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Fuertes-Aguilar J, Matilla AJ. Transcriptional Control of Seed Life: New Insights into the Role of the NAC Family. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5369. [PMID: 38791407 PMCID: PMC11121595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105369] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression by binding to specific sequences on DNA through their DNA-binding domain (DBD), a universal process. This update conveys information about the diverse roles of TFs, focusing on the NACs (NAM-ATAF-CUC), in regulating target-gene expression and influencing various aspects of plant biology. NAC TFs appeared before the emergence of land plants. The NAC family constitutes a diverse group of plant-specific TFs found in mosses, conifers, monocots, and eudicots. This update discusses the evolutionary origins of plant NAC genes/proteins from green algae to their crucial roles in plant development and stress response across various plant species. From mosses and lycophytes to various angiosperms, the number of NAC proteins increases significantly, suggesting a gradual evolution from basal streptophytic green algae. NAC TFs play a critical role in enhancing abiotic stress tolerance, with their function conserved in angiosperms. Furthermore, the modular organization of NACs, their dimeric function, and their localization within cellular compartments contribute to their functional versatility and complexity. While most NAC TFs are nuclear-localized and active, a subset is found in other cellular compartments, indicating inactive forms until specific cues trigger their translocation to the nucleus. Additionally, it highlights their involvement in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced programmed cell death (PCD) by activating the vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) gene. Moreover, this update provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse roles of NAC TFs in plants, including their participation in ER stress responses, leaf senescence (LS), and growth and development. Notably, NACs exhibit correlations with various phytohormones (i.e., ABA, GAs, CK, IAA, JA, and SA), and several NAC genes are inducible by them, influencing a broad spectrum of biological processes. The study of the spatiotemporal expression patterns provides insights into when and where specific NAC genes are active, shedding light on their metabolic contributions. Likewise, this review emphasizes the significance of NAC TFs in transcriptional modules, seed reserve accumulation, and regulation of seed dormancy and germination. Overall, it effectively communicates the intricate and essential functions of NAC TFs in plant biology. Finally, from an evolutionary standpoint, a phylogenetic analysis suggests that it is highly probable that the WRKY family is evolutionarily older than the NAC family.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angel J. Matilla
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 14971 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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2
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Zhang M, Hou X, Yang H, Wang J, Li Y, Liu Q, Zhang C, Wang B, Chen M. The NAC gene family in the halophyte Limonium bicolor: Identification, expression analysis, and regulation of abiotic stress tolerance. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 208:108462. [PMID: 38484683 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
NAC transcription factors regulate plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the number, types, and biological functions of Limonium bicolor LbNAC genes have remained elusive. L. bicolor secretes excessive salt ions through salt glands on its stems and leaves to reduce salt-induced damage. Here, we identified 63 NAC members (LbNAC1-63) in L. bicolor, which were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Cis-elements in the LbNAC promoters were related to growth and development, stress responses, and phytohormone responses. We observed strong colinearity between LbNACs and GmNACs from soybean (Glycine max). Thus, LbNAC genes may share similar functions with GmNAC genes. Expression analysis indicated that 16 LbNAC genes are highly expressed in roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, whereas 17 LbNAC genes were highly expressed throughout salt gland development, suggesting that they may regulate this developmental stage. Silencing LbNAC54 in L. bicolor decreased salt gland density, salt secretion from leaves, and overall salt tolerance. In agreement, genes related to salt gland development were significantly downregulated in LbNAC54-silenced lines. Our findings shed light on LbNAC genes and help elucidate salt gland development and salt secretion in L. bicolor. Our data also provide insight into NAC functions in halophytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjing Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China; Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology & Crop Gene Editing, School of Life Sciences, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, China
| | - Xueting Hou
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Hui Yang
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, 257000, China
| | - Juying Wang
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, 257000, China
| | - Ying Li
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, 257000, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Caixia Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Baoshan Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Min Chen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, 250014, China; Dongying Institute, Shandong Normal University, No. 2 Kangyang Road, Dongying, 257000, China.
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3
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Han K, Zhao Y, Sun Y, Li Y. NACs, generalist in plant life. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:2433-2457. [PMID: 37623750 PMCID: PMC10651149 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant-specific NAC proteins constitute a major transcription factor family that is well-known for its roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. In recent years, there has been significant progress in understanding the functions of NAC proteins. NAC proteins have a highly conserved DNA-binding domain; however, their functions are diverse. Previous understanding of the structure of NAC transcription factors can be used as the basis for their functional diversity. NAC transcription factors consist of a target-binding domain at the N-terminus and a highly versatile C-terminal domain that interacts with other proteins. A growing body of research on NAC transcription factors helps us comprehend the intricate signalling network and transcriptional reprogramming facilitated by NAC-mediated complexes. However, most studies of NAC proteins have been limited to a single function. Here, we discuss the upstream regulators, regulatory components and targets of NAC in the context of their prospective roles in plant improvement strategies via biotechnology intervention, highlighting the importance of the NAC transcription factor family in plants and the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunjin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and TechnologyBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ye Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and TechnologyBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yuhan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and TechnologyBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Engineering Technology Research Center of Black Locust of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Tree Breeding and Ecological Restoration, College of Biological Sciences and TechnologyBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
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4
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Qian Y, Xi Y, Xia L, Qiu Z, Liu L, Ma H. Membrane-Bound Transcription Factor ZmNAC074 Positively Regulates Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16157. [PMID: 38003347 PMCID: PMC10671035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216157] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated crops for humans, making a vital contribution to human nutrition and health. However, in recent years, due to the influence of external adverse environments, the yield and quality of maize have been seriously affected. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2 and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) are important plant-unique TFs, which are crucial for regulating the abiotic stress response of plants. Therefore, it is of great biological significance to explore the underlying regulatory function of plant NAC TFs under various abiotic stresses. In this study, wild-type and ZmNAC074-overexpressed transgenic Arabidopsis were used as experimental materials to dissect the stress-resistant function of ZmNAC074 in transgenic Arabidopsis at phenotypic, physiological and molecular levels. The analyses of seed germination rate, survival rate, phenotype, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline and other physiological indexes induced by distinct abiotic stress conditions showed that overexpression of ZmNAC074 could confer the enhanced resistance of salt, drought, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in transgenic Arabidopsis, indicating that ZmNAC074 plays an important regulatory role in plant response to abiotic stress, which provides an important theoretical foundation for further uncovering the molecular regulation mechanism of ZmNAC074 under abiotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yexiong Qian
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yan Xi
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Lingxue Xia
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Ziling Qiu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Li Liu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Key Laboratory of Rice Genetic Breeding of Anhui Province, Rice Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
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5
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Lei P, Yu F, Liu X. Recent advances in cellular degradation and nuclear control of leaf senescence. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:5472-5486. [PMID: 37453102 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad273] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Senescence is the final stage of plant growth and development, and is a highly regulated process at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. When triggered by age, hormonal, or environmental cues, plants actively adjust their metabolism and gene expression to execute the progression of senescence. Regulation of senescence is vital for the reallocation of nutrients to sink organs, to ensure reproductive success and adaptations to stresses. Identification and characterization of hallmarks of leaf senescence are of great importance for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of plant senescence, and breeding future crops with more desirable senescence traits. Tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the genetic network underpinning the metabolic and cellular changes in leaf senescence. In this review, we focus on three hallmarks of leaf senescence - chlorophyll and chloroplast degradation, loss of proteostasis, and activation of senescence-associated genes (SAGs), and discuss recent findings of the molecular players and the crosstalk of senescence pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Fei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
- Institute of Future Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xiayan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Doll NM, Van Hautegem T, Schilling N, De Rycke R, De Winter F, Fendrych M, Nowack MK. Endosperm cell death promoted by NAC transcription factors facilitates embryo invasion in Arabidopsis. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3785-3795.e6. [PMID: 37633282 PMCID: PMC7615161 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
In flowering plants, two fertilization products develop within the limited space of the seed: the embryo and the surrounding nutritive endosperm. The final size of the endosperm is modulated by the degree of embryo growth. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the endosperm expands rapidly after fertilization, but later gets invaded by the embryo that occupies most of the seed volume at maturity, surrounded by a single remaining aleurone-like endosperm layer.1,2,3,4 Embryo invasion is facilitated by the endosperm-expressed bHLH-type transcription factor ZHOUPI, which promotes weakening of endosperm cell walls.5,6 Endosperm elimination in zou mutants is delayed, and embryo growth is severely affected; the endosperm finally collapses around the dwarf embryo, causing the shriveled appearance of mature zou seeds.5,6,7 However, whether ZHOUPI facilitates mechanical endosperm destruction by the invading embryo or whether an active programmed cell death (PCD) process causes endosperm elimination has been subject to debate.2,8 Here we show that developmental PCD controlled by multiple NAC transcription factors in the embryo-adjacent endosperm promotes gradual endosperm elimination. Misexpressing the NAC transcription factor KIRA1 in the entire endosperm caused total endosperm elimination, generating aleurone-less mature seeds. Conversely, dominant and recessive higher-order NAC mutants led to delayed endosperm elimination and impaired cell corpse clearance. Promoting PCD in the zhoupi mutant partially rescued its embryo growth defects, while the endosperm in a zhoupi nac higher-order mutant persisted until seed desiccation. These data suggest that a combination of cell wall weakening and PCD jointly facilitates embryo invasion by an active auto-elimination of endosperm cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas M Doll
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Tom Van Hautegem
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Neeltje Schilling
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam, 14476 OT Golm, Germany
| | - Riet De Rycke
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Bioimaging Core, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Freya De Winter
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matyáš Fendrych
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Moritz K Nowack
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB-UGENT Center of Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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7
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Xia F, Liang X, Tan L, Sun W, Dai X, Yan H. Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution and Expression Profile Analysis of NAC Transcription Factor in Simmondsia chinensis. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:5422-5436. [PMID: 37504260 PMCID: PMC10378596 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070344] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
NAC transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest plant-specific gene families and play important roles in plant growth, development, and the biotic and abiotic stress response. Although the sequencing of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) has been completed, the genome-wide identification and analysis of its NAC TFs has not been reported. In this study, a total of 57 genes were identified in Jojoba, which were divided into eight groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The genes clustered in the same groups have a similar gene structure and motif distribution. Based on the analysis of cis-elements in NAC TFs, nine cis-acting elements were identified in the promoter region that involved in light response, hormonal response, and stress response. Synteny analysis showed a greater collinearity between Jojoba and V. vinifera than Arabidopsis thaliana. The 24 genes in the Jojoba NAC TFs are derived from fragment replication, which may be the main source of NAC amplification. Gene expression analysis identified seven genes that were highly expressed in seeds. The differential expression analysis of NAC TFs in cotyledon and embryonic axis tissues showed that the expression of 10 genes was up-regulated and 1 gene was down-regulated. This study provides more information on the classification, gene structure, conserved motif, and evolution of NAC TFs in Jojoba, facilitating further exploration of their specific functional analysis in Jojoba seed development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xia
- Laboratory of Modern Biotechnology, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liang
- Laboratory of Modern Biotechnology, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Lina Tan
- Laboratory of Modern Biotechnology, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Wen Sun
- Laboratory of Modern Biotechnology, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xiaogang Dai
- Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding & Germplasm Improvement, Southern Modern Forestry Collaborative Innovation Center, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Hanwei Yan
- Laboratory of Modern Biotechnology, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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Qi X, Wan C, Zhang X, Sun W, Liu R, Wang Z, Wang Z, Ling F. Effects of histone methylation modification on low temperature seed germination and growth of maize. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5196. [PMID: 36997660 PMCID: PMC10063631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32451-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Low temperature is a limiting factor of seed germination and plant growth. Although there is a lot information on the response of maize to low temperatures, there is still poorly description of how histone methylation affects maize germination and growth development at low temperatures. In this study, the germination rate and physiological indexes of wild-type maize inbred lines B73 (WT), SDG102 silencing lines (AS), SDG102 overexpressed lines (OE) at germination stage and seedling stage were measured under low temperature stress (4 ℃), and transcriptome sequencing was applied to analyze the differences of gene expression in panicle leaves among different materials. The results showed that the germination rate of WT and OE maize seeds at 4 ℃ was significantly lower than 25 ℃. The content of MDA, SOD and POD of 4 ℃ seeding leaves higher than contrast. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that there were 409 different expression genes (DEGs) between WT and AS, and the DEGs were mainly up-regulated expression in starch and sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. There were 887 DEGs between WT and OE, which were mainly up-regulated in the pathways of plant hormone signal transduction, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism. This result could provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the growth and development of maize from the perspective of histone methylation modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qi
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chang Wan
- Institute of Grassland and Ecology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Weifeng Sun
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhennan Wang
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhenhui Wang
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Fenglou Ling
- Faculty of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Sun MM, Liu X, Huang XJ, Yang JJ, Qin PT, Zhou H, Jiang MG, Liao HZ. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the NAC Gene Family in Kandelia obovata, a Typical Mangrove Plant. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:5622-5637. [PMID: 36421665 PMCID: PMC9689236 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44110381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) gene family, one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, acts as positive or negative regulators in plant response and adaption to various environmental stresses, including cold stress. Multiple reports on the functional characterization of NAC genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plants are available. However, the function of the NAC genes in the typical woody mangrove (Kandelia obovata) remains poorly understood. Here, a comprehensive analysis of NAC genes in K. obovata was performed with a pluri-disciplinary approach including bioinformatic and molecular analyses. We retrieved a contracted NAC family with 68 genes from the K. obovata genome, which were unevenly distributed in the chromosomes and classified into ten classes. These KoNAC genes were differentially and preferentially expressed in different organs, among which, twelve up-regulated and one down-regulated KoNAC genes were identified. Several stress-related cis-regulatory elements, such as LTR (low-temperature response), STRE (stress response element), ABRE (abscisic acid response element), and WUN (wound-responsive element), were identified in the promoter regions of these 13 KoNAC genes. The expression patterns of five selected KoNAC genes (KoNAC6, KoNAC15, KoNAC20, KoNAC38, and KoNAC51) were confirmed by qRT-PCR under cold treatment. These results strongly implied the putative important roles of KoNAC genes in response to chilling and other stresses. Collectively, our findings provide valuable information for further investigations on the function of KoNAC genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Man Sun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Xiu Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Non-Wood Forest Cultivation and Utilization, Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, 23 Yongwu Road, Nanning 530002, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Jing-Jun Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Non-Wood Forest Cultivation and Utilization, Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, 23 Yongwu Road, Nanning 530002, China
| | - Pei-Ting Qin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Ming-Guo Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Hong-Ze Liao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Polysaccharide Materials and Modification, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 West Daxue Road, Nanning 530008, China
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Identification of the NAC Transcription Factors and Their Function in ABA and Salinity Response in Nelumbo nucifera. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012394. [PMID: 36293250 PMCID: PMC9604248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. is an important perennial aquatic herb that has high ornamental, edible, medicinal, and economic value, being widely distributed and used in China. The NAC superfamily (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) plays critical roles in plant growth, development, and response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Though there have been a few reports about NAC genes in lotus, systematic analysis is still relatively lacking. The present study aimed to characterize all the NAC genes in the lotus and obtain better insights on the NnNACs in response to salt stress by depending on ABA signaling. Here, 97 NAC genes were identified by searching the whole lotus genome based on the raw HMM models of the conserved NAM domain and NAC domain. They were characterized by bioinformatics analysis and divided into 18 subgroups based on the phylogenetic tree. Cis-element analysis demonstrated that NAC genes are responsive to biotic and abiotic stresses, light, low temperature, and plant hormones. Meanwhile, NAC genes had tissue expression specificity. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that NAC genes could be upregulated or downregulated by NaCl treatment, ABA, and fluoridone. In addition, NAC016, NAC025, and NAC070, whose encoding genes were significantly induced by NaCl and ABA, were located in the nucleus. Further analysis showed the three NAC proteins had transcriptional activation capabilities. The co-expression network analysis reflected that NAC proteins may form complexes with other proteins to play a role together. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further research to be conducted on the regulatory mechanisms of salinity resistance in the lotus.
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Xi Y, Ling Q, Zhou Y, Liu X, Qian Y. ZmNAC074, a maize stress-responsive NAC transcription factor, confers heat stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:986628. [PMID: 36247610 PMCID: PMC9558894 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.986628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The harsh environment such as high temperature greatly limits the growth, development and production of crops worldwide. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) play key regulatory roles in abiotic stress responses of plants. However, the functional roles of NAC TFs in heat stress response of maize remain elusive. In our present study, we identified and isolated a stress-responsive NAC transcription factor gene in maize, designated as ZmNAC074 and orthologous with rice OsNTL3. Further studies revealed that ZmNAC074 may encode a membrane-bound transcription factor (MTF) of NAC family in maize, which is comprised of 517 amino acid residues with a transmembrane domain at the C-terminus. Moreover, ZmNAC074 was highly expressed and induced by various abiotic stresses in maize seedlings, especially in leaf tissues under heat stress. Through generating ZmNAC074 transgenic plants, phenotypic and physiological analyses further displayed that overexpression of ZmNAC074 in transgenic Arabidopsis confers enhanced heat stress tolerance significantly through modulating the accumulation of a variety of stress metabolites, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, soluble protein, chlorophyll and carotenoid. Further, quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of most ROS scavenging and HSR- and UPR-associated genes in transgenic Arabidopsis were significantly up-regulated under heat stress treatments, suggesting that ZmNAC074 may encode a positive regulator that activates the expression of ROS-scavenging genes and HSR- and UPR-associated genes to enhance plant thermotolerance under heat stress conditions. Overall, our present study suggests that ZmNAC074 may play a crucial role in conferring heat stress tolerance in plants, providing a key candidate regulatory gene for heat stress tolerance regulation and genetic improvement in maize as well as in other crops.
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Gu C, Shang L, Zhang G, Wang Q, Ma Q, Hong S, Zhao Y, Yang L. Identification and Expression Analysis of NAC Gene Family in Weeping Trait of Lagerstroemia indica. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11162168. [PMID: 36015471 PMCID: PMC9413744 DOI: 10.3390/plants11162168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Lagerstroemia indica is a widely used ornamental plant in summer gardens because of its desirable plant shape. The weeping traits of plants are related to secondary cell wall thickness and hormone signaling. NAC (NAM-ATAF1/2-CUC2), as one of the plant-specific transcription factors, is a switch for the secondary cell wall and also involved in leaf senescence, phytohormone signaling, and other growth processes. We identified a total of 21 LiNAC genes from the transcriptome data, which we divided into 14 subgroups and 2 groups. The physicochemical characteristics of amino acids, subcellular localization, transmembrane structure, GO and KEGG enrichment, and expression patterns were also examined. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expressions of LiNAC8 and LiNAC13 in upright L. indica 'Shaoguifei' and weeping L. indica 'Xiariwuniang' were significantly higher from the beginning to the end of growth stage (S1-S3), and the expressions of 'Shaoguifei' were always higher than those of 'Xiariwuniang'. However, LiNAC2 showed a downward trend in S1-S3 and the relative expression level of 'Shaoguifei' was lower than that of 'Xiariwuniang'. It is hypothesized that these LiNAC genes may be involved in the regulation of weeping traits in L. indica. The results of this study provide a basis for analyzing the functions of LiNAC genes and help to explore the molecular regulatory mechanisms related to the weeping traits in L. indica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuihua Gu
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Linxue Shang
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Guozhe Zhang
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Qun Wang
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Qingqing Ma
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Sidan Hong
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (L.Y.)
| | - Liyuan Yang
- College of Landscape and Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Southern Garden Plants, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (L.Y.)
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