Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol , IF:94.444 , 2024 May , V25 (5) : P340-358 doi: 10.1038/s41580-023-00691-y
Structure and growth of plant cell walls.
Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA. dcosgrove@psu.edu.
Plant cells build nanofibrillar walls that are central to plant growth, morphogenesis and mechanics. Starting from simple sugars, three groups of polysaccharides, namely, cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectins, with very different physical properties are assembled by the cell to make a strong yet extensible wall. This Review describes the physics of wall growth and its regulation by cellular processes such as cellulose production by cellulose synthase, modulation of wall pH by plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase, wall loosening by expansin and signalling by plant hormones such as auxin and brassinosteroid. In addition, this Review discusses the nuanced roles, properties and interactions of cellulose, matrix polysaccharides and cell wall proteins and describes how wall stress and wall loosening cooperatively result in cell wall growth.
PMID: 38102449
Dev Cell , IF:12.27 , 2024 Apr , V59 (7) : P924-939.e6 doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.021
The BAS chromatin remodeler determines brassinosteroid-induced transcriptional activation and plant growth in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.; Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science, Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050051, China.; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Synthetic Biology Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, London, ON N5V 4T3, Canada.; Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: zwang@carnegiescience.edu.; State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: lichlong3@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling leads to the nuclear accumulation of the BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) transcription factor, which plays dual roles in activating or repressing the expression of thousands of genes. BZR1 represses gene expression by recruiting histone deacetylases, but how it activates transcription of BR-induced genes remains unclear. Here, we show that BR reshapes the genome-wide chromatin accessibility landscape, increasing the accessibility of BR-induced genes and reducing the accessibility of BR-repressed genes in Arabidopsis. BZR1 physically interacts with the BRAHMA-associated SWI/SNF (BAS)-chromatin-remodeling complex on the genome and selectively recruits the BAS complex to BR-activated genes. Depletion of BAS abrogates the capacities of BZR1 to increase chromatin accessibility, activate gene expression, and promote cell elongation without affecting BZR1's ability to reduce chromatin accessibility and expression of BR-repressed genes. Together, these data identify that BZR1 recruits the BAS complex to open chromatin and to mediate BR-induced transcriptional activation of growth-promoting genes.
PMID: 38359831
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 May , V469 : P133862 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133862
Brassinosteroid decreases cadmium accumulation via regulating gibberellic acid accumulation and Cd fixation capacity of root cell wall in rice (Oryza sativa).
School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing 210008, China.; School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Nanjing 210008, China.; School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China. Electronic address: jhuang@cumt.edu.cn.
The precise mechanism behind the association between plants' reactions to cadmium (Cd) stress and brassinosteroid (BR) remains unclear. In the current investigation, Cd stress quickly increased the endogenous BR concentration in the rice roots. Exogenous BR also increased the hemicellulose level in the root cell wall, which in turn increased its capacity to bind Cd. Simultaneously, the transcription level of genes responsible for root Cd absorption was decreased, including Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein 1/5 (OsNRAMP1/5) and a major facilitator superfamily gene called OsCd1. Ultimately, the increased expression of Heavy Metal ATPase 3 (OsHMA3) and the decreased expression of OsHMA2, which was in charge of separating Cd into vacuoles and translocating Cd to the shoots, respectively, led to a decrease in the amount of Cd that accumulated in the rice shoots. In contrast, transgenic rice lines overexpressing OsGSK2 (a negative regulator in BR signaling) accumulated more Cd, while OsGSK2 RNA interference (RNAi) rice line accumulated less Cd. Furthermore, BR increased endogenous Gibberellic acid (GA) level, and applying GA could replicate its alleviative effect. Taken together, BR decreased Cd accumulation in rice by mediating the cell wall's fixation capacity to Cd, which might relied on the buildup of the GA.
PMID: 38432090
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae217
Jasmonate mimic modulates cell elongation by regulating antagonistic bHLH transcription factors via brassinosteroid signaling.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education & College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, No.2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China.; College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China.
Lodging restricts growth, development, and yield formation in maize (Zea mays L.). Shorter internode length is beneficial for lodging tolerance. However, although brassinosteroids (BRs) and jasmonic acid (JA) are known to antagonistically regulate internode growth, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, application of the JA mimic coronatine (COR) inhibited basal internode elongation at the jointing stage and repressed expression of the cell wall-related gene XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE/HYDROLASE 1 (ZmXTH1), whose overexpression in maize plants promotes internode elongation. We demonstrated that the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor ZmbHLH154 binds directly to the ZmXTH1 promoter and induces its expression, whereas the bHLH transcription factor ILI1 BINDING BHLH 1 (ZmIBH1) inhibits this transcriptional activation by forming a heterodimer with ZmbHLH154. Overexpressing ZmbHLH154 led to longer internodes, whereas zmbhlh154 mutants had shorter internodes than the wild type. The core JA-dependent transcription factors ZmMYC2-4 and ZmMYC2-6 interacted with BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (ZmBZR1), a key factor in BR signaling, and these interactions eliminated the inhibitory effect of ZmBZR1 on its downstream gene ZmIBH1. Collectively, these results reveal a signaling module in which JA regulates a bHLH network by attenuating BR signaling to inhibit ZmXTH1 expression, thereby regulating cell elongation in maize.
PMID: 38636101
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae191
BRZ-INSENSITIVE-LONG HYPOCOTYL8 inhibits kinase-mediated phosphorylation to regulate brassinosteroid signaling.
Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.; School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8571, Japan.; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase in eukaryotes. In plants, the GSK3-like kinase BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) functions as a central signaling node through which hormonal and environmental signals are integrated to regulate plant development and stress adaptation. BIN2 plays a major regulatory role in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling and is critical for phosphorylating/inactivating BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1), also known as BRZ-INSENSITIVE-LONG HYPOCOTYL 1 (BIL1), a master transcription factor of BR signaling, but the detailed regulatory mechanism of BIN2 action has not been fully revealed. In this study, we identified BIL8 as a positive regulator of BR signaling and plant growth in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Genetic and biochemical analyses showed that BIL8 is downstream of the BR receptor BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and promotes the dephosphorylation of BIL1/BZR1. BIL8 interacts with and inhibits the activity of the BIN2 kinase, leading to the accumulation of dephosphorylated BIL1/BZR1. BIL8 suppresses the cytoplasmic localization of BIL1/BZR1, which is induced via BIN2-mediated phosphorylation. Our study reveals a regulatory factor, BIL8, that positively regulates BR signaling by inhibiting BIN2 activity.
PMID: 38635969
Sci Total Environ , IF:7.963 , 2024 Jun , V928 : P172449 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172449
The Oryza sativa transcriptome responds spatiotemporally to polystyrene nanoplastic stress.
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China; Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: xuchanchan@whu.edu.cn.
Nanoplastic represents an emerging abiotic stress facing modern agriculture, impacting global crop production. However, the molecular response of crop plants to this stress remains poorly understood at a spatiotemporal resolution. We therefore used RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptome expressed in rice (Oryza sativa) root and leaf organs at 1, 2, 4, and 8 d post exposure with nanoplastic. We revealed a striking similarity between the rice biomass dynamics in aboveground parts to that in belowground parts during nanoplastic stress, but transcriptome did not. At the global transcriptomic level, a total of 2332 differentially expressed genes were identified, with the majority being spatiotemporal specific, reflecting that nanoplastics predominantly regulate three processes in rice seedlings: (1) down-regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and starch, sucrose and nitrogen metabolism, (2) activation of defense responses such as brassinosteroid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and (3) modulation of jasmonic acid and cytokinin signaling pathways by transcription factors. Notably, the genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction were shown to be successively modulated by both root and leaf organs, particularly plant disease defense genes (OsWRKY24, OsWRKY53, Os4CL3, OsPAL4, and MPK5), possibly indicating that nanoplastics affect rice growth indirectly through other biota. Finally, we associated biomass phenotypes with the temporal reprogramming of rice transcriptome by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, noting a significantly correlation with photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis that may reflect the mechanisms of biomass reduction. Functional analysis further identified PsbY, MYB, cytochrome P450, and AP2/ERF as hub genes governing these pathways. Overall, our work provides the understanding of molecular mechanisms of rice in response to nanoplastics, which in turn suggests how rice might behave in a nanoplastic pollution scenario.
PMID: 38615784
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1111/pce.14890
TaGSK3 regulates wheat development and stress adaptation through BR-dependent and BR-independent pathways.
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
The GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase plays critical roles in plant development and response to stress, but its specific function remains largely unknown in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we investigated the function of TaGSK3, a GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase, in wheat development and response to stress. Our findings demonstrated that TaGSK3 mutants had significant effects on wheat seedling development and brassinosteroid (BR) signalling. Quadruple and quintuple mutants showed amplified BR signalling, promoting seedling development, while a sextuple mutant displayed severe developmental defects but still responded to exogenous BR signals, indicating redundancy and non-BR-related functions of TaGSK3. A gain-of-function mutation in TaGSK3-3D disrupted BR signalling, resulting in compact and dwarf plant architecture. Notably, this mutation conferred significant drought and heat stress resistance of wheat, and enhanced heat tolerance independent of BR signalling, unlike knock-down mutants. Further research revealed that this mutation maintains a higher relative water content by regulating stomatal-mediated water loss and maintains a lower ROS level to reduces cell damage, enabling better growth under stress. Our study provides comprehensive insights into the role of TaGSK3 in wheat development, stress response, and BR signal transduction, offering potential for modifying TaGSK3 to improve agronomic traits and enhance stress resistance in wheat.
PMID: 38557938
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1111/jipb.13662
Autophagy receptor ZmNBR1 promotes the autophagic degradation of ZmBRI1a and enhances drought tolerance in maize.
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China.
Drought stress is a crucial environmental factor that limits plant growth, development, and productivity. Autophagy of misfolded proteins can help alleviate the damage caused in plants experiencing drought. However, the mechanism of autophagy-mediated drought tolerance in plants remains largely unknown. Here, we cloned the gene for a maize (Zea mays) selective autophagy receptor, NEXT TO BRCA1 GENE 1 (ZmNBR1), and identified its role in the response to drought stress. We observed that drought stress increased the accumulation of autophagosomes. RNA sequencing and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that ZmNBR1 is markedly induced by drought stress. ZmNBR1 overexpression enhanced drought tolerance, while its knockdown reduced drought tolerance in maize. Our results established that ZmNBR1 mediates the increase in autophagosomes and autophagic activity under drought stress. ZmNBR1 also affects the expression of genes related to autophagy under drought stress. Moreover, we determined that BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1A (ZmBRI1a), a brassinosteroid receptor of the BRI1-like family, interacts with ZmNBR1. Phenotype analysis showed that ZmBRI1a negatively regulates drought tolerance in maize, and genetic analysis indicated that ZmNBR1 acts upstream of ZmBRI1a in regulating drought tolerance. Furthermore, ZmNBR1 facilitates the autophagic degradation of ZmBRI1a under drought stress. Taken together, our results reveal that ZmNBR1 regulates the expression of autophagy-related genes, thereby increasing autophagic activity and promoting the autophagic degradation of ZmBRI1a under drought stress, thus enhancing drought tolerance in maize. These findings provide new insights into the autophagy degradation of brassinosteroid signaling components by the autophagy receptor NBR1 under drought stress.
PMID: 38607264
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae162
Crosstalk between ROP GTPase signaling and plant hormones.
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, P. R. China.
Rho of Plants (ROPs) constitute a plant-specific subset of small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins within the Cdc42/Rho/Rac family. These versatile proteins regulate diverse cellular processes, including cell growth, cell division, cell morphogenesis, organ development, and stress responses. In recent years, the dynamic cellular and subcellular behaviors orchestrated by ROPs have unveiled a notable connection to hormone-mediated organ development and physiological responses, thereby expanding our knowledge of the functions and regulatory mechanisms of this signaling pathway. This article delineates advancements in understanding the interplay between plant hormones and the ROP signaling cascade, centering primarily on the connections with auxin and abscisic acid pathways, alongside preliminary discoveries in cytokinin, brassinosteroid, and salicylic acid responses. It endeavors to shed light on the intricate, coordinated mechanisms bridging cell-level and tissue-level signals that underlie plant cell behavior, organ development, and physiological processes, and highlight future research prospects and challenges in this rapidly developing field.
PMID: 38616410
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1377352 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1377352
A novel semi-dominant mutation in brassinosteroid signaling kinase1 increases stomatal density.
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.; Department of Biological Chemistry, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.
Stomata play a pivotal role in balancing CO(2) uptake for photosynthesis and water loss via transpiration. Thus, appropriate regulation of stomatal movement and its formation are crucial for plant growth and survival. Red and blue light induce phosphorylation of the C-terminal residue of the plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase, threonine, in guard cells, generating the driving force for stomatal opening. While significant progress has been made in understanding the regulatory mechanism of PM H(+)-ATPase in guard cells, the regulatory components for the phosphorylation of PM H(+)-ATPase have not been fully elucidated. Recently, we established a new immunohistochemical technique for detecting guard-cell PM H(+)-ATPase phosphorylation using leaves, which was expected to facilitate investigations with a single leaf. In this study, we applied the technique to genetic screening experiment to explore novel regulators for the phosphorylation of PM H(+)-ATPase in guard cells, as well as stomatal development. We successfully performed phenotyping using a single leaf. During the experiment, we identified a mutant exhibiting high stomatal density, jozetsu (jzt), named after a Japanese word meaning 'talkative'. We found that a novel semi-dominant mutation in BRASSINOSTEROID SIGNALING KINASE1 (BSK1) is responsible for the phenotype in jzt mutant. The present results demonstrate that the new immunohistochemical technique has a wide range of applications, and the novel mutation would provide genetic tool to expand our understanding of plant development mediated by brassinosteroid signaling.
PMID: 38628368
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae038
Analytical Methods for Brassinosteroid Analysis: Recent Advances and Applications.
Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacky University & Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroidal hormones that play crucial roles in plant growth and development. Accurate quantification of BRs in plant tissues is essential for understanding their biological functions. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the latest methods used for the quantification of BRs in plants. We discuss the principles, advantages, and limitations of various analytical techniques, including immunoassays, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) that are used for the detection and quantification of BRs from complex plant matrices. We also explore the use of isotopically labeled internal standards to improve the accuracy and reliability of BR quantification.
PMID: 38619131
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae037
Multiple roles of brassinosteroid signaling in vascular development.
College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan.; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.; Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones that control growth and stress responses. In the context of development, BRs play diverse roles in controlling cell differentiation and tissue patterning. The vascular system, which is essential for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant body, initially establishes a tissue pattern during primary development and then dramatically increases the number of vascular cells during secondary development. This complex developmental process is properly regulated by a network consisting of various hormonal signalling pathways. Genetic studies have revealed that mutants defective in BR biosynthesis or the BR signalling cascade exhibit a multifaceted vascular development phenotype. Furthermore, BR crosstalk with other plant hormones, including peptide hormones, coordinately regulates vascular development. Recently, the involvement of BR in vascular development, especially in xylem differentiation, has also been suggested in plant species other than the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent findings on the roles of BR in primary and secondary vascular development in Arabidopsis and other species.
PMID: 38590039
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Apr doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae040
Shaping brassinosteroid signaling through scaffold proteins.
Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.; Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium.; College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072 Wuhan, China.
Cellular responses to internal and external stimuli are orchestrated by intricate intracellular signaling pathways. To ensure an efficient and specific information flow, cells employ scaffold proteins as critical signaling organizers. With the ability to bind multiple signaling molecules, scaffold proteins can sequester signaling components within specific subcellular domains or modulate the efficiency of signal transduction. Scaffolds can also tune the output of signaling pathways by serving as regulatory targets. This review focuses on scaffold proteins associated with the plant GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE3-like kinase, BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2) that serve as a key negative regulator of brassinosteroid (BR) signaling. Here we summarize the current understanding of how scaffold proteins actively shape BR signaling outputs and crosstalk in plant cells via interactions with BIN2.
PMID: 38590034
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 May , V342 : P112033 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112033
BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE1 associates with and is required for cysteine protease RESPONSE TO DEHYDRATION 19-mediated disease resistance in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Control of Fujian-Taiwan Crop Pests, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Plant Immunity Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; State Key Laboratory of Ecological Control of Fujian-Taiwan Crop Pests, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Plant Immunity Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China. Electronic address: dztang@fafu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Ecological Control of Fujian-Taiwan Crop Pests, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Plant Immunity Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Key Laboratory of Agro-Biodiversity and Pest Management of Education Ministry of China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China. Electronic address: shihua_2004@163.com.
The receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE1 (BSK1) interacts with pattern recognition receptor (PRR) FLAGELLIN SENSING2 (FLS2) and positively regulates plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the molecular components involved in BSK1-mediated immune signaling remain largely unknown. To further explore the molecular mechanism underlying BSK1-mediated disease resistance, we screened two cysteine proteases, RESPONSE TO DEHYDRATION 19 (RD19) and RD19-LIKE 2 (RDL2), as BSK1-binding partners. Overexpression of RD19, but not RDL2, displayed an autoimmune phenotype, presenting programmed cell death and enhanced resistance to multiple pathogens. Interestingly, RD19-mediated immune activation depends on BSK1, as knockout of BSK1 in RD19-overexpressing plants rescued their autoimmunity and abolished the increased resistance. Furthermore, we found that BSK1 plays a positive role in maintaining RD19 protein abundance in Arabidopsis. Our results provide new insights into BSK1-mediated immune signaling and reveal a potential mechanism by which BSK1 stabilizes RD19 to promote effective immune output.
PMID: 38354753
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Apr , V341 : P112014 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112014
Overexpression of a BR inactivating enzyme gene GhPAG1 impacts eggplant fruit development and anthocyanin accumulation mainly by altering hormone homeostasis.
School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Avenue 100, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of New Germplasm Creation and Utilization for Solanaceous Vegetable Crops, Zhumadian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuqiang Road 51, Zhumadian 463000, China.; Henan Youmei Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd, Zhoukou 466100, China.; Henan Engineering Technology Research Center of New Germplasm Creation and Utilization for Solanaceous Vegetable Crops, Zhumadian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuqiang Road 51, Zhumadian 463000, China. Electronic address: jiangjun2251@163.com.; School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Avenue 100, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China. Electronic address: zhangyanjie@zzu.edu.cn.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) function importantly in plant growth and development, but the roles in regulating fruit development and anthocyanin pigmentation remain unclear. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important Solanaceae vegetable crop rich in anthocyanins. The fruit size and coloration are important agronomic traits for eggplant breeding. In this study, transgenic eggplant exhibiting endogenous BRs deficiency was created by overexpressing a heterologous BRs-inactivating enzyme gene GhPAG1 driven by CaMV 35 S promoter. 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant exhibited severe dwarfism, reduced fruit size, and less anthocyanin accumulation. Microscopic observation showed that the cell size of 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant was significantly reduced compared to WT. Furthermore, the levels of IAA, ME-IAA, and active JAs (JA, JA-ILE, and H2JA) all decreased in 35 S::GhPAG1 eggplant fruit. RNA-Seq analyses showed a decrease in the expression of genes involved in cell elongation, auxin signaling, and JA signaling. Besides, overexpression of GhPAG1 significantly downregulated anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and associated transcription regulators. Altogether, these results strongly suggest that endogenous brassinosteroid deficiency arising from GhPAG1 overexpression impacts eggplant fruit development and anthocyanin coloration mainly by altering hormone homeostasis.
PMID: 38309473
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2024 Apr , V43 (5) : P116 doi: 10.1007/s00299-024-03204-z
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of GmDWF1 brassinosteroid biosynthetic gene induces dwarfism in soybean.
School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, National R&D Center for Se-Rich Agricultural Products Processing Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China.; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China.; Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China. guowei03@caas.cn.; School of Modern Industry for Selenium Science and Engineering, National R&D Center for Se-Rich Agricultural Products Processing Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China. lily7819@whpu.edu.cn.
The study on the GmDWF1-deficient mutant dwf1 showed that GmDWF1 plays a crucial role in determining soybean plant height and yield by influencing the biosynthesis of brassinosteroids. Soybean has not adopted the Green Revolution, such as reduced height for increased planting density, which have proven beneficial for cereal crops. Our research identified the soybean genes GmDWF1a and GmDWF1b, homologous to Arabidopsis AtDWF1, and found that they are widely expressed, especially in leaves, and linked to the cellular transport system, predominantly within the endoplasmic reticulum and intracellular vesicles. These genes are essential for the synthesis of brassinosteroids (BR). Single mutants of GmDWF1a and GmDWF1b, as well as double mutants of both genes generated through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, exhibit a dwarf phenotype. The single-gene mutant exhibits moderate dwarfism, while the double mutant shows more pronounced dwarfism. Despite the reduced stature, all types of mutants preserve their node count. Notably, field tests have shown that the single GmDWF1a mutant produced significantly more pods than wild-type plants. Spraying exogenous brassinolide (BL) can compensate for the loss in plant height induced by the decrease in endogenous BRs. Comparing transcriptome analyses of the GmDWF1a mutant and wild-type plants revealed a significant impact on the expression of many genes that influence soybean growth. Identifying the GmDWF1a and GmDWF1b genes could aid in the development of compact, densely planted soybean varieties, potentially boosting productivity.
PMID: 38622229
Ann Bot , IF:4.357 , 2024 Apr , V133 (3) : P473-482 doi: 10.1093/aob/mcae004
PfPIN5 promotes style elongation by regulating cell length in Primula forbesii Franch.
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources; Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture; College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Style dimorphism is one of the polymorphic characteristics of flowers in heterostylous plants, which have two types of flowers: the pin morph, with long styles and shorter anthers, and the thrum morph, with short styles and longer anthers. The formation of dimorphic styles has received attention in the plant world. Previous studies showed that CYP734A50 in Primula determined style length and limited style elongation and that the brassinosteroid metabolic pathway was involved in regulation of style length. However, it is unknown whether there are other factors affecting the style length of Primula. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes highly expressed in pin morph styles were screened based on Primula forbesii transcriptome data. Virus-induced gene silencing was used to silence these genes, and the style length and anatomical changes were observed 20 days after injection. KEY RESULTS: PfPIN5 was highly expressed in pin morph styles. When PfPIN5 was silenced, the style length was shortened in pin and long-homostyle plants by shortening the length of style cells. Moreover, silencing CYP734A50 in thrum morph plants increased the expression level of PfPIN5 significantly, and the style length increased. The results indicated that PfPIN5, an auxin efflux transporter gene, contributed to regulation of style elongation in P. forbesii. CONCLUSIONS: The results implied that the auxin pathway might also be involved in the formation of styles of P. forbesii, providing a new pathway for elucidating the molecular mechanism of style elongation in P. forbesii.
PMID: 38190350
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Apr , V25 (1) : P362 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10256-8
Cotyledonary somatic embryo is one kind of intermediate material similar to callus in the process of in vitro tissue culture from Rosa hybrida 'John F. Kennedy'.
Analysis and Test Center, Nanyang Normal University, 473061, Nanyang, China.; Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Rose Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Technique, Nanyang Normal University, 473061, Nanyang, China.; College of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, 473061, Nanyang, China.; Henan Province Engineering Research Center of Rose Germplasm Innovation and Cultivation Technique, Nanyang Normal University, 473061, Nanyang, China. dcynysy@163.com.; College of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, 473061, Nanyang, China. dcynysy@163.com.
BACKGROUND: Rose is recognized as an important ornamental plant worldwide, and it is also one of the most widely used flowers in gardens. At present, the improvement of rose traits is still difficult and uncertain, and molecular breeding can provide new ideas for the improvement of modern rose varieties. Somatic embryos are quite good receptors for genetic transformation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying during the regeneration process of rose somatic embryos. To elucidate the molecular regulation mechanism of somatic embryo plantlet regeneration, the relationship between the differences in traits of the two different regenerated materials and the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to phytohormone pathways in the process of regeneration were be investigated. RESULTS: These representative two regenerated samples from single-piece cotyledonary somatic embryo (SPC) culture of Rosa hybrida 'John F. Kennedy', were harvested for transcriptome analysis, with the SPC explants at the initial culture (Day 0) as the control. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the materials from two different types for regeneration approach (SBF type: the regeneration approach type of single bud formed from SPC explants; MBF type: the regeneration approach type of multiple buds formed from SPC explants) were be screened by means of the transcriptome sequencing technology. In this study, a total of about 396.24 million clean reads were obtained, of which 78.95-82.92% were localized to the reference genome, compared with the initial material (CK sample), there were 5594 specific genes in the material of SBF type and 6142 specific genes in the MBF type. The DEGs from the SBF type material were mainly concentrated in the biological processes of GO terms such as phytohormones, substance transport, cell differentiation, and redox reaction. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed these DEGs were more active in ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, fatty acid elongation, steroid biosynthesis, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-globo and isoglobo series. In contrast, the DEGs induced by the MBF type material were mainly associated with the biological processes such as phytohormones, phosphorylation, photosynthesis and signal transduction. According to KEGG analysis, these DEGs of MBF type were significantly enriched in the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, and peroxisome. Furthermore, the results from the phytohormone pathways analysis showed that the auxin-responsive factor SAUR and the cell wall modifying enzyme gene XTH were upregulated for expression but the protein phosphatase gene PP2C was downregulated for expression in SBF type; the higher expression of the ethylene receptor ETR, the ethylene transduction genes EBF1/2, the transcription factor EIN3, and the ethylene-responsive transcription factor ERF1/2 were induced by MBF type. CONCLUSIONS: According to the GO and KEGG analysis, it indicated the DEGs between two different regenerated materials from somatic embryos were significantly different which might be causing morphological differences. That was somatic embryos from Rosa hybrida 'John F. Kennedy' could regenerate plantlet via both classic somatic embryogenesis (seed-like germination) and organogenesis, cotyledonary somatic embryos should be considered as one kind of intermediate materials similiar to callus, rather than the indicator materials for somatic embryogenesis.
PMID: 38609856
Gene , IF:3.688 , 2024 Jun , V910 : P148336 doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148336
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the Dof gene family reveals their involvement in hormone response and abiotic stresses in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China.; School of Life Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China.; Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China. Electronic address: tznius@126.com.; Department of Life Sciences, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, China. Electronic address: akeliu@126.com.
DNA binding with one finger (Dof), plant-specific zinc finger transcription factors, can participate in various physiological and biochemical processes during the life of plants. As one of the most important oil crops in the world, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has significant economic and ornamental value. However, a systematic analysis of H. annuus Dof (HaDof) members and their functions has not been extensively conducted. In this study, we identified 50 HaDof genes that are unevenly distributed on 17 chromosomes of sunflower. We present a comprehensive overview of the HaDof genes, including their chromosome locations, phylogenetic analysis, and expression profile characterization. Phylogenetic analysis classified the 366 Dof members identified from 11 species into four groups (further subdivided into nine subfamilies). Segmental duplications are predominantly contributed to the expansion of sunflower Dof genes, and all segmental duplicate gene pairs are under purifying selection due to strong evolutionary constraints. Furthermore, we observed differential expression patterns for HaDof genes in normal tissues as well as under hormone treatment or abiotic stress conditions by analyzing RNA-seq data from previous studies and RT-qPCR data in our current study. The expression of HaDof04 and HaDof43 were not detected in any samples, which implied that they may be gradually undergoing pseudogenization process. Some HaDof genes, such as HaDof25 and HaDof30, showed responsiveness to exogenous plant hormones, such as kinetin, brassinosteroid, auxin or strigolactone, while others like HaDof15 and HaDof35 may participate in abiotic stress resistance of sunflower seedling. Our study represents the initial step towards understanding the phylogeny and expression characterization of sunflower Dof family genes, which may provide valuable reference information for functional studies on hormone response, abiotic stress resistance, and molecular breeding in sunflower and other species.
PMID: 38447680
Biochem Biophys Res Commun , IF:3.575 , 2024 May , V710 : P149871 doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149871
Association mechanism between Arabidopsis immune coreceptor BAK1 and Pseudomonas syringae effector HopF2.
State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory for Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.; State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory for Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. Electronic address: wdl@cau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory for Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. Electronic address: jliu@cau.edu.cn.
Brassinosteroid activated kinase 1 (BAK1) is a cell-surface coreceptor which plays multiple roles in innate immunity of plants. HopF2 is an effector secreted by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 into Arabidopsis and suppresses host immune system through interaction with BAK1 as well as its downstream kinase MKK5. The association mechanism of HopF2 to BAK1 remains unclear, which prohibits our understanding and subsequent interfering of their interaction for pathogen management. Herein, we found the kinase domain of BAK1 (BAK1-KD) is sufficient for HopF2 association. With a combination of hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and mutational assays, we found a region of BAK1-KD N-lobe and a region of HopF2 head subdomain are critical for intermolecular interaction, which is also supported by unbiased protein-protein docking with ClusPro and kinase activity assay. Collectively, this research presents the interaction mechanism between Arabidopsis BAK1 and P. syringae HopF2, which could pave the way for bactericide development that blocking the functioning of HopF2 toward BAK1.
PMID: 38579538
Plant Commun , 2024 Apr , V5 (4) : P100790 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100790
Heat stress impairs floral meristem termination and fruit development by affecting the BR-SlCRCa cascade in tomato.
College of Horticulture, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.; Department of Plant Bio-Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka 020-8550, Japan; United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Morioka 020-8550, Japan.; College of Horticulture, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China. Electronic address: wus@fafu.edu.cn.
Floral meristem termination is a key step leading to carpel initiation and fruit development. The frequent occurrence of heat stress due to global warming often disrupts floral determinacy, resulting in defective fruit formation. However, the detailed mechanism behind this phenomenon is largely unknown. Here, we identify CRABS CLAW a (SlCRCa) as a key regulator of floral meristem termination in tomato. SlCRCa functions as an indispensable floral meristem terminator by suppressing SlWUS activity through the TOMATO AGAMOUS 1 (TAG1)-KNUCKLES (SlKNU)-INHIBITOR OF MERISTEM ACTIVITY (SlIMA) network. A direct binding assay revealed that SlCRCa specifically binds to the promoter and second intron of WUSCHEL (SlWUS). We also demonstrate that SlCRCa expression depends on brassinosteroid homeostasis in the floral meristem, which is repressed by heat stress via the circadian factor EARLY FLOWERING 3 (SlELF3). These results provide new insights into floral meristem termination and the heat stress response in flowers and fruits of tomato and suggest that SlCRCa provides a platform for multiple protein interactions that may epigenetically abrogate stem cell activity at the transition from floral meristem to carpel initiation.
PMID: 38168638