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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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Wang Z, You L, Gong N, Li C, Li Z, Shen J, Wan L, Luo K, Su X, Feng L, Chen S, Lin W. Comprehensive Expression Analysis of the WRKY Gene Family in Phoebe bournei under Drought and Waterlogging Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7280. [PMID: 39000387 PMCID: PMC11242546 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to biotic and abiotic stresses, the WRKY gene family plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. This study focused on Phoebe bournei and involved genome-wide identification of WRKY gene family members, clarification of their molecular evolutionary characteristics, and comprehensive mapping of their expression profiles under diverse abiotic stress conditions. A total of 60 WRKY gene family members were identified, and their phylogenetic classification revealed three distinct groups. A conserved motif analysis underscored the significant conservation of motif 1 and motif 2 among the majority of PbWRKY proteins, with proteins within the same class sharing analogous gene structures. Furthermore, an examination of cis-acting elements and protein interaction networks revealed several genes implicated in abiotic stress responses in P. bournei. Transcriptomic data were utilized to analyze the expression patterns of WRKY family members under drought and waterlogged conditions, with subsequent validation by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) experiments. Notably, PbWRKY55 exhibited significant expression modulation under drought stress; PbWRKY36 responded prominently to waterlogging stress; and PbWRKY18, PbWRKY38, and PbWRKY57 demonstrated altered expression under both drought and waterlogging stresses. This study revealed the PbWRKY candidate genes that potentially play a pivotal role in enhancing abiotic stress resilience in P. bournei. The findings have provided valuable insights and knowledge that can guide further research aimed at understanding and addressing the impacts of abiotic stress within this species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shipin Chen
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Z.W.); (L.Y.); (N.G.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (J.S.); (L.W.); (K.L.); (X.S.); (L.F.)
| | - Wenjun Lin
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Z.W.); (L.Y.); (N.G.); (C.L.); (Z.L.); (J.S.); (L.W.); (K.L.); (X.S.); (L.F.)
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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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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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Wang X, Wang T, Yu P, Li Y, Lv X. NO enhances the adaptability to high-salt environments by regulating osmotic balance, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis in eelgrass based on transcriptome and metabolome analysis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1343154. [PMID: 38384762 PMCID: PMC10880190 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1343154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Eelgrass is a typical marine angiosperm that exhibits strong adaptability to high-salt environments. Previous studies have shown that various growth and physiological indicators were significantly affected after the nitrate reductase (NR) pathway for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in eelgrass was blocked. Methods To analyze the molecular mechanism of NO on the adaptability to high-salt environment in eelgrass, we treated eelgrass with artificial seawater (control group) and artificial seawater with 1 mM/L Na2WO4 (experimental group). Based on transcriptomics and metabolomics, we explored the molecular mechanism of NO affecting the salt tolerance of eelgrass. Results We obtained 326, 368, and 859 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by transcriptome sequencing in eelgrass roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. Meanwhile, we obtained 63, 52, and 36 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) by metabolomics in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. Finally, through the combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome, we found that the NO regulatory mechanism of roots and leaves of eelgrass is similar to that of terrestrial plants, while the regulatory mechanism of stems has similar and unique features. Discussion NO in eelgrass roots regulates osmotic balance and antioxidant defense by affecting genes in transmembrane transport and jasmonic acid-related pathways to improve the adaptability of eelgrass to high-salt environments. NO in eelgrass leaves regulates the downstream antioxidant defense system by affecting the signal transduction of plant hormones. NO in the stems of eelgrass regulates ion homeostasis by affecting genes related to ion homeostasis to enhance the adaptability of eelgrass to high-salt environments. Differently, after the NO synthesis was inhibited, the glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, was regulated by glucose metabolism as a complementary effect to cope with the high-salt environment in the stems of eelgrass. These are studies on the regulatory mechanism of NO in eelgrass, providing a theoretical basis for the study of the salt tolerance mechanism of marine plants and the improvement of terrestrial crop traits. The key genes discovered in this study can be applied to increase salt tolerance in terrestrial crops through cloning and molecular breeding methods in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyan Wang
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | | | - Pei Yu
- Shandong University-Australian National University (SDU-ANU) Joint Science College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Yuchun Li
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Xinfang Lv
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
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Yuan G, Zhang N, Zou Y, Hao Y, Pan J, Liu Y, Zhang W, Li B. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of WRKY gene family members in red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1289507. [PMID: 38130488 PMCID: PMC10733489 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1289507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Trifolium pratense is an important legume forage grass and a key component of sustainable livestock development. Serving as an essential component, the WRKY gene family, a crucial group of regulatory transcription factors in plants, holds significant importance in their response to abiotic stresses. However, there has been no systematic analysis conducted on the WRKY gene family in Trifolium pratense. This study conducted a comprehensive genomic characterization of the WRKY gene family in Trifolium pratense, utilizing the latest genomic data, resulting in the identification of 59 TpWRKY genes. Based on their structural features, phylogenetic characteristics, and conserved motif composition, the WRKY proteins were classified into three groups, with group II further subdivided into five subgroups (II-a, II-b, II-c, II-d, and II-e). The majority of the TpWRKYs in a group share a similar structure and motif composition. Intra-group syntenic analysis revealed eight pairs of duplicate segments. The expression patterns of 59 TpWRKY genes in roots, stems, leaves, and flowers were examined by analyzing RNA-seq data. The expression of 12 TpWRKY genes under drought, low-temperature (4°C), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) stresses was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The findings indicated that TpWRKY46 was highly induced by drought stress, and TpWRKY26 and TpWRKY41 were significantly induced by low temperature stress. In addition, TpWRKY29 and TpWRKY36 were greatly induced by MeJA stress treatment, and TpWRKY17 was significantly upregulated by ABA stress treatment. In this research, we identified and comprehensively analyzed the structural features of the WRKY gene family in T.pratense, along with determined the possible roles of WRKY candidate genes in abiotic stress. These discoveries deepen our understandings of how WRKY transcription factors contribute to species evolution and functional divergence, laying a solid molecular foundation for future exploration and study of stress resistance mechanisms in T.pratense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Weiguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Beibei Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
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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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Huang Z, Liu L, Jian L, Xu W, Wang J, Li Y, Jiang CZ. Heterologous Expression of MfWRKY7 of Resurrection Plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia Enhances Salt and Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147890. [PMID: 35887237 PMCID: PMC9324418 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Drought and salinity have become major environmental problems that affect the production of agriculture, forestry and horticulture. The identification of stress-tolerant genes from plants adaptive to harsh environments might be a feasible strategy for plant genetic improvement to address the challenges brought by global climate changes. In this study, a dehydration-upregulated gene MfWRKY7 of resurrection Plant Myrothamnusflabellifolia, encoding a group IId WRKY transcription factor, was cloned and characterized. The overexpression of MfWRKY7 in Arabidopsis increased root length and tolerance to drought and NaCl at both seedling and adult stages. Further investigation indicated that MfWRKY7 transgenic plants had higher contents of chlorophyll, proline, soluble protein, and soluble sugar but a lower water loss rate and malondialdehyde content compared with wild-type plants under both drought and salinity stresses. Moreover, the higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and lower accumulation of O2− and H2O2 in MfWRKY7 transgenic plants were also found, indicating enhanced antioxidation capacity by MfWRKY7. These findings showed that MfWRKY7 may function in positive regulation of responses to drought and salinity stresses, and therefore, it has potential application value in genetic improvement of plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-134-3893-4187
| | - Ling Liu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Linli Jian
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Wenxin Xu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jiatong Wang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yaxuan Li
- College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.L.); (L.J.); (W.X.); (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Cai-Zhong Jiang
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Ayoub Khan M, Dongru K, Yifei W, Ying W, Penghui A, Zicheng W. Characterization of WRKY Gene Family in Whole-Genome and Exploration of Flowering Improvement Genes in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:861193. [PMID: 35557735 PMCID: PMC9087852 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.861193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Chrysanthemum is a well-known ornamental plant with numerous uses. WRKY is a large family of transcription factors known for a variety of functions ranging from stress resistance to plant growth and development. Due to the limited research on the WRKY family in chrysanthemums, we examined them for the first time in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium. A total of 138 ClWRKY genes were identified, which were classified into three groups. Group III in C. lavandulifolium contains 53 members, which is larger than group III of Arabidopsis. The number of introns varied from one to nine in the ClWRKY gene family. The "WRKYGQK" motif is conserved in 118 members, while other members showed slight variations. AuR and GRE responsive cis-acting elements were located in the promoter region of WRKY members, which are important for plant development and flowering induction. In addition, the W box was present in most genes; the recognition site for the WRKY gene may play a role in autoregulation and cross-regulation. The expression of the most variable 19 genes in terms of different parameters was observed at different stages. Among them, 10 genes were selected due to the presence of CpG islands, while nine genes were selected based on their close association with important Arabidopsis genes related to floral traits. ClWRKY36 and ClWRKY45 exhibit differential expression at flowering stages in the capitulum, while methylation is detected in three genes, including ClWRKY31, ClWRKY100, and ClWRKY129. Our results provide a basis for further exploration of WRKY members to find their functions in plant growth and development, especially in flowering traits.
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Cheng H, Wu W, Liu X, Wang Y, Xu P. Transcription factor CsWRKY40 regulates L-theanine hydrolysis by activating the CsPDX2.1 promoter in tea leaves during withering. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2022; 9:uhac025. [PMID: 35184176 PMCID: PMC9055099 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
L-Theanine is a crucial secondary metabolite in tea and positively determines the potential quality and health benefits of tea products. Previous work found the content of L-theanine decreased during withering process, while the specific mechanism is still unknown. Here, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed based on the transcriptome data obtained previously. The key hydrolysis gene CsPDX2.1 in L-theanine metabolism and seven candidate transcription factors were screened out. Among those transcription factors, CsWRKY40 presented the strongest activation on the CsPDX2.1 promoter (373.18-fold) by binding to W box element based on the dual luciferase assay and EMSA results. Meanwhile, CsWRKY40 protein was located in the nucleoplasm, while CsPDX2.1 was found in both the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the water loss of tea leaves was the critical factor affecting the contents of ABA and L-theanine by activating the expression of CsPDX2.1 and CsPDX2.1 based on the analysis of the withering model, water-retention model and water-loss model. Our results provide a new insight into revealing the regulation mechanism of L-theanine hydrolysis metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Cheng
- Institute of Tea Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuefei Wang
- Institute of Tea Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Institute of Tea Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
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Identification, evolution and expression analysis of WRKY gene family in Eucommia ulmoides. Genomics 2021; 113:3294-3309. [PMID: 34022347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The WRKY transcription factors is one of the largest families of transcription factors (TFs) in plants and involved in multiple biological processes. However, the role of the WRKY family had not been reported in Eucommia ulmoides. In this study, 45 WRKY genes (EuWRKY1-45) with conserved WRKY domain were identified in E. ulmoides and classified into three groups. The group II was further divided into five subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis, and each clade was well supported by the conserved motifs. All the genes were located on 34 different scaffolds respectively. A number of development-, light-, hormone-, and stress-related elements were randomly distributed in the promoter sequences of EuWRKYs. Expression profiles indicated that EuWRKY genes were involved in leaf development, and majority of EuWRKYs genes were highly expressed in leaf buds. Co-expression analysis of WRKYs suggested an intricate interplay of growth-related responses. EuWRKY4 was involved in a complex proteins interaction network. Collectively, our results provide extensive insights into the WRKY gene family, thereby contributing to the screening of additional candidate genes in E. ulmoides.
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Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Adaptation of Three Major Secondary Metabolic Pathways to Multiple Macronutrient Starvation in Tea ( Camellia sinensis). Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030241. [PMID: 32106614 PMCID: PMC7140895 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is a widely consumed beverage. Lack of macronutrients is a major cause of tea yield and quality losses. Though the effects of macronutrient starvation on tea metabolism have been studied, little is known about their molecular mechanisms. Hence, we investigated changes in the gene expression of tea plants under nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) deficient conditions by RNA-sequencing. A total of 9103 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified. Function enrichment analysis showed that many biological processes and pathways were common to N, P, and K starvation. In particular, cis-element analysis of promoter of genes uncovered that members of the WRKY, MYB, bHLH, NF-Y, NAC, Trihelix, and GATA families were more likely to regulate genes involved in catechins, l-theanine, and caffeine biosynthetic pathways. Our results provide a comprehensive insight into the mechanisms of responses to N, P, and K starvation, and a global basis for the improvement of tea quality and molecular breeding.
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