Profiling of the Candidate Interacting Proteins of SELF-PRUNING 6A (SP6A) in Solanum tuberosum

Screening and verification of proteins that interact with the anthocyanin-related transcription factor PbrMYB114 in 'Yuluxiang' pear

Despite extensive research highlighting the pivotal role of MYB transcription factors in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis, the interactive regulatory network involving these MYB factors in pear fruits remains inadequately characterized. In this study, the anthocyanin-regulatory gene PbrMYB114 was successfully cloned from 'Yuluxiang' pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) fruits, and its influence on anthocyanin accumulation was confirmed through transient expression assays. Specifically, the co-transformation of PbrMYB114 with its partner PbrbHLH3 in pears served to validate the functional role of PbrMYB114. Subsequently, PbrMYB114 was employed as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screening assay, using a 'Yuluxiang' pear protein library, which led to the identification of 25 interacting proteins. Further validation of the interactions between PbrMYB114 and PbrMT2/PbrMT3 was conducted. Investigations into the role of PbrMT2 and PbrMT3 in 'Duli' seedlings (Pyrus betulaefolia) revealed their potential to enhance anthocyanin accumulation. The outcomes of these studies provide novel insights into the protein network that regulates pear anthocyanin biosynthesis, particularly the functional interactions among PbrMYB114 and associated proteins.

StBIN2 Positively Regulates Potato Formation through Hormone and Sugar Signaling

Potato is an important food crop worldwide. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are widely involved in plant growth and development, and BIN2 (brassinosteroid insensitive 2) is the negative regulator of their signal transduction. However, the function of BIN2 in the formation of potato tubers remains unclear. In this study, transgenic methods were used to regulate the expression level of StBIN2 in plants, and tuber related phenotypes were analyzed. The overexpression of StBIN2 significantly increased the number of potatoes formed per plant and the weight of potatoes in transgenic plants. In order to further explore the effect of StBIN2 on the formation of potato tubers, this study analyzed BRs, ABA hormone signal transduction, sucrose starch synthase activity, the expression levels of related genes, and interacting proteins. The results show that the overexpression of StBIN2 enhanced the downstream transmission of ABA signals. At the same time, the enzyme activity of the sugar transporter and the expression of synthetic genes were increased in potato plants overexpressing StBIN2, which also demonstrated the upregulation of sucrose and the expression of the starch synthesis gene. Apparently, StBIN2 affected the conversion and utilization of key substances such as glucose, sucrose, and starch in the process of potato formation so as to provide a material basis and energy preparation for forming potatoes. In addition, StBIN2 also promoted the expression of the tuber formation factors StSP6A and StS6K. Altogether, this investigation enriches the study on the mechanism through which StBIN2 regulates potato tuber formation and provides a theoretical basis for achieving a high and stable yield of potato.

Exploring the Potential Role of Ribosomal Proteins to Enhance Potato Resilience in the Face of Changing Climatic Conditions

Potatoes have emerged as a key non-grain crop for food security worldwide. However, the looming threat of climate change poses significant risks to this vital food source, particularly through the projected reduction in crop yields under warmer temperatures. To mitigate potential crises, the development of potato varieties through genome editing holds great promise. In this study, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to investigate microtuber development and identified several differentially expressed genes, with a particular focus on ribosomal proteins-RPL11, RPL29, RPL40 and RPL17. Our results reveal, by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses, performed with the highest confidence in the STRING database platform (v11.5), the critical involvement of these ribosomal proteins in microtuber development, and highlighted their interaction with PEBP family members as potential microtuber activators. The elucidation of the molecular biological mechanisms governing ribosomal proteins will help improve the resilience of potato crops in the face of today's changing climatic conditions.

PEBP Signaling Network in Tubers and Tuberous Root Crops

Tubers and tuberous root crops are essential carbohydrate sources and staple foods for humans, second only to cereals. The developmental phase transition, including floral initiation and underground storage organ formation, is controlled by complex signaling processes involving the integration of environmental and endogenous cues. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and TERMINAL FLOWER 1/CENTRORADIALIS (TFL1/CEN), members of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) gene family, play a central role in this developmental phase transition process. FT and FT-like proteins have a function to promote developmental phase transition, while TFL1/CEN act oppositely. The balance between FT and TFL1/CEN is critical to ensure a successful plant life cycle. Here, we present a summarized review of the role and signaling network of PEBP in floral initiation and underground storage organ formation, specifically in tubers and tuberous root crops. Lastly, we point out several questions that need to be answered in order to have a more complete understanding of the PEBP signaling network, which is crucial for the agronomical improvement of tubers and tuberous crops.

Solanum tuberosum Microtuber Development under Darkness Unveiled through RNAseq Transcriptomic Analysis

Potato microtuber (MT) development through in vitro techniques are ideal propagules for producing high quality potato plants. MT formation is influenced by several factors, i.e., photoperiod, sucrose, hormones, and osmotic stress. We have previously developed a protocol of MT induction in medium with sucrose (8% w/v), gelrite (6g/L), and 2iP as cytokinin under darkness. To understand the molecular mechanisms involved, we performed a transcriptome-wide analysis. Here we show that 1715 up- and 1624 down-regulated genes were involved in this biological process. Through the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses performed in the STRING database (v11.5), we found 299 genes tightly associated in 14 clusters. Two major clusters of up-regulated proteins fundamental for life growth and development were found: 29 ribosomal proteins (RPs) interacting with 6 PEBP family members and 117 cell cycle (CC) proteins. The PPI network of up-regulated transcription factors (TFs) revealed that at least six TFs-MYB43, TSF, bZIP27, bZIP43, HAT4 and WOX9-may be involved during MTs development. The PPI network of down-regulated genes revealed a cluster of 83 proteins involved in light and photosynthesis, 110 in response to hormone, 74 in hormone mediate signaling pathway and 22 related to aging.