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Shen E, Zhao T, Zhu QH. Are miRNAs applicable for balancing crop growth and defense trade-off? THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1670-1680. [PMID: 38952260 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19939] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Securing agricultural supplies for the increasing population without negative impacts on environment demands new crop varieties with higher yields, better quality, and stronger stress resilience. But breeding such super crop varieties is restrained by growth-defense (G-D) trade-off. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile regulators of plant growth and immune responses, with several being demonstrated to simultaneously regulate crop growth and defense against biotic stresses and to balance G-D trade-off. Increasing evidence also links miRNAs to the metabolism and signaling of phytohormones, another type of master regulator of plant growth and defense. Here, we synthesize the reported functions of miRNAs in crop growth, development, and responses to bio-stressors, summarize the regulatory scenarios of miRNAs based on their relationship with target(s), and discuss how miRNAs, particularly those involved in crosstalk with phytohormones, can be applied in balancing G-D trade-off in crops. We also propose several open questions to be addressed for adopting miRNAs in balancing crop G-D trade-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enhui Shen
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- The Rural Development Academy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tianlun Zhao
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Institute of Hainan, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qian-Hao Zhu
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Vandeputte W, Coussens G, Aesaert S, Haeghebaert J, Impens L, Karimi M, Debernardi JM, Pauwels L. Use of GRF-GIF chimeras and a ternary vector system to improve maize (Zea mays L.) transformation frequency. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 119:2116-2132. [PMID: 38923048 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16880] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop that has been widely studied for its agronomic and industrial applications and is one of the main classical model organisms for genetic research. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of immature maize embryos is a commonly used method to introduce transgenes, but a low transformation frequency remains a bottleneck for many gene-editing applications. Previous approaches to enhance transformation included the improvement of tissue culture media and the use of morphogenic regulators such as BABY BOOM and WUSCHEL2. Here, we show that the frequency can be increased using a pVS1-VIR2 virulence helper plasmid to improve T-DNA delivery, and/or expressing a fusion protein between a GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) and GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) protein to improve regeneration. Using hygromycin as a selection agent to avoid escapes, the transformation frequency in the maize inbred line B104 significantly improved from 2.3 to 8.1% when using the pVS1-VIR2 helper vector with no effect on event quality regarding T-DNA copy number. Combined with a novel fusion protein between ZmGRF1 and ZmGIF1, transformation frequencies further improved another 3.5- to 6.5-fold with no obvious impact on plant growth, while simultaneously allowing efficient CRISPR-/Cas9-mediated gene editing. Our results demonstrate how a GRF-GIF chimera in conjunction with a ternary vector system has the potential to further improve the efficiency of gene-editing applications and molecular biology studies in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wout Vandeputte
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Griet Coussens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Stijn Aesaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Jari Haeghebaert
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Lennert Impens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Mansour Karimi
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
| | - Juan M Debernardi
- Plant Transformation Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Laurens Pauwels
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, B-9052, Belgium
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Li Y, Yang Y, Li L, Tang K, Hao X, Kai G. Advanced metabolic engineering strategies for increasing artemisinin yield in Artemisia annua L. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhad292. [PMID: 38414837 PMCID: PMC10898619 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Artemisinin, also known as 'Qinghaosu', is a chemically sesquiterpene lactone containing an endoperoxide bridge. Due to the high activity to kill Plasmodium parasites, artemisinin and its derivatives have continuously served as the foundation for antimalarial therapies. Natural artemisinin is unique to the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L., and its content in this plant is low. This has motivated the synthesis of this bioactive compound using yeast, tobacco, and Physcomitrium patens systems. However, the artemisinin production in these heterologous hosts is low and cannot fulfil its increasing clinical demand. Therefore, A. annua plants remain the major source of this bioactive component. Recently, the transcriptional regulatory networks related to artemisinin biosynthesis and glandular trichome formation have been extensively studied in A. annua. Various strategies including (i) enhancing the metabolic flux in artemisinin biosynthetic pathway; (ii) blocking competition branch pathways; (iii) using transcription factors (TFs); (iv) increasing peltate glandular secretory trichome (GST) density; (v) applying exogenous factors; and (vi) phytohormones have been used to improve artemisinin yields. Here we summarize recent scientific advances and achievements in artemisinin metabolic engineering, and discuss prospects in the development of high-artemisinin yielding A. annua varieties. This review provides new insights into revealing the transcriptional regulatory networks of other high-value plant-derived natural compounds (e.g., taxol, vinblastine, and camptothecin), as well as glandular trichome formation. It is also helpful for the researchers who intend to promote natural compounds production in other plants species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongpeng Li
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yinkai Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Ling Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaolong Hao
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Zhejiang Provincial TCM Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource Innovation and Transformation, Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Plants and Health, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
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Tian J, Zhang J, Francis F. The role and pathway of VQ family in plant growth, immunity, and stress response. PLANTA 2023; 259:16. [PMID: 38078967 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04292-z] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION This review provides a detailed description of the function and mechanism of VQ family gene, which is helpful for further research and application of VQ gene resources to improve crops. Valine-glutamine (VQ) motif-containing proteins are a large class of transcriptional regulatory cofactors. VQ proteins have their own unique molecular characteristics. Amino acids are highly conserved only in the VQ domain, while other positions vary greatly. Most VQ genes do not contain introns and the length of their proteins is less than 300 amino acids. A majority of VQ proteins are predicted to be localized in the nucleus. The promoter of many VQ genes contains stress or growth related elements. Segment duplication and tandem duplication are the main amplification mechanisms of the VQ gene family in angiosperms and gymnosperms, respectively. Purification selection plays a crucial role in the evolution of many VQ genes. By interacting with WRKY, MAPK, and other proteins, VQ proteins participate in the multiple signaling pathways to regulate plant growth and development, as well as defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although there have been some reports on the VQ gene family in plants, most of them only identify family members, with little functional verification, and there is also a lack of complete, detailed, and up-to-date review of research progress. Here, we comprehensively summarized the research progress of VQ genes that have been published so far, mainly including their molecular characteristics, biological functions, importance of VQ motif, and working mechanisms. Finally, the regulatory network and model of VQ genes were drawn, a precise molecular breeding strategy based on VQ genes was proposed, and the current problems and future prospects were pointed out, providing a powerful reference for further research and utilization of VQ genes in plant improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfu Tian
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium.
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Jiahui Zhang
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Frédéric Francis
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
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