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Shi Y, Hu G, Wang Y, Liang Q, Su D, Lu W, Deng W, Bouzayen M, Liu Y, Li Z, Huang B. The SlGRAS9-SlZHD17 transcriptional cascade regulates chlorophyll and carbohydrate metabolism contributing to fruit quality traits in tomato. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2540-2557. [PMID: 38263687 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19530] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Some essential components of fleshy fruits are dependent on photosynthetic activity and carbohydrate metabolism. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms linking chlorophyll and carbohydrate metabolism remain partially understood. Here, we uncovered the role of SlGRAS9 and SlZHD17 transcription factors in controlling chlorophyll and carbohydrate accumulation in tomato fruit. Knockout or knockdown of SlGRAS9 or SlZHD17 resulted in marked increase in chlorophyll content, reprogrammed chloroplast biogenesis and enhanced accumulation of starch and soluble sugars. Combined genome-wide transcriptomic profiling and promoter-binding experiments unveiled a complex mechanism in which the SlGRAS9/SlZHD17 regulatory module modulates the expression of chloroplast and sugar metabolism either via a sequential transcriptional cascade or through binding of both TFs to the same gene promoters, or, alternatively, via parallel pathways where each of the TFs act on different target genes. For instance, the regulation of SlAGPaseS1 and SlSUS1 is mediated by SlZHD17 whereas that of SlVI and SlGLK1 occurs only through SlGRAS9 without the intervention of SlZHD17. Both SlGRAS9 and SlZHD17 can also directly bind the promoter of SlPOR-B to regulate its expression. Taken together, our findings uncover two important regulators acting synergistically to manipulate chlorophyll and carbohydrate accumulation and provide new potential breeding targets for improving fruit quality in fleshy fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Guojian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Vegetales - Genomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits - UMR5546, Universite de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse-INP, Toulouse, 31326, France
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Qin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Deding Su
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Wang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Mondher Bouzayen
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Vegetales - Genomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits - UMR5546, Universite de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse-INP, Toulouse, 31326, France
| | - Yudong Liu
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zhengguo Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Baowen Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Molecular Breeding of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
- Center of Plant Functional Genomics, Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
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Liu L, Zhang Y, Tang C, Shen Q, Fu J, Wang Q. Maize Transcription Factor ZmHsf28 Positively Regulates Plant Drought Tolerance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098079. [PMID: 37175787 PMCID: PMC10179534 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098079] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of central genes governing plant drought tolerance is fundamental to molecular breeding and crop improvement. Here, maize transcription factor ZmHsf28 is identified as a positive regulator of plant drought responses. ZmHsf28 exhibited inducible gene expression in response to drought and other abiotic stresses. Overexpression of ZmHsf28 diminished drought effects in Arabidopsis and maize. Gene silencing of ZmHsf28 via the technology of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) impaired maize drought tolerance. Overexpression of ZmHsf28 increased jasmonate (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) production in transgenic maize and Arabidopsis by more than two times compared to wild-type plants under drought conditions, while it decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and elevated stomatal sensitivity significantly. Transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive gene regulation by ZmHsf28 with upregulation of JA and ABA biosynthesis genes, ROS scavenging genes, and other drought related genes. ABA treatment promoted ZmHsf28 regulation of downstream target genes. Specifically, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay indicated that ZmHsf28 directly bound to the target gene promoters to regulate their gene expression. Taken together, our work provided new and solid evidence that ZmHsf28 improves drought tolerance both in the monocot maize and the dicot Arabidopsis through the implication of JA and ABA signaling and other signaling pathways, shedding light on molecular breeding for drought tolerance in maize and other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Chen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qinqin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jingye Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
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