Nature , IF:49.962 , 2024 Jun doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07669-6
Maize smart-canopy architecture enhances yield at high densities.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Maize Research Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), Shuguang garden middle road No.9, Beijing, China.; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; National Maize Improvement Center of China, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Hainan Aoyu Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Sanya, China.; Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.; 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, Beijing, China.; Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Weifang, Weifang, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. jigangli@cau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. ft55@cau.edu.cn.; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China. ft55@cau.edu.cn.
Increasing planting density is a key strategy to enhance maize yields(1-3). An ideotype for dense planting requires a 'smart canopy' with leaf angles at different canopy layers differentially optimized to maximize light interception and photosynthesis(4-6), amongst other features. Here, we identified leaf angle architecture of smart canopy 1 (lac1), a natural mutant possessing upright upper leaves, less erect middle leaves and relatively flat lower leaves. lac1 has improved photosynthetic capacity and weakened shade-avoidance responses under dense planting. lac1 encodes a brassinosteroid C-22 hydroxylase that predominantly regulates upper leaf angle. Phytochrome A photoreceptors accumulate in shade and interact with the transcription factor RAVL1 to promote its degradation via the 26S proteasome, thereby attenuating RAVL1 activation of lac1 and reducing brassinosteroid levels. This ultimately decreases upper leaf angle in dense fields. Large-scale field trials demonstrate lac1 boosts maize yields under high densities. To quickly introduce lac1 into breeding germplasm, we transformed a haploid inducer and recovered homozygous lac1 edits from 20 diverse inbred lines. The tested doubled haploids uniformly acquired smart-canopy-like plant architecture. We provide an important target and an accelerated strategy for developing high-density-tolerant cultivars, with lac1 serving as a genetic chassis for further engineering of a smart canopy in maize.
PMID: 38866052
Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Jun , V15 (1) : P5081 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49377-9
Hydrogen peroxide is required for light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.
The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.; School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250358, Shandong, China.; College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.; The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China. hanchao@sdu.edu.cn.
Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is required for light-induced stomatal opening. H(2)O(2) accumulates specifically in guard cells even when plants are under unstressed conditions. Reducing H(2)O(2) content through chemical treatments or genetic manipulations results in impaired stomatal opening in response to light. This phenomenon is observed across different plant species, including lycopodium, fern, and monocotyledonous wheat. Additionally, we show that H(2)O(2) induces the nuclear localization of KIN10 protein, the catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1. The nuclear-localized KIN10 interacts with and phosphorylates the bZIP transcription factor bZIP30, leading to the formation of a heterodimer between bZIP30 and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (BZR1), the master regulator of brassinosteroid signaling. This heterodimer complex activates the expression of amylase, which enables guard cell starch degradation and promotes stomatal opening. Overall, these findings suggest that H(2)O(2) plays a critical role in light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.
PMID: 38876991
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 May doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae163
The Brassinosteroid Receptor StBRI1 Promotes Tuber Development by Enhancing Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase Activity in Potato.
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.; Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, China.; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Yangling 712100, China.
The brassinosteroid (BR) receptor BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) plays a critical role in plant growth and development. Although much is known about how BR signaling regulates growth and development in many crop species, the role of StBRI1 in regulating potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber development is not well understood. To address this question, a series of comprehensive genetic and biochemical methods were applied in this investigation. It was determined that StBRI1 and Solanum tuberosum PLASMA MEMBRANE (PM) PROTON ATPASE2 (PHA2), a PM-localized proton ATPase, play important roles in potato tuber development. The individual overexpression of StBRI1 and PHA2 led to a 22% and 25% increase in tuber yield per plant, respectively. Consistent with the genetic evidence, in vivo interaction analysis using double transgenic lines and PM H+-ATPase activity assays indicated that StBRI1 interacts with the C-terminus of PHA2, which restrains the intramolecular interaction of the PHA2 C-terminus with the PHA2 central loop to attenuate autoinhibition of PM H+-ATPase activity, resulting in increased PHA2 activity. Furthermore, the extent of PM H+-ATPase autoinhibition involving phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms corresponds to phosphorylation of the penultimate Thr residue (Thr-951) in PHA2. These results suggest that StBRI1 phosphorylates PHA2 and enhances its activity, which subsequently promotes tuber development. Altogether, our results uncover a BR-StBRI1-PHA2 module that regulates tuber development and suggest a prospective strategy for improving tuberous crop growth and increasing yield via the cell surface-based BR signaling pathway.
PMID: 38819320
Curr Biol , IF:10.834 , 2024 Jun doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.057
A multifaceted kinase axis regulates plant organ abscission through conserved signaling mechanisms.
Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: s.galindo.trigo@gmail.com.; Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Biochemistry, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands.; Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN Sheffield, UK.; University of Tuebingen, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.; Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: m.a.butenko@ibv.uio.no.
Plants have evolved mechanisms to abscise organs as they develop or when exposed to unfavorable conditions.(1) Uncontrolled abscission of petals, fruits, or leaves can impair agricultural productivity.(2)(,)(3)(,)(4)(,)(5) Despite its importance for abscission progression, our understanding of the IDA signaling pathway and its regulation remains incomplete. IDA is secreted to the apoplast, where it is perceived by the receptors HAESA (HAE) and HAESA-LIKE2 (HSL2) and somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase (SERK) co-receptors.(6)(,)(7)(,)(8)(,)(9) These plasma membrane receptors activate an intracellular cascade of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) by an unknown mechanism.(10)(,)(11)(,)(12) Here, we characterize brassinosteroid signaling kinases (BSKs) as regulators of floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis. BSK1 localizes to the plasma membrane of abscission zone cells, where it interacts with HAESA receptors to regulate abscission. Furthermore, we demonstrate that YODA (YDA) has a leading role among other MAPKKKs in controlling abscission downstream of the HAESA/BSK complex. This kinase axis, comprising a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase, a BSK, and an MAPKKK, is known to regulate stomatal patterning, early embryo development, and immunity.(10)(,)(13)(,)(14)(,)(15)(,)(16) How specific cellular responses are obtained despite signaling through common effectors is not well understood. We show that the identified abscission-promoting allele of BSK1 also enhances receptor signaling in other BSK-mediated pathways, suggesting conservation of signaling mechanisms. Furthermore, we provide genetic evidence supporting independence of BSK1 function from its kinase activity in several developmental processes. Together, our findings suggest that BSK1 facilitates signaling between plasma membrane receptor kinases and MAPKKKs via conserved mechanisms across multiple facets of plant development.
PMID: 38917797
J Hazard Mater , IF:10.588 , 2024 Jul , V473 : P134625 doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134625
The role of OsBZR4 as a brassinosteroid-signaling component in mediating atrazine and isoproturon degradation in rice.
Research Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences & Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Fruits and Vegetables in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: suxiangning@gdppri.com.; Research Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences & Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Fruits and Vegetables in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, China.; Institute of Agricultural Facilities and Equipment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.; Research Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences & Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Fruits and Vegetables in South China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs & Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: zhangyp@gdppri.cn.
Development of a biotechnological system for rapid degradation of pesticides is important to mitigate the environmental, food security, and health risks that they pose. Degradation of atrazine (ATZ) and isoproturon (IPU) in rice crops promoted by the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling component BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT4 (OsBZR4) is explored. OsBZR4 is localized in the plasma membrane and nucleus, and is strongly induced by ATZ and IPU exposure. Transgenic rice OsBZR4-overexpression (OE) significantly enhances resistance to ATZ and IPU toxicity, improving growth, and reducing ATZ and IPU accumulation (particularly in grains) in rice crops. Genetic destruction of OsBZR4 (CRISPR/Cas9) increases rice sensitivity and leads to increased accumulation of ATZ and IPU. OE plants promote phase I, II, and III metabolic reactions, and expression of corresponding pesticide degradation genes under ATZ and IPU stress. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis reveals increased relative contents of ATZ and IPU metabolites and conjugates in OE plants, suggesting an increased OsBZR4 expression and consequent detoxification of ATZ and IPU in rice and the environment. The role of OsBZR4 in pesticide degradation is revealed, and its potential application in enhancing plant resistance to pesticides, and facilitating the breakdown of pesticides in rice and the environment, is discussed.
PMID: 38759408
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Jun doi: 10.1111/nph.19903
The lncRNA1-miR6288b-3p-PpTCP4-PpD2 module regulates peach branch number by affecting brassinosteroid biosynthesis.
College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, 218 Pingan Road, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.; Henan Engineering and Technology Center for Peach Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.; Henan Provincial International Joint Laboratory of Horticultural Crops, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.; College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, 218 Pingan Road, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Branch number is one of the most important agronomic traits of fruit trees such as peach. Little is known about how LncRNA and/or miRNA modules regulate branching through transcription factors. Here, we used molecular and genetic tools to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying brassinosteroid (BR) altering plant branching. We found that the number of sylleptic branch and BR content in pillar peach ('Zhaoshouhong') was lower than those of standard type ('Okubo'), and exogenous BR application could significantly promote branching. PpTCP4 expressed great differentially comparing 'Zhaoshouhong' with 'Okubo'. PpTCP4 could directly bind to DWARF2 (PpD2) and inhibited its expression. PpD2 was the only one differentially expressed key gene in the path of BR biosynthesis. At the same time, PpTCP4 was identified as a target of miR6288b-3p. LncRNA1 could act as the endogenous target mimic of miR6288b-3p and repress expression of miR6288b-3p. Three deletions and five SNP sites of lncRNA1 promoter were found in 'Zhaoshouhong', which was an important cause of different mRNA level of PpTCP4 and BR content. Moreover, overexpressed PpTCP4 significantly inhibited branching. A novel mechanism in which the lncRNA1-miR6288b-3p-PpTCP4-PpD2 module regulates peach branching number was proposed.
PMID: 38872462
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2024 Jul , V22 (7) : P1989-2006 doi: 10.1111/pbi.14319
The TaSnRK1-TabHLH489 module integrates brassinosteroid and sugar signalling to regulate the grain length in bread wheat.
The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.; State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; Crop Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), JIC-CAS, Beijing, China.
Regulation of grain size is a crucial strategy for improving the crop yield and is also a fundamental aspect of developmental biology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms governing grain development in wheat remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a wheat atypical basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, TabHLH489, which is tightly associated with grain length through genome-wide association study and map-based cloning. Knockout of TabHLH489 and its homologous genes resulted in increased grain length and weight, whereas the overexpression led to decreased grain length and weight. TaSnRK1alpha1, the alpha-catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1, interacted with and phosphorylated TabHLH489 to induce its degradation, thereby promoting wheat grain development. Sugar treatment induced TaSnRK1alpha1 protein accumulation while reducing TabHLH489 protein levels. Moreover, brassinosteroid (BR) promotes grain development by decreasing TabHLH489 expression through the transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (BZR1). Importantly, natural variations in the promoter region of TabHLH489 affect the TaBZR1 binding ability, thereby influencing TabHLH489 expression. Taken together, our findings reveal that the TaSnRK1alpha1-TabHLH489 regulatory module integrates BR and sugar signalling to regulate grain length, presenting potential targets for enhancing grain size in wheat.
PMID: 38412139
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Jun , V195 (3) : P2389-2405 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae191
BRZ-INSENSITIVE-LONG HYPOCOTYL8 inhibits kinase-mediated phosphorylation to regulate brassinosteroid signaling.
Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.; Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.; School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan.; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, 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
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 May , V195 (2) : P1106-1107 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae092
One more role for the brassinosteroid regulators: BZR1 and BES1 inhibit stomatal development in Arabidopsis cotyledons.
Assistant Features Editor, Plant Physiology, American Society of Plant Biologists.; School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
PMID: 38378164
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 May , V195 (2) : P1382-1400 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae068
Brassinosteroid regulates stomatal development in etiolated Arabidopsis cotyledons via transcription factors BZR1 and BES1.
School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 00000, China.; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China.; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei, China.; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, Guangdong, China.; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are phytohormones that regulate stomatal development. In this study, we report that BR represses stomatal development in etiolated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cotyledons via transcription factors BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) and bri1-EMS SUPPRESSOR1 (BES1), which directly target MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASE 9 (MKK9) and FAMA, 2 important genes for stomatal development. BZR1/BES1 bind MKK9 and FAMA promoters in vitro and in vivo, and mutation of the BZR1/BES1 binding motif in MKK9/FAMA promoters abolishes their transcription regulation by BZR1/BES1 in plants. Expression of a constitutively active MKK9 (MKK9DD) suppressed overproduction of stomata induced by BR deficiency, while expression of a constitutively inactive MKK9 (MKK9KR) induced high-density stomata in bzr1-1D. In addition, bzr-h, a sextuple mutant of the BZR1 family of proteins, produced overabundant stomata, and the dominant bzr1-1D and bes1-D mutants effectively suppressed the stomata-overproducing phenotype of brassinosteroid insensitive 1-116 (bri1-116) and brassinosteroid insensitive 2-1 (bin2-1). In conclusion, our results revealed important roles of BZR1/BES1 in stomatal development, and their transcriptional regulation of MKK9 and FAMA expression may contribute to BR-regulated stomatal development in etiolated Arabidopsis cotyledons.
PMID: 38345866
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 Jul , V47 (7) : P2443-2458 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 Jun , V66 (6) : P1068-1086 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
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2024 Jun , V273 (Pt 1) : P133084 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133084
SERK3A and SERK3B could be S-nitrosylated and enhance the salt resistance in tomato seedlings.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, 1 Yinmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China; Spice Crops Research Institute, College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, 1 Yinmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China.; College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, 100 East University Road, Xixiangtang District, Nanning 530004, China.; Spice Crops Research Institute, College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, 1 Yinmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou 730070, China. Electronic address: liaowb@gsau.edu.cn.
Salinity hinders plant growth and development, resulting in reduced crop yields and diminished crop quality. Nitric oxide (NO) and brassinolides (BR) are plant growth regulators that coordinate a plethora of plant physiological responses. Nonetheless, the way in which these factors interact to affect salt tolerance is not well understood. BR is perceived by the BR receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and its co-receptor BRI1-associated kinase 1 (BAK1) to form the receptor complex, eventually inducing BR-regulated responses. To response stress, a wide range of NO-mediated protein modifications is undergone in eukaryotic cells. Here, we showed that BR participated in NO-enhanced salt tolerance of tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) and NO may activate BR signaling under salt stress, which was related to NO-mediated S-nitrosylation. Further, in vitro and in vivo results suggested that BAK1 (SERK3A and SERK3B) was S-nitrosylated, which was inhibited under salt condition and enhanced by NO. Accordingly, knockdown of SERK3A and SERK3B reduced the S-nitrosylation of BAK1 and resulted in a compromised BR response, thereby abolishing NO-induced salt tolerance. Besides, we provided evidence for the interaction between BRI1 and SERK3A/SERK3B. Meanwhile, NO enhanced BRI1-SERK3A/SERK3B interaction. These results imply that NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of BAK1 enhances the interaction BRI1-BAK1, facilitating BR response and subsequently improving salt tolerance in tomato. Our findings illustrate a mechanism by which redox signaling and BR signaling coordinate plant growth in response to abiotic stress.
PMID: 38871104
Hortic Res , IF:6.793 , 2024 Jun , V11 (6) : Puhae104 doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae104
BoaBZR1.1 mediates brassinosteroid-induced carotenoid biosynthesis in Chinese kale.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.; Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8820000, Metropolitan Region, Chile.; State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, 300192, China.; Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, 300192, China.; College of Biology and Agriculture Technology, Zunyi Normal University, Zunyi 563000, China.; Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Brassinazole resistant 1 (BZR1), a brassinosteroid (BR) signaling component, plays a pivotal role in regulating numerous specific developmental processes. Our study demonstrated that exogenous treatment with 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) significantly enhanced the accumulation of carotenoids and chlorophylls in Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). The underlying mechanism was deciphered through yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase (LUC) assays, whereby BoaBZR1.1 directly interacts with the promoters of BoaCRTISO and BoaPSY2, activating their expression. This effect was further validated through overexpression of BoaBZR1.1 in Chinese kale calli and plants, both of which exhibited increased carotenoid accumulation. Additionally, qPCR analysis unveiled upregulation of carotenoid and chlorophyll biosynthetic genes in the T1 generation of BoaBZR1.1-overexpressing plants. These findings underscored the significance of BoaBZR1.1-mediated BR signaling in regulating carotenoid accumulation in Chinese kale and suggested the potential for enhancing the nutritional quality of Chinese kale through genetic engineering of BoaBZR1.1.
PMID: 38883328
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2024 Jun doi: 10.1111/tpj.16855
A multifaceted crosstalk between brassinosteroid and gibberellin regulates the resistance of cucumber to Phytophthora melonis.
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
Cucumber plants are highly susceptible to the hemibiotroph oomycete Phytophthora melonis. However, the mechanism of resistance to cucumber blight remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that cucumber plants with impairment in the biosynthesis of brassinosteroids (BRs) or gibberellins (GAs) were more susceptible to P. melonis. By contrast, increasing levels of endogenous BRs or exogenously application of 24-epibrassinolide enhanced the resistance of cucumber plants against P. melonis. Furthermore, we found that both knockout and overexpression of the BR biosynthesis gene CYP85A1 reduced the endogenous GA(3) content compared with that of wild-type plants under the condition of inoculation with P. melonis, and the enhancement of disease resistance conferred by BR was inhibited in plants with silencing of the GA biosynthetic gene GA20ox1 or KAO. Together, these findings suggest that GA homeostasis is an essential factor mediating BRs-induced disease resistance. Moreover, BZR6, a key regulator of BR signaling, was found to physically interact with GA20ox1, thereby suppressing its transcription. Silencing of BZR6 promoted endogenous GA biosynthesis and compromised GA-mediated resistance. These findings reveal multifaceted crosstalk between BR and GA in response to pathogen infection, which can provide a new approach for genetically controlling P. melonis damage in cucumber production.
PMID: 38829920
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 Jun , V25 (11) doi: 10.3390/ijms25116150
The Mechanism of Exogenous Salicylic Acid and 6-Benzylaminopurine Regulating the Elongation of Maize Mesocotyl.
College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.; Gansu Key Laboratory of Crop Improvement & Germplasm Enhancement, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
The elongation of the mesocotyl plays an important role in the emergence of maize deep-sowing seeds. This study was designed to explore the function of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) in the growth of the maize mesocotyl and to examine its regulatory network. The results showed that the addition of 0.25 mmol/L exogenous SA promoted the elongation of maize mesocotyls under both 3 cm and 15 cm deep-sowing conditions. Conversely, the addition of 10 mg/L exogenous 6-BA inhibited the elongation of maize mesocotyls. Interestingly, the combined treatment of exogenous SA-6-BA also inhibited the elongation of maize mesocotyls. The longitudinal elongation of mesocotyl cells was the main reason affecting the elongation of maize mesocotyls. Transcriptome analysis showed that exogenous SA and 6-BA may interact in the hormone signaling regulatory network of mesocotyl elongation. The differential expression of genes related to auxin (IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), brassinosteroid (BR), cytokinin (CTK) and SA signaling pathways may be related to the regulation of exogenous SA and 6-BA on the growth of mesocotyls. In addition, five candidate genes that may regulate the length of mesocotyls were screened by Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). These genes may be involved in the growth of maize mesocotyls through auxin-activated signaling pathways, transmembrane transport, methylation and redox processes. The results enhance our understanding of the plant hormone regulation of mesocotyl growth, which will help to further explore and identify the key genes affecting mesocotyl growth in plant hormone signaling regulatory networks.
PMID: 38892338
Int J Mol Sci , IF:5.923 , 2024 May , V25 (11) doi: 10.3390/ijms25116010
Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation of Winter Oilseed Rape, with Special Attention Being Paid to the Role of Brassinosteroids.
The Franciszek Gorski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Krakow, Poland.; Department of Plant Breeding, Physiology and Seed Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Economics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Podluzna 3, 30-239 Krakow, Poland.; Institute of Biology and Earth Sciences, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland.; Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science and Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Winter plants acclimate to frost mainly during the autumn months, through the process of cold acclimation. Global climate change is causing changes in weather patterns such as the occurrence of warmer periods during late autumn or in winter. An increase in temperature after cold acclimation can decrease frost tolerance, which is particularly dangerous for winter crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of brassinosteroids (BRs) and BR analogues as protective agents against the negative results of deacclimation. Plants were cold-acclimated (3 weeks, 4 degrees C) and deacclimated (1 week, 16/9 degrees C d/n). Deacclimation generally reversed the cold-induced changes in the level of the putative brassinosteroid receptor protein (BRI1), the expression of BR-induced COR, and the expression of SERK1, which is involved in BR signal transduction. The deacclimation-induced decrease in frost tolerance in oilseed rape could to some extent be limited by applying steroid regulators. The deacclimation in plants could be detected using non-invasive measurements such as leaf reflectance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and gas exchange monitoring.
PMID: 38892204
Theor Appl Genet , IF:5.699 , 2024 Jun , V137 (6) : P145 doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04657-2
Major quantitative trait locus qLA3.1 is related to tomato leaf angle by regulating cell length at the petiole base.
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China.; College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street 2888, Changchun, 130118, China.; College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China. 2017500022@syau.edu.cn.; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Education Ministry, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China. 2017500022@syau.edu.cn.; College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China. jiangj_syau@syau.edu.cn.; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture of Education Ministry, Shenyang, 110866, Liaoning, China. jiangj_syau@syau.edu.cn.
qLA3.1, controlling leaf angle in tomato, was fine-mapped to an interval of 4.45 kb on chromosome A03, and one gene encoding auxin response factor was identified as a candidate gene. Leaf angle is a crucial trait in plant architecture that plays an important role in achieving optimal plant structure. However, there are limited reports on gene localization, cloning, and the function of plant architecture in horticultural crops, particularly regarding leaf angle. In this study, we selected 'Z3' with erect leaves and 'Heinz1706' with horizontal leaves as the phenotype and cytological observation. We combined bulked segregant analysis and fine genetic mapping to identify a candidate gene, known as, i.e., qLA3.1, which was related to tomato leaf angle. Through multiple analyses, we found that Solyc03g113410 was the most probably candidate for qLA3.1, which encoded the auxin response factor SlARF11 in tomato and was homologous to OsARF11 related to leaf angle in rice. We discovered that silencing SlARF11 resulted in upright leaves, while plants with over-expressed SlARF11 exhibited horizontal leaves. We also found that cultivars with erect leaves had a mutation from base G to base A. Moreover, quantitative analysis of plants treated with hormones indicated that SlARF11 might participate in cell elongation and the activation of genes related to auxin and brassinosteroid pathways. Transcriptome analysis further validated that SlARF11 may regulate leaf angle through hormone signaling pathways. These data support the idea that the auxin response factor SlARF11 may have an important function in tomato leaf petiole angles.
PMID: 38822827
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Jun doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae066
Post-translational Regulation of BRI1-EMS Suppressor 1 and Brassinazole-resistant 1.
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
BRI1-EMS Suppressor 1 (BES1) and Brassinazole resistant 1 (BZR1) are two highly similar master transcription factors of the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway that regulate a variety of plant growth and development processes as well as stress responses. Previous genetic and biochemical analyses have established a complex regulatory network to control the two transcription factors. This network includes coordination with other transcription factors and interactors, multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs), and differential subcellular localizations. In this review, we systematically detail the functions and regulatory mechanisms of various PTMs: phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, ubiquitination/deubiquitination, SUMOylation/deSUMOylation, oxidation/reduction, in regulating the subcellular localization, protein stability, and the transcriptional activity of BES1/BZR1. We also discuss the current knowledge about the BES1/BZR1-interactors mediating the dynamic nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of BES1 and BZR1.
PMID: 38896040
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Jun , V24 (1) : P610 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05318-8
Whole-genome landscape of histone H3K4me3 modification during sperm cell lineage development in tomato.
Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.; College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China. ltliu@ibcas.ac.cn.; China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China. ltliu@ibcas.ac.cn.
BACKGROUND: During male gametogenesis of flowering plants, sperm cell lineage (microspores, generative cells, and sperm cells) differentiated from somatic cells and acquired different cell fates. Trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 4 (H3K4me3) epigenetically contributes to this process, however, it remained unclear how H3K4me3 influences the gene expression in each cell type. Here, we conducted chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to obtain a genome-wide landscape of H3K4me3 during sperm cell lineage development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). RESULTS: We show that H3K4me3 peaks were mainly enriched in the promoter regions, and intergenic H3K4me3 peaks expanded as sperm cell lineage differentiated from somatic cells. H3K4me3 was generally positively associated with transcript abundance and served as a better indicator of gene expression in somatic and vegetative cells, compared to sperm cell lineage. H3K4me3 was mutually exclusive with DNA methylation at 3' proximal of the transcription start sites. The microspore maintained the H3K4me3 features of somatic cells, while generative cells and sperm cells shared an almost identical H3K4me3 pattern which differed from that of the vegetative cell. After microspore division, significant loss of H3K4me3 in genes related to brassinosteroid and cytokinin signaling was observed in generative cells and vegetative cells, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the asymmetric division of the microspore significantly reshapes the genome-wide distribution of H3K4me3. Selective loss of H3K4me3 in genes related to hormone signaling may contribute to functional differentiation of sperm cell lineage. This work provides new resource data for the epigenetic studies of gametogenesis in plants.
PMID: 38926660
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Jun , V24 (1) : P551 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05263-6
Transcriptomics analyses reveal the key genes involved in stamen petaloid formation in Alcea rosea L.
College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.; College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China. jiayin_cn@163.com.
Alcea rosea L. is a traditional flower with a long cultivation history. It is extensively cultivated in China and is widely planted in green belt parks or used as cut flowers and potted ornamental because of its rich colors and flower shapes. Double-petal A. rosea flowers have a higher aesthetic value compared to single-petal flowers, a phenomenon determined by stamen petaloid. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon is still very unclear. In this study, an RNA-based comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed between the normal petal and stamen petaloid petal of A. rosea. A total of 3,212 differential expressed genes (DEGs), including 2,620 up-regulated DEGs and 592 down-regulated DEGs, were identified from 206,188 unigenes. Numerous DEGs associated with stamen petaloid were identified through GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Notably, there were 63 DEGs involved in the plant hormone synthesis and signal transduction, including auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid signaling pathway and 56 key transcription factors (TFs), such as MADS-box, bHLH, GRAS, and HSF. The identification of these DEGs provides an important clue for studying the regulation pathway and mechanism of stamen petaloid formation in A. rosea and provides valuable information for molecular plant breeding.
PMID: 38877392
Plant Reprod , IF:3.767 , 2024 Jun , V37 (2) : P171-178 doi: 10.1007/s00497-023-00485-4
Factors specifying sex determination in maize.
Laboratorio Nacional de Genomica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Unidad de Genomica Avanzada, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), 36821, Irapuato, Mexico.; Laboratorio Nacional de Genomica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Unidad de Genomica Avanzada, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), 36821, Irapuato, Mexico. jazmin.abraham@cinvestav.mx.
Plant architecture is an important feature for agronomic performance in crops. In maize, which is a monoecious plant, separation of floral organs to produce specific gametes has been studied from different perspectives including genetic, biochemical and physiological. Maize mutants affected in floral organ development have been key to identifying genes, hormones and other factors like miRNAs important for sex determination. In this review, we describe floral organ formation in maize, representative mutants and genes identified with a function in establishing sexual identity either classified as feminizing or masculinizing, and its relationship with hormones associated with sexual organ identity as jasmonic acid, brassinosteroid and gibberellin. Finally, we discuss the challenges and scopes of future research in maize sex determination.
PMID: 37966579
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 Sep , V723 : P150222 doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150222
Brassinosteroid-signaling kinase ZmBSK7 enhances salt stress tolerance in maize.
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; 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. Electronic address: ayzhang@njau.edu.cn.
Salinity has become a crucial environmental factor that restricts plant growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which plants react to salt stress remain inadequately comprehended. In this study, we identified maize brassinosteroid-signaling kinase gene ZmBSK7 which is homologous to AtBSK1. Our results showed that ZmBSK7 is induced by salt stress and ZmBSK7 localizes in the plasma membrane. ZmBSK7 overexpression increases salt tolerance, while its knockdown decreases salt tolerance in maize. ZmBSK7 reduces the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the percentage of electrolyte leakage, and also elevates the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, ZmBSK7 promotes K(+) content accumulation and reduces Na(+)/K(+) ratio. Further found that ZmBSK7 physically interacts with K(+) efflux antiporter 2 (ZmKEA2) in vivo and in vitro. Salt stress also increased the expression of ZmKEA2. Thus, ZmBSK7 improves salt tolerance in maize by affecting ZmKEA2 expression to promote K(+) content accumulation and reduce Na(+)/K(+) ratio. This study enhances the comprehension of BSK proteins and establishes a theoretical foundation for investigating salt stress tolerance in plants.
PMID: 38850813
PLoS One , IF:3.24 , 2024 , V19 (6) : Pe0305867 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305867
Transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the mechanism of metabolites changes in Cymbidium tortisepalum var. longibracteatum colour mutation cultivars.
Institute of Horticulture, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Science, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.; Department of Technology Management, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Science, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
BACKGROUND: Foliage color is considered an important ornamental character of Cymbidium tortisepalum (C. tortisepalum), which significantly improves its horticultural and economic value. However, little is understood on the formation mechanism underlying foliage-color variations. METHODS: In this study, we applied a multi-omics approach based on transcriptomics and metabolomics, to investigate the biomolecule mechanisms of metabolites changes in C. tortisepalum colour mutation cultivars. RESULTS: A total of 508 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wild and foliage colour mutation C. tortisepalum cultivars based on transcriptomic data. KEGG enrichment of DEGs showed that genes involved in phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis and brassinosteroid biosynthesis were most significantly enriched. A total of 420 metabolites were identified in C. tortisepalum using UPLC-MS/MS-based approach and 115 metabolites differentially produced by the mutation cultivars were identified. KEGG enrichment indicated that the most metabolites differentially produced by the mutation cultivars were involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, isoflavonoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Integrated analysis of the metabolomic and transcriptomic data showed that there were four significant enrichment pathways between the two cultivars, including phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed the mechanism of metabolites changes in C. tortisepalum foliage colour mutation cultivars, which provides a new reference for breeders to improve the foliage color of C. tortisepalum.
PMID: 38917064
Plant Commun , 2024 Jun , V5 (6) : P100849 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100849
The protein phosphatase qGL3/OsPPKL1 self-regulates its degradation to orchestrate brassinosteroid signaling in rice.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of Seed Industry Science and Technology, Nanjing 210095, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Research Center of Seed Industry Science and Technology, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: huangji@njau.edu.cn.
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development. In previous studies, we cloned and identified PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE WITH KELCH-LIKE1 (OsPPKL1) as the causal gene for the quantitative trait locus GRAIN LENGTH3 (qGL3) in rice (Oryza sativa). We also showed that qGL3/OsPPKL1 is mainly located in the cytoplasm and nucleus and negatively regulates BR signaling and grain length. Because qGL3 is a negative regulator of BR signaling, its turnover is critical for rapid response to changes in BRs. Here, we demonstrate that qGL3 interacts with the WD40-domain-containing protein WD40-REPEAT PROTEIN48 (OsWDR48), which contains a nuclear export signal (NES). The NES signal is crucial for the cytosolic localization of OsWDR48 and also functions in the self-turnover of qGL3. We show that OsWDR48 physically interacts with and genetically acts through qGL3 to modulate BR signaling. Moreover, qGL3 may indirectly promote the phosphorylation of OsWDR48 at the Ser-379 and Ser-386 sites. Substitutions of both phosphorylation sites in OsWDR48 to non-phosphorylatable alanine enhanced the strength of the OsWDR48-qGL3 interaction. Furthermore, we found that brassinolide can promote the accumulation of non-phosphorylated OsWDR48, leading to strong interaction intensity between qGL3 and OsWDR48. Taken together, our results show that OsWDR48 facilitates qGL3 retention and induces degradation of qGL3 in the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that qGL3 self-modulates its turnover by binding to OsWDR48 to regulate its cytoplasmic localization and stability, leading to efficient orchestration of BR signal transduction in rice.
PMID: 38384133