ZmMYB31 directly represses maize lignin genes and redirects the phenylpropanoid metabolic flux

Few regulators of phenylpropanoids have been identified in monocots having potential as biofuel crops. Here we demonstrate the role of the maize (Zea mays) R2R3-MYB factor ZmMYB31 in the control of the phenylpropanoid pathway. We determined its in vitro consensus DNA-binding sequence as ACC(T)/(A) ACC, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) established that it interacts with two lignin gene promoters in vivo. To explore the potential of ZmMYB31 as a regulator of phenylpropanoids in other plants, its role in the regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway was further investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana. ZmMYB31 downregulates several genes involved in the synthesis of monolignols and transgenic plants are dwarf and show a significantly reduced lignin content with unaltered polymer composition. We demonstrate that these changes increase cell wall degradability of the transgenic plants. In addition, ZmMYB31 represses the synthesis of sinapoylmalate, resulting in plants that are more sensitive to UV irradiation, and induces several stress-related proteins. Our results suggest that, as an indirect effect of repression of lignin biosynthesis, transgenic plants redirect carbon flux towards the biosynthesis of anthocyanins. Thus, ZmMYB31 can be considered a good candidate for the manipulation of lignin biosynthesis in biotechnological applications.     

苦荞转录因子FtMYBF的克隆、亚细胞定位及表达分析

R2R3-MYB转录因子SG7亚家族成员在植物黄酮醇生物合成中具有极其重要的调控作用.探究苦荞中SG7 R2R3-MYB转录因子在黄酮醇生物合成中的功能,为苦荞黄酮醇生物合成的分子调控机制研究奠定基础.采用RT-PCR技术从苦荞中克隆到一个前期经转录组与代谢组联合分析鉴定到的SG7 R2R3-MYB转录因子,命名为Ft...     

拟南芥R2R3-MYB家族第22亚族的结构与功能

拟南芥R2R3-MYB转录因子在拟南芥生长发育、代谢及响应生物和非生物胁迫的调控网络中具有重要作用。根据保守的氨基酸序列,R2R3-MYB转录因子被分为25个亚族,其中第22亚族包含AtMYB44、AtMYB77、AtMYB73和AtMYB70 4个基因,主要响应生物和非生物胁迫。文章从基因功能的相似性、基因表达的一致性和基因结构的保守性3方面综述了第22亚族的4个基因,并综合讨论了其在结构与功能上的冗余性和多样性。     

植物咖啡酸-O-甲基转移酶的研究进展

单木质素醇(H型、G型和S型)是构成植物木质素和木脂素的基本单元,其组成的不同直接决定木质素和木脂素的化学多样性和生物活性差异。咖啡酸-O-甲基转移酶(caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, COMT)可催化苯丙素类化合物羟基上氧原子的甲基化,在不同类型单木质素醇的构成中起决定作用,是木质素和木脂素生物合成途径的关键酶。2010年的相关综述主要对COMT的基因特征和在木质素生物合成中的调控作用作了介绍,文中聚焦了近十多年来COMT的最新研究进展,从基因特征、表达特征、结构特征和调控作用几个方面进行全面综述,并对COMT的研究和应用前景进行展望。     

The R2R3-MYB gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana

MYB factors represent a family of proteins that include the conserved MYB DNA-binding domain. In contrast to animals, plants contain a MYB-protein subfamily that is characterised by the R2R3-type MYB domain. 'Classical' MYB factors, which are related to c-Myb, seem to be involved in the control of the cell cycle in animals, plants and other higher eukaryotes. Systematic screens for knockout mutations in MYB genes, followed by phenotypic analyses and the dissection of mutants with interesting phenotypes, have started to unravel the functions of the 125 R2R3-MYB genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. R2R3-type MYB genes control many aspects of plant secondary metabolism, as well as the identity and fate of plant cells.