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Hildreth SB, Littleton ES, Clark LC, Puller GC, Kojima S, Winkel BSJ. Mutations that alter Arabidopsis flavonoid metabolism affect the circadian clock. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 110:932-945. [PMID: 35218268 PMCID: PMC9311810 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are a well-known class of specialized metabolites that play key roles in plant development, reproduction, and survival. Flavonoids are also of considerable interest from the perspective of human health, as both phytonutrients and pharmaceuticals. RNA sequencing analysis of an Arabidopsis null allele for chalcone synthase (CHS), which catalyzes the first step in flavonoid metabolism, has uncovered evidence that these compounds influence the expression of genes associated with the plant circadian clock. Analysis of promoter-luciferase constructs further showed that the transcriptional activity of CCA1 and TOC1, two key clock genes, is altered in CHS-deficient seedlings across the day/night cycle. Similar findings for a mutant line lacking flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H) activity, and thus able to synthesize mono- but not dihydroxylated B-ring flavonoids, suggests that the latter are at least partially responsible; this was further supported by the ability of quercetin to enhance CCA1 promoter activity in wild-type and CHS-deficient seedlings. The effects of flavonoids on circadian function were also reflected in photosynthetic activity, with chlorophyll cycling abolished in CHS- and F3'H-deficient plants. Remarkably, the same phenotype was exhibited by plants with artificially high flavonoid levels, indicating that neither the antioxidant potential nor the light-screening properties of flavonoids contribute to optimal clock function, as has recently also been demonstrated in animal systems. Collectively, the current experiments point to a previously unknown connection between flavonoids and circadian cycling in plants and open the way to better understanding of the molecular basis of flavonoid action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry B. Hildreth
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Fralin Life Sciences InstituteVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | - Evan S. Littleton
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Fralin Life Sciences InstituteVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | - Leor C. Clark
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Present address:
Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public HealthGeorge Washington UniversityWashingtonDC20052USA
| | - Gabrielle C. Puller
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Present address:
Laboratory of Molecular BiologyNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20 892USA
| | - Shihoko Kojima
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Fralin Life Sciences InstituteVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
| | - Brenda S. J. Winkel
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
- Fralin Life Sciences InstituteVirginia TechBlacksburgVA24061USA
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Serrano-Ron L, Cabrera J, Perez-Garcia P, Moreno-Risueno MA. Unraveling Root Development Through Single-Cell Omics and Reconstruction of Gene Regulatory Networks. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:661361. [PMID: 34017350 PMCID: PMC8129646 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.661361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decades, research on postembryonic root development has been facilitated by "omics" technologies. Among these technologies, microarrays first, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) later, have provided transcriptional information on the underlying molecular processes establishing the basis of System Biology studies in roots. Cell fate specification and development have been widely studied in the primary root, which involved the identification of many cell type transcriptomes and the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRN). The study of lateral root (LR) development has not been an exception. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating cell fate specification during LR formation remain largely unexplored. Recently, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) studies have addressed the specification of tissues from stem cells in the primary root. scRNA-seq studies are anticipated to be a useful approach to decipher cell fate specification and patterning during LR formation. In this review, we address the different scRNA-seq strategies used both in plants and animals and how we could take advantage of scRNA-seq to unravel new regulatory mechanisms and reconstruct GRN. In addition, we discuss how to integrate scRNA-seq results with previous RNA-seq datasets and GRN. We also address relevant findings obtained through single-cell based studies and how LR developmental studies could be facilitated by scRNA-seq approaches and subsequent GRN inference. The use of single-cell approaches to investigate LR formation could help to decipher fundamental biological mechanisms such as cell memory, synchronization, polarization, or pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Miguel A. Moreno-Risueno
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid–Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria), Campus de Montegancedo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Chen T, Zhang W, Yang G, Chen JH, Chen BX, Sun R, Zhang H, An LZ. TRANSTHYRETIN-LIKE and BYPASS1-LIKE co-regulate growth and cold tolerance in Arabidopsis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:332. [PMID: 32664862 PMCID: PMC7362626 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02534-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cold stress inhibits normal physiological metabolism in plants, thereby seriously affecting plant development. Meanwhile, plants also actively adjust their metabolism and development to adapt to changing environments. Several cold tolerance regulators have been found to participate in the regulation of plant development. Previously, we reported that BYPASS1-LIKE (B1L), a DUF793 family protein, participates in the regulation of cold tolerance, at least partly through stabilizing C-REPEAT BINDING FACTORS (CBFs). In this study, we found that B1L interacts with TRANSTHYRETIN-LIKE (TTL) protein, which is involved in brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated plant growth and catalyses the synthesis of S-allantoin, and both proteins participate in modulating plant growth and cold tolerance. RESULTS The results obtained with yeast two hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that B1L directly interacted with TTL. Similar to the ttl-1 and ttl-2 mutants, the b1l mutant displayed a longer hypocotyl and greater fresh weight than wild type, whereas B1L-overexpressing lines exhibited a shorter hypocotyl and reduced fresh weight. Moreover, ttl-1 displayed freezing tolerance to cold treatment compared with WT, whereas the b1l mutant and TTL-overexpressing lines were freezing-sensitive. The b1l ttl double mutant had a developmental phenotype and freezing tolerance that were highly similar to those of ttl-1 compared to b1l, indicating that TTL is important for B1L function. Although low concentrations of brassinolide (0.1 or 1 nM) displayed similarly promoted hypocotyl elongation of WT and b1l under normal temperature, it showed less effect to the hypocotyl elongation of b1l than to that of WT under cold conditions. In addition, the b1l mutant also contained less amount of allantoin than Col-0. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that B1L and TTL co-regulate development and cold tolerance in Arabidopsis, and BR and allantoin may participate in these processes through B1L and TTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Hui Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Bi-Xia Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li-Zhe An
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China.
- School of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
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Liu L, Zhao L, Chen P, Cai H, Hou Z, Jin X, Aslam M, Chai M, Lai L, He Q, Liu Y, Huang X, Chen H, Chen Y, Qin Y. ATP binding cassette transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 affect reproductive development via auxin signalling in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:1172-1186. [PMID: 31944421 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Angiosperm reproductive development is a complex event that includes floral organ development, male and female gametophyte formation and interaction between the male and female reproductive organs for successful fertilization. Previous studies have revealed the redundant function of ATP binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG) transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 in pollen development, but whether they are involved in other reproductive processes is unknown. Here we show that ABCG1 and ABCG16 were not only expressed in anthers and stamen filaments but also enriched in pistil tissues, including the stigma, style, transmitting tract and ovule. We further demonstrated that pistil-expressed ABCG1 and ABCG16 promoted rapid pollen tube growth through their effects on auxin distribution and auxin flow in the pistil. Moreover, disrupted auxin homeostasis in stamen filaments was associated with defective filament elongation. Our work reveals the key functions of ABCG1 and ABCG16 in reproductive development and provides clues for identifying ABCG1 and ABCG16 substrates in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Lihua Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Piaojuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Hanyang Cai
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zhimin Hou
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xingyue Jin
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Mohammad Aslam
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Mengnan Chai
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Linyi Lai
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qing He
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xiaoyi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Huihuang Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yingzhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yuan Qin
- Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
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Begcy K, Nosenko T, Zhou LZ, Fragner L, Weckwerth W, Dresselhaus T. Male Sterility in Maize after Transient Heat Stress during the Tetrad Stage of Pollen Development. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 181:683-700. [PMID: 31378720 PMCID: PMC6776839 DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Shifts in the duration and intensity of ambient temperature impair plant development and reproduction, particularly male gametogenesis. Stress exposure causes meiotic defects or premature spore abortion in male reproductive organs, leading to male sterility. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying stress and male sterility. To elucidate these mechanisms, we imposed a moderate transient heat stress on maize (Zea mays) plants at the tetrad stage of pollen development. After completion of pollen development at optimal conditions, stress responses were assessed in mature pollen. Transient heat stress resulted in reduced starch content, decreased enzymatic activity, and reduced pollen germination, resulting in sterility. A transcriptomic comparison pointed toward misregulation of starch, lipid, and energy biosynthesis-related genes. Metabolomic studies showed an increase of Suc and its monosaccharide components, as well as a reduction in pyruvate. Lipidomic analysis showed increased levels of unsaturated fatty acids and decreased levels of saturated fatty acids. In contrast, the majority of genes involved in developmental processes such as those required for auxin and unfolded protein responses, signaling, and cell wall biosynthesis remained unaltered. It is noteworthy that changes in the regulation of transcriptional and metabolic pathway genes, as well as heat stress proteins, remained altered even though pollen could recover during further development at optimal conditions. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that a short moderate heat stress during the highly susceptible tetrad stage strongly affects basic metabolic pathways and thus generates germination-defective pollen, ultimately leading to severe yield losses in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Begcy
- University of Regensburg, Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- University of Florida, Environmental Horticulture Department, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0670
| | - Tetyana Nosenko
- Plant Genome and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Environmental Simulations, Helmholtz Center Munich, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Liang-Zi Zhou
- University of Regensburg, Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lena Fragner
- Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Division of Molecular Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Division of Molecular Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Dresselhaus
- University of Regensburg, Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Chen T, Chen JH, Zhang W, Yang G, Yu LJ, Li DM, Li B, Sheng HM, Zhang H, An LZ. BYPASS1-LIKE, A DUF793 Family Protein, Participates in Freezing Tolerance via the CBF Pathway in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:807. [PMID: 31297122 PMCID: PMC6607965 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR signaling pathway is strictly modulated by numerous factors and is essential in the cold response of plants. Here, we show that the DUF793 family gene BYPASS1-LIKE modulates freezing tolerance through the CBFs in Arabidopsis. The expression of B1L was rapidly induced under cold treatment. Comparing to wild type, B1L knockout mutants were more sensitive to freezing treatment, whereas B1L-overexpressing lines were more tolerant. The expression of CBFs and CBF target genes was significantly decreased in b1l mutant. Using yeast two-hybrid screening system, 14-3-3λ was identified as one of proteins interacting with B1L. The interaction was confirmed with bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay and co-immunoprecipitation assay. Biochemical assays revealed that b1l mutation promoted the degradation of CBF3 compared to wild type, whereas 14-3-3κλ mutant and b1l 14-3-3κλ mutant suppressed the degradation of CBF3. Consistently, 14-3-3κλ and b1l 14-3-3κλ mutants showed enhanced freezing tolerance compared to wild type. These results indicate that B1L enhances the freezing tolerance of plants, at least partly through stabilizing CBF. Our findings improve our understanding of the regulation of CBF in response to cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jia-Hui Chen
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Gang Yang
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Li-Juan Yu
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dong-Ming Li
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Li
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong-Mei Sheng
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Zhang,
| | - Li-Zhe An
- School of Life Sciences, The Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- School of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Li-Zhe An,
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Prediction of auxin response elements based on data fusion in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:763-772. [PMID: 29936576 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4216-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The plant hormone "auxin" is a key regulator of plant development and environmental responses. Many genes in Arabidopsis thaliana are known to be up-regulated in response to auxin. Auxin response factors activate or repress the expression of genes by binding at their promoter regions within auxin response elements (AuxRE) that are key regulatory cis-acting motives. Therefore, the identification of auxin-response elements is among the most important issues to understand the auxin regulation mechanisms. Thus, searching the TGTCTC motif is an unreliable method to identify AuxRE because many AuxRE variants may also be functional. In the present study, we perform an In-silico prediction of AuxREs in promoters of primary auxin responsive genes. We exploit microarray data of auxin response in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, in order to provide biological annotation to AuxRE. We apply a data fusion method based on the combined use of evidence theory and fuzzy sets to scan upstream sequences of response genes.
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Yang Y, Zhou Y, Chi Y, Fan B, Chen Z. Characterization of Soybean WRKY Gene Family and Identification of Soybean WRKY Genes that Promote Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17804. [PMID: 29259331 PMCID: PMC5736691 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18235-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
WRKY proteins are a superfamily of plant transcription factors with important roles in plants. WRKY proteins have been extensively analyzed in plant species including Arabidopsis and rice. Here we report characterization of soybean WRKY gene family and their functional analysis in resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the most important soybean pathogen. Through search of the soybean genome, we identified 174 genes encoding WRKY proteins that can be classified into seven groups as established in other plants. WRKY variants including a WRKY-related protein unique to legumes have also been identified. Expression analysis reveals both diverse expression patterns in different soybean tissues and preferential expression of specific WRKY groups in certain tissues. Furthermore, a large number of soybean WRKY genes were responsive to salicylic acid. To identify soybean WRKY genes that promote soybean resistance to SCN, we first screened soybean WRKY genes for enhancing SCN resistance when over-expressed in transgenic soybean hairy roots. To confirm the results, we transformed five WRKY genes into a SCN-susceptible soybean cultivar and generated transgenic soybean lines. Transgenic soybean lines overexpressing three WRKY transgenes displayed increased resistance to SCN. Thus, WRKY genes could be explored to develop new soybean cultivars with enhanced resistance to SCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yang
- Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yingjun Chi
- Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Baofang Fan
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Purdue Center for Plant Biology, 915 W. State Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Zhixiang Chen
- Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Purdue Center for Plant Biology, 915 W. State Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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