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Wang JH, Gu KD, Zhang QY, Yu JQ, Wang CK, You CX, Cheng L, Hu DG. Ethylene inhibits malate accumulation in apple by transcriptional repression of aluminum-activated malate transporter 9 via the WRKY31-ERF72 network. New Phytol 2023. [PMID: 36747049 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Malic acid accumulation in the vacuole largely determines acidity and perception of sweetness of apple. It has long been observed that reduction in malate level is associated with increase in ethylene production during the ripening process of climacteric fruits, but the molecular mechanism linking ethylene to malate reduction is unclear. Here, we show that ethylene-modulated WRKY transcription factor 31 (WRKY31)-Ethylene Response Factor 72 (ERF72)-ALUMINUM ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER 9 (Ma1) network regulates malate accumulation in apple fruit. ERF72 binds to the promoter of ALMT9, a key tonoplast transporter for malate accumulation of apple, transcriptionally repressing ALMT9 expression in response to ethylene. WRKY31 interacts with ERF72, suppressing its transcriptional inhibition activity on ALMT9. In addition, WRKY31 directly binds to the promoters of ERF72 and ALMT9, transcriptionally repressing and activating ERF72 and ALMT9, respectively. The expression of WRKY31 decreases in response to ethylene, lowering the transcription of ALMT9 directly and via its interactions with ERF72. These findings reveal that the regulatory complex WRKY31 forms with ERF72 responds to ethylene, linking the ethylene signal to ALMT9 expression in reducing malate transport into the vacuole during fruit ripening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Hui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Kai-Di Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Quan-Yan Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection, College of Resources and Environment, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Yu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Chu-Kun Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Lailiang Cheng
- Section of Horticulture, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Da-Gang Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
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Gu KD, Zhang QY, Yu JQ, Wang JH, Zhang FJ, Wang CK, Zhao YW, Sun CH, You CX, Hu DG, Hao YJ. R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor MdMYB73 Confers Increased Resistance to the Fungal Pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea in Apples via the Salicylic Acid Pathway. J Agric Food Chem 2021; 69:447-458. [PMID: 33347291 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
MYB transcription factors (TFs) participate in many biological processes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MYB TFs affect plant resistance to apple ring rot remain poorly understood. Here, the R2R3-MYB gene MdMYB73 was cloned from "Royal Gala" apples and functionally characterized as a positive regulator of the defense response to Botryosphaeria dothidea. qRT-PCR and GUS staining demonstrated that MdMYB73 was strongly induced in apple fruits and transgenic calli after inoculation with B. dothidea. MdMYB73 overexpression improved resistance to B. dothidea in apple calli and fruits, while MdMYB73 suppression weakened. Increased resistance to B. dothidea was also observed in MdMYB73-expressing Arabidopsis thaliana. Interestingly, salicylic acid (SA) contents and the expression levels of genes related with SA synthesis and signaling were greater in MdMYB73-overexpressing plant materials compared to wild-type controls after inoculation, suggesting that MdMYB73 might enhance resistance to B. dothidea via the SA pathway. Finally, we discovered that MdMYB73 interacts with MdWRKY31, a positive regulator of B. dothidea. Together, MdWRKY31 and MdMYB73 enhanced B. dothidea resistance in apples. Our results clarify the mechanisms by which MdMYB73 improves resistance to B. dothidea and suggest that resistance may be affected by regulating the SA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Di Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Quan-Yan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Jia-Hui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Fu-Jun Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Chu-Kun Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Yu-Wen Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Cui-Hui Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Da-Gang Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Yu-Jin Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
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Zhao XY, Qi CH, Jiang H, Zhong MS, You CX, Li YY, Hao YJ. MdHIR4 transcription and translation levels associated with disease in apple are regulated by MdWRKY31. Plant Mol Biol 2019; 101:149-162. [PMID: 31267255 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-019-00898-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Here we describe that the regulation of MdWRKY31 on MdHIR4 in transcription and translation levels associated with disease in apple. The phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) is a main factor in apple (Malus domestica) production due to its function in disease resistance. WRKY transcription factors play a vital role in response to stress. An RNA-seq analysis was conducted with 'Royal Gala' seedlings treated with SA to identify the WRKY regulatory mechanism of disease resistance in apple. The analysis indicated that MdWRKY31 was induced. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis demonstrated that the expression of MdWRKY31 was induced by SA and flg22. Ectopic expression of MdWRKY31 in Arabidopsis and Nicotiana benthamiana increased the resistance to flg22 and Pseudomonas syringae tomato (Pst DC3000). A yeast two-hybrid screen was conducted to further analyze the function of MdWRKY31. As a result, hypersensitive-induced reaction (HIR) protein MdHIR4 interacted with MdWRKY31. Biomolecular fluorescence complementation, yeast two-hybrid, and pull-down assays demonstrated the interaction. In our previous study, MdHIR4 conferred decreased resistance to Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea). A viral vector-based transformation assay indicated that MdWRKY31 evaluated the transcription of SA-related genes, including MdPR1, MdPR5, and MdNPR1 in an MdHIR4-dependent way. A GUS analysis demonstrated that the w-box, particularly w-box2, of the MdHIR4 promoter played a major role in the responses to SA and B. dothidea. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, yeast one-hybrid assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR demonstrated that MdWRKY31 directly bound to the w-box2 motif in the MdHIR4 promoter. GUS staining activity and a protein intensity analysis further showed that MdWRKY31 repressed MdHIR4 expression. Taken together, our findings reveal that MdWRKY31 regulated plant resistance to B. dothidea through the SA signaling pathway by interacting with MdHIR4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chen-Hui Qi
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Han Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ming-Shuang Zhong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China.
| | - Yu-Jin Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China.
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