage (PI), identified 303,234 unigenes that showed 44.79% similarity with sequences in Aquilegia coerulea. Correlations, principal component, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyses revealed that few molecular changes occurred during the transition from PE to ST. Many DEGs exhibited stage-specific regulations. Transcription factor (TF) and phytohormone family genes are critical regulators of the floral differentiation process in A. amurensis. The most differentially regulated TFs were MADS, FAR1, MYBs, AP2/ERF, B3, C2H2, and LOBs. We filtered out 186 candidate genes for future functional studies, including 18 flowering/circadian-related, 32 phytohormone-related, and TF family genes. Our findings deepen our understanding of the underground flower differentiation process and offer critical resources to dissect its regulatory network in A. amurensis. These findings establish a foundational platform for researchers dedicated to exploring the unique phenotypic characteristics of this specific flowering modality and delving into the intricate molecular mechanisms underpinning its regulation and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xin
- School of Landscape Architecture, Changchun University, 6543 Weixing Road, Changchun, China
| | - Lifan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Tonghua Normal University, 950, Yucai Road, Tonghua, China
| | - Hongtao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Tonghua Normal University, 950, Yucai Road, Tonghua, China
| | - Xingzun Zhu
- School of Landscape Architecture, Changchun University, 6543 Weixing Road, Changchun, China.
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11
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Mahiwal S, Pahuja S, Pandey GK. Review: Structural-functional relationship of WRKY transcription factors: Unfolding the role of WRKY in plants. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128769. [PMID: 38096937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
WRKY as the name suggests, are the transcription factors (TFs) that contain the signature WRKY domains, hence named after it. Since their discovery in 1994, they have been well studied in plants with exploration of approximately 74 WRKY genes in the model plant, Arabidopsis alone. However, the study of these transcription factors (TFs) is not just limited to model plant now. They have been studied widely in crop plants as well, because of their tremendous contribution in stress as well as in growth and development. Here, in this review, we describe the story of WRKY TFs from their identification to their origin, the binding mechanisms, structure and their contribution in regulating plant development and stress physiology. High throughput transcriptomics-based data also opened a doorway to understand the comprehensive and detailed functioning of WRKY TFs in plants. Indeed, the detailed functional role of each and every WRKY member in regulating the gene expression is required to pave the path to develop holistic understanding of their role in stress physiology and developmental processes in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Mahiwal
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Sonam Pahuja
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Girdhar K Pandey
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India.
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12
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Ahn JY, Subburaj S, Yan F, Yao J, Chandrasekaran A, Ahn KG, Lee GJ. Molecular Evaluation of the Effects of FLC Homologs and Coordinating Regulators on the Flowering Responses to Vernalization in Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Genotypes. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:154. [PMID: 38397144 PMCID: PMC10887945 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020154] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The flowering loci of cabbage must be understood to boost their productivity. In this study, to clarify the flowering mechanisms of cabbage, we examined the three flowering repressors BoFLC1, 2 and 3, and the flowering regulators BoGI, BoCOOLAIR, and BoVIN3 of early (CAB1), middle (CAB3), and late (CAB5) flowering cabbage genotypes. Analysis of allele-specifically amplified genomic DNA and various sequence alignments demonstrated that maximal insertions and deletions influenced cabbage flowering behavior, notably in CAB3 and CAB5. Phylogenetic studies showed that BoFLC1, 2, and 3 in the CAB1, 3, and 5 genotypes had the highest homologies to other Brassica species, with CAB3 and 5 the most similar. Although CAB3 and CAB5 have comparable genetic patterns, flowering repressors and flowering regulators were investigated individually with and without vernalization to determine their minor flowering differences. The expression investigation revealed that vernalized CAB5 downregulated all BoFLC genes compared to CAB3 and, in contrast, CAB3 exhibited upregulated BoCOOLAIR. We hypothesized that the CAB3 BoFLC locus' additional insertions may have led to BoCOOLAIR overexpression and BoFLC downregulation. This study sheds light on cabbage genotypes-particularly those of CAB1 and CAB5-and suggests that structural variations in BoFLC2 and 3 bind flowering regulators, such as COOLAIR, which may affect cabbage flowering time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Young Ahn
- Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (J.-Y.A.); (S.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Saminathan Subburaj
- Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (J.-Y.A.); (S.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Fanzhuang Yan
- Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (F.Y.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jian Yao
- Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (F.Y.); (J.Y.)
| | - Ajithan Chandrasekaran
- Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (J.-Y.A.); (S.S.); (A.C.)
- Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (F.Y.); (J.Y.)
| | - Kyoung-Gu Ahn
- Joen Seed Co., Ltd., Goesan 28051, Republic of Korea;
| | - Geung-Joo Lee
- Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (J.-Y.A.); (S.S.); (A.C.)
- Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea; (F.Y.); (J.Y.)
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13
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Du P, Wang Q, Yuan D, Chen S, Su Y, Li L, Chen S, He X. WRKY transcription factors and OBERON histone-binding proteins form complexes to balance plant growth and stress tolerance. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113639. [PMID: 37565504 PMCID: PMC10548177 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023113639] [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: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
WRKY transcription factors in plants are known to be able to mediate either transcriptional activation or repression, but the mechanism regulating their transcriptional activity is largely unclear. We found that group IId WRKY transcription factors interact with OBERON (OBE) proteins, forming redundant WRKY-OBE complexes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The coiled-coil domain of WRKY transcription factors binds to OBE proteins and is responsible for target gene selection and transcriptional repression. The PHD finger of OBE proteins binds to both histones and WRKY transcription factors. WRKY-OBE complexes repress the transcription of numerous stress-responsive genes and are required for maintaining normal plant growth. Several WRKY and OBE mutants show reduced plant size and increased drought tolerance, accompanied by increased expression of stress-responsive genes. Moreover, expression levels of most of these WRKY and OBE genes are reduced in response to drought stress, revealing a previously uncharacterized regulatory mechanism of the drought stress response. These results suggest that WRKY-OBE complexes repress transcription of stress-responsive genes, and thereby balance plant growth and stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Du
- College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Dan‐Yang Yuan
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | - Yin‐Na Su
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Lin Li
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
| | - She Chen
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical ResearchTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xin‐Jian He
- College of Life SciencesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijingChina
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical ResearchTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
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14
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Shi M, Wang C, Wang P, Yun F, Liu Z, Ye F, Wei L, Liao W. Role of methylation in vernalization and photoperiod pathway: a potential flowering regulator? HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad174. [PMID: 37841501 PMCID: PMC10569243 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Recognized as a pivotal developmental transition, flowering marks the continuation of a plant's life cycle. Vernalization and photoperiod are two major flowering pathways orchestrating numerous florigenic signals. Methylation, including histone, DNA and RNA methylation, is one of the recent foci in plant development. Considerable studies reveal that methylation seems to show an increasing potential regulatory role in plant flowering via altering relevant gene expression without altering the genetic basis. However, little has been reviewed about whether and how methylation acts on vernalization- and photoperiod-induced flowering before and after FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) reactivation, what role RNA methylation plays in vernalization- and photoperiod-induced flowering, how methylation participates simultaneously in both vernalization- and photoperiod-induced flowering, the heritability of methylation memory under the vernalization/photoperiod pathway, and whether and how methylation replaces vernalization/photoinduction to regulate flowering. Our review provides insight about the crosstalk among the genetic control of the flowering gene network, methylation (methyltransferases/demethylases) and external signals (cold, light, sRNA and phytohormones) in vernalization and photoperiod pathways. The existing evidence that RNA methylation may play a potential regulatory role in vernalization- and photoperiod-induced flowering has been gathered and represented for the first time. This review speculates about and discusses the possibility of substituting methylation for vernalization and photoinduction to promote flowering. Current evidence is utilized to discuss the possibility of future methylation reagents becoming flowering regulators at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meimei Shi
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Chunlei Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Vegetable and Flower Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Fahong Yun
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhiya Liu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Fujin Ye
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Lijuan Wei
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Weibiao Liao
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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15
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Chen J, Hou S, Zhang Q, Meng J, Zhang Y, Du J, Wang C, Liang D, Guo Y. Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the WRKY Gene Family in Asparagus officinalis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1704. [PMID: 37761844 PMCID: PMC10530708 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the related research of the WRKY gene family has been gradually promoted, which is mainly reflected in the aspects of environmental stress and hormone response. However, to make the study of the WRKY gene family more complete, we also need to focus on the whole-genome analysis and identification of the family. In previous studies, the whole WRKY gene family of Arabidopsis, legumes and other plants has been thoroughly studied. However, since the publication of Asparagus officinalis genome-wide data, there has never been an analysis of the whole WRKY gene family. To understand more broadly the function of the WRKY gene family, the whole genome and salt stress transcriptome data of asparagus were used for comprehensive analysis in this study, including WRKY gene family identification, phylogenetic tree construction, analysis of conserved mods and gene domains, extraction of cis-acting elements, intron/exon analysis, species collinearity analysis, and WRKY expression analysis under salt stress. The results showed that a total of 70 genes were selected and randomly distributed on 10 chromosomes and one undefined chromosome. According to the functional classification of Arabidopsis thaliana, the WRKY family of asparagus was divided into 11 subgroups (C1-C9, U1, U2). It is worth considering that the distribution rules of gene-conserved motifs, gene domains and introns/exons in the same subfamily are similar, which suggests that genes in the same subfamily may regulate similar physiological processes. In this study, 11 cis-acting elements of WRKY family were selected, among which auxin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, salicylic acid and other hormone-regulated induction elements were involved. In addition, environmental stress (such as drought stress and low-temperature response) also accounted for a large proportion. Interestingly, we analyzed a total of two tandem duplicate genes and 13 segmental duplication genes, suggesting that this is related to the amplification of the WRKY gene family. Transcriptome data analysis showed that WRKY family genes could regulate plant growth and development by up-regulating and down-regulating gene expression under salt stress. Volcanic maps showed that 3 and 15 AoWRKY genes were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated in NI&NI+S and AMF&AMF+S, respectively. These results provide a new way to analyze the evolution and function of the WRKY gene family, and can provide a reference for the production and research of asparagus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Sijia Hou
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China;
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianqiao Meng
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Yingying Zhang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Junhong Du
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Cong Wang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Dan Liang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
| | - Yunqian Guo
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Computational Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (J.C.); (S.H.); (J.M.); (Y.Z.); (J.D.); (C.W.)
- The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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16
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Wang J, Sun L, Zhang H, Jiao B, Wang H, Zhou S. Transcriptome analysis during vernalization in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). BMC Genom Data 2023; 24:43. [PMID: 37563565 PMCID: PMC10416481 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-023-01144-3] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vernalization, as a vital process in the life cycle of winter cereal, has important effects on floral organ formation and flowering time. Many morphological changes together with molecular changes occur during the vernalization period. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing to analyze the transcriptomic changes in wheat leaves before, during and after vernalization using the winter wheat cultivar 'Shiluan02-1'. RESULTS A total of 16,370 differentially expressed genes were obtained across different vernalization periods. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis revealed that photoperiodism, photoprotection, photosynthesis, lipid transport and biosynthetic process, and chlorophyll metabolic process were closely related to vernalization. In addition, AP2/ERF, C2H2, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, MYB-related, and NAC transcription factors were significantly enriched during vernalization, and the transcription factor expression patterns suggested the intricate regulation of transcription factor modules in plant vernalization pathways. Analysis of gene expression patterns of the MADS-box transcription factor genes showed different expression patterns during vernalization phases, among which VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1) genes were found to gradually increase during vernalization periods from V0 to V35, while decline in the V42 phase, then increase after vernalization. The Tavrt-2 gene cooperated with Tavrn1 to regulate flowering induced by vernalization, and its expression level was rapidly increased by vernalization but declined in the V42 phase and then increased after vernalization. Some genes from the ICE-CBF-COR pathway were also identified, and additional analysis indicated that some key genes related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction were enriched during the vernalization period, such as gibberellic acid, ethylene, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling pathway genes. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides valuable molecular information for future studies on wheat vernalization regulation and also serves as an excellent reference for future wheat breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bo Jiao
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Haibo Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuo Zhou
- Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/Plant Genetic Engineering Center of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China.
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17
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Wang H, Chen W, Xu Z, Chen M, Yu D. Functions of WRKYs in plant growth and development. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:630-645. [PMID: 36628655 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants must overcome various stresses. Accordingly, they have evolved several plant-specific growth and developmental processes. These plant processes may be related to the evolution of plant-specific protein families. The WRKY transcription factors originated in eukaryotes and expanded in plants, but are not present in animals. Over the past two decades, there have been many studies on WRKYs in plants, with much of the research concentrated on their roles in stress responses. Nevertheless, recent findings have revealed that WRKYs are also required for seed dormancy and germination, postembryonic morphogenesis, flowering, gametophyte development, and seed production. Thus, WRKYs may be important for plant adaptations to a sessile lifestyle because they simultaneously regulate stress resistance and plant-specific growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Wanqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhiyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Mifen Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Diqiu Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
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18
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Li S, Liu J, Xue C, Lin Y, Yan Q, Chen J, Wu R, Chen X, Yuan X. Identification and Functional Characterization of WRKY, PHD and MYB Three Salt Stress Responsive Gene Families in Mungbean ( Vigna radiata L.). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:463. [PMID: 36833390 PMCID: PMC9956968 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
WRKY-, PHD-, and MYB-like proteins are three important types of transcription factors in mungbeans, and play an important role in development and stress resistance. The genes' structures and characteristics were clearly reported and were shown to contain the conservative WRKYGQK heptapeptide sequence, Cys4-His-cys3 zinc binding motif, and HTH (helix) tryptophan cluster W structure, respectively. Knowledge on the response of these genes to salt stress is largely unknown. To address this issue, 83 VrWRKYs, 47 VrPHDs, and 149 VrMYBs were identified by using comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology methods in mungbeans. An intraspecific synteny analysis revealed that the three gene families had strong co-linearity and an interspecies synteny analysis showed that mungbean and Arabidopsis were relatively close in genetic relationship. Moreover, 20, 10, and 20 genes showed significantly different expression levels after 15 days of salt treatment (p < 0.05; Log2 FC > 0.5), respectively. Additionally, in the qRT-PCR analysis, VrPHD14 had varying degrees of response to NaCl and PEG treatments after 12 h. VrWRKY49 was upregulated by ABA treatment, especially in the beginning (within 24 h). VrMYB96 was significantly upregulated in the early stages of ABA, NaCl, and PEG stress treatments (during the first 4 h). VrWRKY38 was significantly upregulated by ABA and NaCl treatments, but downregulated by PEG treatment. We also constructed a gene network centered on the seven DEGs under NaCl treatment; the results showed that VrWRKY38 was in the center of the PPI network and most of the homologous Arabidopsis genes of the interacted genes were reported to have response to biological stress. Candidate genes identified in this study provide abundant gene resources for the study of salt tolerance in mungbeans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shicong Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210000, China
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jinyang Liu
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Chenchen Xue
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Yun Lin
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Qiang Yan
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jingbin Chen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Ranran Wu
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xingxing Yuan
- Institute of Industrial Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
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Jeon M, Jeong G, Yang Y, Luo X, Jeong D, Kyung J, Hyun Y, He Y, Lee I. Vernalization-triggered expression of the antisense transcript COOLAIR is mediated by CBF genes. eLife 2023; 12:84594. [PMID: 36722843 PMCID: PMC10036118 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
To synchronize flowering time with spring, many plants undergo vernalization, a floral-promotion process triggered by exposure to long-term winter cold. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this is achieved through cold-mediated epigenetic silencing of the floral repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). COOLAIR, a cold-induced antisense RNA transcribed from the FLC locus, has been proposed to facilitate FLC silencing. Here, we show that C-repeat (CRT)/dehydration-responsive elements (DREs) at the 3'-end of FLC and CRT/DRE-binding factors (CBFs) are required for cold-mediated expression of COOLAIR. CBFs bind to CRT/DREs at the 3'-end of FLC, both in vitro and in vivo, and CBF levels increase gradually during vernalization. Cold-induced COOLAIR expression is severely impaired in cbfs mutants in which all CBF genes are knocked-out. Conversely, CBF-overexpressing plants show increased COOLAIR levels even at warm temperatures. We show that COOLAIR is induced by CBFs during early stages of vernalization but COOLAIR levels decrease in later phases as FLC chromatin transitions to an inactive state to which CBFs can no longer bind. We also demonstrate that cbfs and FLCΔCOOLAIR mutants exhibit a normal vernalization response despite their inability to activate COOLAIR expression during cold, revealing that COOLAIR is not required for the vernalization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeongjune Jeon
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Goowon Jeong
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yupeng Yang
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology & National Key Laboratory for Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, China
| | - Daesong Jeong
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinseul Kyung
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youbong Hyun
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuehui He
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology & National Key Laboratory for Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, China
| | - Ilha Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Plant Plasticity, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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