Rice SIZ1, a SUMO E3 ligase, controls spikelet fertility through regulation of anther dehiscence

? Sumoylation, a post-translational modification, has important functions in both animals and plants. However, the biological function of the SUMO E3 ligase, SIZ1, in rice (Oryza sativa) is still under investigation. ? In this study, we employed two different genetic approaches, the use of siz1 T-DNA mutant and SIZ1-RNAi transgenic plants, to characterize the function of rice SIZ1. ? Genetic results revealed the co-segregation of single T-DNA insertional recessive mutation with the observed phenotypes in siz1. In addition to showing reduced plant height, tiller number and seed set percentage, both the siz1 mutant and SIZ1-RNAi transgenic plants showed obvious defects in anther dehiscence, but not pollen viability. The anther indehiscence in siz1 was probably a result of defects in endothecium development before anthesis. Interestingly, rice orthologs of AtIRX and ZmMADS2, which are essential for endothecium development during anther dehiscence, were significantly down-regulated in siz1. Compared with the wild-type, the sumoylation profile of high-molecular-weight proteins in mature spikelets was reduced significantly in siz1 and the SIZ1-RNAi line with notably reduced SIZ1 expression. The nuclear localization signal located in the SIZ1 C-terminus was sufficient for its nuclear targeting in bombarded onion epidermis. ? The results suggest the functional role of SIZ1, a SUMO E3 ligase, in regulating rice anther dehiscence.     

Effect of silicon on grain yield of rice under cadmium-stress

Many publications indicated various beneficial effects of the addition of silicon (Si) in soil on the physiology of rice plants. The gene responsible for the Si-uptake in rice, low Si-influx 1 (Lsi1), was identified and cloned for this study. The photosynthetic rate (Pn), grain yield, and resistance to Cadmium (Cd)-stress of the wild-type (WT) and Lsi1-transgenic Lemont rice lines under Cd-stress were examined in an attempt to better understand the mechanism associated with the Si-addition, Cd-stress, and rice physiology. Si-fertilization significantly reduced the Cd-content in rice under Cd-stress. The effect was most significant in the Lsi1-overexpression transgenic Lemont rice (Lsi1-OE line) under high Cd-stress. Conversely, Cd in soil lowered the Si-uptake of the plants indicating a significant interaction between the two elements. During the grain-filling period, Cd-stress greatly reduced the chlorophyll content and Pn of the rice resulting in a diminished grain output. However, Lsi1-OE line with a higher chlorophyll content and Pn than either WT or Lsi1-RNAi transgenic Lemont rice (Lsi1-RNAi line) maintained a high photo-assimilate transportation for high yield potential. At harvest, Lsi1-OE line contained more Si and less Cd than WT, whereas the Lsi1-RNAi line showed an opposite result. In general, Cd-stress reduced, while Si-fertilization significantly increased, the grain yield on rice. However, no significant difference on the grain yields existed between WT and Lsi1-RNAi line. This might be due to a compensation effect generated by Lsi1-RNAi line. It appeared that Si in the soil, as well as the enhancing or inhibiting Lsi1 expression and the resistance to Cd-toxicity of the plants, could significantly affect the rice yield making alternations on these factors a plausible approach for production improvement.     

Nutrient partitioning and grain yield of TaNAM-RNAi wheat under abiotic stress

Aims

Decreased expression of TaNAM genes by RNAi results in delayed senescence and decreased grain protein, iron, and zinc concentrations. Here, we determined whether NAM expression level alters onset of senescence under stress conditions, whether delayed senescence in the TaNAM-RNAi line resulted in improved tolerance to post-anthesis abiotic stress, and determined the effects of post-anthesis abiotic stress on N and mineral remobilization and partitioning to grain.

Methods

Greenhouse-grown WT and TaNAM-RNAi wheat were characterized in two studies:three levels of N fertility or water limitation during grain fill. Studies were conducted under both optimal and heat stress temperatures. Senescence onset was determined by monitoring flag leaf chlorophyll.

Results

Under optimal tempertures, TaNAM-RNAi plants had a yield advantage at lower N. TaNAM-RNAi plants had delayed senescence relative to the WT and lower grain protein and mineral concentrations, N remobilization efficiency, and partitioning of N and most minerals to grain.

Conclusions

Nutritional quality of TaNAM-RNAi grain was consistently lower than WT. Delayed senescence of TaNAM-RNAi plants provided a yield advantage under optimal temperatures but not under water or heat stress. Discovery of specific NAM protein targets may allow separation of the delayed senescence and nutrient partitioning traits, which could be used for improvement of wheat.     

Genetic mapping identifies a rice naringenin O-glucosyltransferase that influences insect resistance

Naringenin, the biochemical precursor for predominant flavonoids in grasses, provides protection against UV damage, pathogen infection and insect feeding. To identify previously unknown loci influencing naringenin accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa), recombinant inbred lines derived from the Nipponbare and IR64 cultivars were used to map a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for naringenin abundance to a region of 50 genes on rice chromosome 7. Examination of candidate genes in the QTL confidence interval identified four predicted uridine diphosphate-dependent glucosyltransferases (Os07g31960, Os07g32010, Os07g32020 and Os07g32060). In vitro assays demonstrated that one of these genes, Os07g32020 (UGT707A3), encodes a glucosyltransferase that converts naringenin and uridine diphosphate-glucose to naringenin-7-O-β-d -glucoside. The function of Os07g32020 was verified with CRISPR/Cas9 mutant lines, which accumulated more naringenin and less naringenin-7-O-β-d -glucoside and apigenin-7-O-β-d -glucoside than wild-type Nipponbare. Expression of Os12g13800, which encodes a naringenin 7-O-methyltransferase that produces sakuranetin, was elevated in the mutant lines after treatment with methyl jasmonate and insect pests, Spodoptera litura (cotton leafworm), Oxya hyla intricata (rice grasshopper) and Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper), leading to a higher accumulation of sakuranetin. Feeding damage from O. hyla intricata and N. lugens was reduced on the Os07g32020 mutant lines relative to Nipponbare. Modification of the Os07g32020 gene could be used to increase the production of naringenin and sakuranetin rice flavonoids in a more targeted manner. These findings may open up new opportunities for selective breeding of this important rice metabolic trait.     

A zinc finger protein,interacted with cyclophilin,affects root development via IAA pathway in rice

The plant hormone auxin plays a crucial role in lateral root development. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying lateral root formation,an auxin-responsive gene OsCYP2(Os02g0121300) was characterized from rice. Compared to the wild type,OsCYP2-RNAi(RNA interference) lines exhibited distinctive defects in lateral root development. Yeast two-hybrid and glutathione S-transferase pull-down results confirmed that OsCYP2 interacted with a C2HC-type zinc finger protein(OsZFP, Os01g0252900) which is located in the rice nucleus. T_2 OsZFP-RNAi lines had significantly fewer lateral roots than did wild-type plants, which suggests a role for OsCYP2 and OsZFP in regulating lateral root development.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of certain Aux/IAA(auxin/indole-3-acetic acid) genes was altered in OsCYP2-and Os ZFP-RNAi lines in response to IAA. These findings imply that OsCYP2 and OsZFP participate in IAA signal pathways controlling lateral root development. More importantly, OsIAA11 showed functional redundancy not only in OsCYP2-RNAi lines but also in Os ZFP-RNAi lines, which provides important clues for the elucidation of mechanisms controlling lateral root development in response to auxin.     

ANAC092参与调控花药发育的功能初探

NAC家族转录因子是高等植物特有的一类转录因子, 功能广泛, 这类蛋白在植物次生生长、细胞分裂、植物衰老、尤其在激素和信号途径起关键调控作用。ANAC092已报道参与侧根发育, 并与衰老相关。为研究ANAC092基因在花药发育过程中的功能, 文章构建了拟南芥ANAC092启动子的GUS载体, 结合原位杂交分析结果表明, ANAC092在花药发育过程中时序性表达, 在花药发育的8~11期绒毡层表达, 其中在9~10期的表达量达到最高值, 与AMS(Aborted microspores)的表达时期有重合。构建ANAC092过表达体系, 筛选出转基因纯合株系。与野生型相比, 过表达ANAC092转基因植株中花粉数量减少, 花粉粒的长度增加。qRT-PCR结果表明, 过表达株系中与花粉发育相关的基因SPL、EMS1、DYT1、AMS的表达量上调。结合生物信息学分析表明, ANAC092启动子序列中有7个AMS的结合位点, 因此推测ANAC092可能位于AMS的下游而参与花药发育过程。     

Flowering-Related RING Protein 1 (FRRP1) Regulates Flowering Time and Yield Potential by Affecting Histone H2B Monoubiquitination in Rice (Oryza Sativa)

Flowering time is a critical trait for crops cultivated under various temperature/photoperiod conditions around the world. To understand better the flowering time of rice, we used the vector pTCK303 to produce several lines of RNAi knockdown transgenic rice and investigated their flowering times and other agronomic traits. Among them, the heading date of FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice was 23–26 days earlier than that of wild-type plants. FRRP1 is a novel rice gene that encodes a C3HC4-type Really Interesting Novel Gene (RING) finger domain protein. In addition to the early flowering time, FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice caused changes on an array of agronomic traits, including plant height, panicle length and grain length. We analyzed the expression of some key genes associated with the flowering time and other agronomic traits in the FRRP1-RNAi knockdown lines and compared with that in wild-type lines. The expression of Hd3a increased significantly, which was the key factor in the early flowering time. Further experiments showed that the level of histone H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub1) was noticeably reduced in the FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice lines compared with wild-type plants and MBP-FRRP1-F1 was capable of self-ubiquitination. The results indicate that Flowering Related RING Protein 1 (FRRP1) is involved in histone H2B monoubiquitination and suggest that FRRP1 functions as an E3 ligase in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, FRRP1 probably regulates flowering time and yield potential in rice by affecting histone H2B monoubiquitination, which leads to changes in gene expression in multiple processes.