Functional Conservation of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">AGAMOUS</Emphasis> Orthologous Gene Controlling Reproductive Organ Development in the Gymnosperm Species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus chinensis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mairei</Emphasis>

Arabidopsis AGAMOUS (AG) has roles in specifying reproductive organ (stamens and carpels) identity, floral meristem determinacy, and repression of A-function. To investigate possible roles of AG orthologous genes in gymnosperm species and evolution of C function, we isolated and identified AG orthologous gene TcAG from Taxus chinensis var. mairei (family Taxaceae, order Coniferales), a member of the last divergant lineage from higher Conifer that sisters to Gnetales. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis grouped TcAG into the gymnosperm AG lineage. TcAG was expressed in both developing male and female cones, but there was no expression in juvenile leaves. Ectopic expression of TcAG in an Arabidopsis ag mutant produced flowers with the third whorl petaloid stamen and fourth whorl normal carpel, but failed to convert first whorl sepals into carpeloid organs and second whorl petals into stamenoid organs. A 35S::TcAG transgenic Arabidopsis ag mutant had very early flowering, and produced a misshapen inflorescence with a shortened floral axis. Our results suggest that establishment of the complete C-function occurred gradually during AG lineage evolution even in gymnosperms.     

Functional analysis of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">APETALA1</Emphasis>-like MADS box gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eustoma grandiflorum</Emphasis> in regulating floral transition and formation

An Eustoma grandiflorum APETALA1 (EgAP1) gene showing high homology to the SQUA subfamily of MADS-box genes was isolated and characterized. EgAP1, containing a conserved euAP1 motif at the C-terminus, showed high sequence identity to Antirrhinum majus SQUAMOSA in the SQUA subfamily. EgAP1 mRNA was detected in the leaf and expressed significantly higher in young flower buds than in mature flower buds. In flowers, EgAP1 mRNA was strongly detected in sepal, weakly detected in petal and was absent in stamen and carpel. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically expressing EgAP1 flowered early and produced terminal flowers. In addition, the conversion of petals into stamen-like structures was also observed in 35S::EgAP1 flowers. 35S::EgAP1 was able to complement the ap1 flower defects by restoring the defect for sepal formation and significantly increasing second whorl petal production in Arabidopsis ap1 mutant plants. These results revealed that EgAP1 is the APETALA1 homolog in E. grandiflorum and that the function of EgAP1 is involved in floral induction and flower formation.     

Overexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RcFUSCA3</Emphasis>, a B3 transcription factor from the PLB in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa canina</Emphasis>, activates starch accumulation and induces male sterility in Arabidopsis

A homologue of the Arabidopsis gene FUSCA3 (FUS3), isolated from the protocorm-like body (PLB) of Rosa canina and designated RcFUS3, encodes 331 amino acid residues. It was shown that RcFUS3 is specifically expressed in the PLB of R. canina and that its subcellular localization is in the nucleus. The Arabidopsis fus3-3 mutant phenotype could be rescued by over-expression of RcFUS3, suggesting that RcFUS3 has a function similar to that of Arabidopsis FUS3. Over-expression of RcFUS3 in wild type Arabidopsis resulted in a decrease in endogenous GA and CTK levels, an increase in ABA and IAA contents, starch grain accumulation in the cotyledon and hypocotyl, failure of cotyledon extension and abnormal elongation of the hypocotyl, abnormal stomatal and pavement cells, an increase in branch numbers, prolongation of the growth cycle, and morphological changes in floral organs. Interestingly, over-expression of RcFUS3 in homozygous form resulted in premature degradation of the tapetum, indehiscent anthers and hypogenetic stamens, causing complete male sterility in Arabidopsis; this is the first observation that over-expression of a gene (RcFUS3) homologous to FUS3 can lead to male sterility and starch grain accumulation in Arabidopsis.     

Isolation and characterization of the C-class MADS-box gene from the distylous pseudo-cereal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum esculentum</Emphasis>

In the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, the floral homeotic C-class gene AGAMOUS (AG) specifies reproductive organ (stamen and carpels) identity and floral meristem determinacy. Gene function analyses in other core eudicots species reveal functional conservation, subfunctionalization and function switch of the C-lineage in this clade. To identify the possible roles of AG-like genes in regulating floral development in distylous species with dimorphic flowers (pin and thrum) and the C function evolution, we isolated and identified an AG ortholog from Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat, Family Polygonaceae), an early diverging species of core eudicots preceding the rosids-asterids split. Protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis grouped FaesAG into the euAG lineage. Expression analysis suggested that FaesAG expressed exclusively in developing stamens and gynoecium of pin and thrum flowers. Moreover, FaesAG expression reached a high level in both pin and thrum flowers at the time when the stamens were undergoing rapidly increased in size and microspore mother cells were in meiosis. FaesAG was able to substitute for the endogenous AG gene in specifying stamen and carpel identity and in an Arabidopsis ag-1 mutant. Ectopic expression of FaesAG led to very early flowering, and produced a misshapen inflorescence and abnormal flowers in which sepals had converted into carpels and petals were converted to stamens. Our results confirmed establishment of the complete C-function of the AG orthologous gene preceding the rosids-asterids split, despite the distinct floral traits present in early- and late-diverging lineages of core eudicot angiosperms.     

Developmental transcriptome analysis of floral transition in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa odorata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">gigantea</Emphasis>

Key message

Expression analyses revealed that floral transition of Rosa odorata var. gigantea is mainly regulated by VRN1, COLs, DELLA and KSN, with contributions by the effects of phytohormone and starch metabolism.

Abstract

Seasonal plants utilize changing environmental and developmental cues to control the transition from vegetative growth to flowering at the correct time of year. This study investigated global gene expression profiles at different developmental stages of Rosa odorata var. gigantea by RNA-sequencing, combined with phenotypic characterization and physiological changes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between four different developmental stages (vegetative meristem, pre-floral meristem, floral meristem and secondary axillary buds) indicated that DNA methylation and the light reaction played a large role in inducing the rose floral transition. The expression of SUF and FLC, which are known to play a role in delaying flowering until vernalization, was down-regulated from the vegetative to the pre-floral meristem stage. In contrast, the expression of VRN1, which promotes flowering by repressing FLC expression, increased. The expression of DELLA proteins, which function as central nodes in hormone signaling pathways, and probably involve interactions between GA, auxin, and ABA to promote the floral transition, was well correlated with the expression of floral integrators, such as AGL24, COL4. We also identified DEGs associated with starch metabolism correlated with SOC1, AGL15, SPL3, AGL24, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that vernalization and photoperiod are prominent cues to induce the rose floral transition, and that DELLA proteins also act as key regulators. The results summarized in the study on the floral transition of the seasonal rose lay a foundation for further functional demonstration, and have profound economic and ornamental values.

     

Arabidopsis PRC1 core component AtRING1 regulates stem cell-determining carpel development mainly through repression of class I <Emphasis Type="Italic">KNOX</Emphasis> genes

Background

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-catalyzed H3K27me3 marks are tightly associated with the WUS-AG negative feedback loop to terminate floral stem cell fate to promote carpel development, but the roles of Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) in this event remain largely uncharacterized.

Results

Here we show conspicuous variability in the morphology and number of carpels among individual flowers in the absence of the PRC1 core components AtRING1a and AtRING1b, which contrasts with the wild-type floral meristem consumed by uniform carpel production in Arabidopsis thaliana. Promoter-driven GUS reporter analysis showed that AtRING1a and AtRING1b display a largely similar expression pattern, except in the case of the exclusively maternal-preferred expression of AtRING1b, but not AtRING1a, in the endosperm. Indeterminate carpel development in the atring1a;atring1b double mutant is due to replum/ovule-to-carpel conversion in association with ectopic expression of class I KNOX (KNOX-I) genes. Moreover, AtRING1a and AtRING1b also play a critical role in ovule development, mainly through promoting the degeneration of non-functional megaspores and proper integument formation. Genetic interaction analysis indicates that the AtRING1a/b-regulated KNOX-I pathway acts largely in a complementary manner with the WUS-AG pathway in controlling floral stem cell maintenance and proper carpel development.

Conclusions

Our study uncovers a novel mechanistic pathway through which AtRING1a and AtRING1b repress KNOX-I expression to terminate floral stem cell activities and establish carpel cell fate identities.

     

Kelch-motif containing acyl-CoA binding proteins AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 are differentially expressed and function in floral lipid metabolism

Key message

We herein demonstrated two of the Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs), AtACBP4 and AtACBP5, both function in floral lipid metabolism and they may possibly play complementary roles in Arabidopsis microspore-to-pollen development. Histological analysis on transgenic Arabidopsis expressing β-glucuronidase driven from the AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 promoters, as well as, qRTPCR analysis revealed that AtACBP4 was expressed at stages 11–14 in the mature pollen, while AtACBP5 was expressed at stages 7–10 in the microspores and tapetal cells. Immunoelectron microscopy using AtACBP4- or AtACBP5-specific antibodies further showed that AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 were localized in the cytoplasm. Chemical analysis of bud wax and cutin using gas chromatographyflame ionization detector and GC-mass spectrometry analyses revealed the accumulation of cuticular waxes and cutin monomers in acbp4, acbp5 and acbp4acbp5 buds in comparison to the wild type (Col-0). Fatty acid profiling demonstrated a decline in stearic acid and an increase in linolenic acid in acbp4 and acbp4acbp5 buds, respectively, over Col-0. Analysis of inflorescences from acbp4 and acbp5 revealed that there was an increase of AtACBP5 expression in acbp4, and an increase of AtACBP4 expression in acbp5. Deletion analysis of the AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 5′-flanking regions indicated the minimal promoter activity for AtACBP4 (?145/+103) and AtACBP5 (?181/+81). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified a pollen-specific cis-acting element POLLEN1 (AGAAA) mapped at AtACBP4 (?157/?153) which interacted with nuclear proteins from flower and this was substantiated by DNase I footprinting.

Abstract

In Arabidopsis thaliana, six acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs), designated as AtACBP1 to AtACBP6, have been identified to function in plant stress and development. AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 represent the two largest proteins in the AtACBP family. Despite having kelch-motifs and sharing a common cytosolic subcellular localization, AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 differ in spatial and temporal expression. Histological analysis on transgenic Arabidopsis expressing β-glucuronidase driven from the respective AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 promoters, as well as, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that AtACBP4 was expressed at stages 11–14 in mature pollen, while AtACBP5 was expressed at stages 7–10 in the microspores and tapetal cells. Immunoelectron microscopy using AtACBP4- or AtACBP5-specific antibodies further showed that AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 were localized in the cytoplasm. Chemical analysis of bud wax and cutin using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and GC-mass spectrometry analyses revealed the accumulation of cuticular waxes and cutin monomers in acbp4, acbp5 and acbp4acbp5 buds, in comparison to the wild type. Analysis of inflorescences from acbp4 and acbp5 revealed that there was an increase of AtACBP5 expression in acbp4, and an increase of AtACBP4 expression in acbp5. Deletion analysis of the AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 5′-flanking regions indicated the minimal promoter region for AtACBP4 (?145/+103) and AtACBP5 (?181/+81). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified a pollen-specific cis-acting element POLLEN1 (AGAAA) within AtACBP4 (?157/?153) which interacted with nuclear proteins from flower and this was substantiated by DNase I footprinting. These results suggest that AtACBP4 and AtACBP5 both function in floral lipidic metabolism and they may play complementary roles in Arabidopsis microspore-to-pollen development.

     

Expression of Human FGF18 by Fusion with Oleosin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> Seeds

Expression of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 18 (hFGF18) in mammalian cells and Escherichia coli has been extensively used for fundamental research and clinical applications, but they are difficult, expensive. The expression of recombinant proteins fused to oleosin protein have distinct advantages, such as safety, ease, low cost. So we have expressed hFGF18 fused to oleosin protein in the oil bodies of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) and screen the proliferation effect of NIH3T3 cells. The vector of oleosinhFGF18 fusion gene was constructed and transformed into wild A. thaliana. Transformed A. thaliana lines were obtained by the floral dip method and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR results indicated that the oleosin-hFGF18 fusion gene was integrated into the A. thaliana genome. The oil bodies expression of oleosin-hFGF18 was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting. The biological activity showed that oil bodies expressing oleosin-hFGF18 could stimulate the proliferation of NIH3T3 cells.     

Morphogenesis and Gene Mapping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">deformed interior floral organ 1</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">difo1</Emphasis>), a Novel Mutant Associated with Floral Organ Development in Rice

Floral organ identity and specific number directly affect anthesis habits, fertilization and grain yield. Here, we identified a deformed interior floral organ 1 (difo1) mutant from selfing progenies of indica cv. Zhonghui8015 (Zh8015) after ⁶⁰Co γ-ray treatment. Compared with the Zh8015 spikelet, the interior floral organs of the difo1 mutant present various numbers of stamens and stigmas, with no typical filament and no mature pollen grains. Most difo1 flowers exhibited an increased number of stigmas that were attached to the stamens and an intumescent ovule-like cell mass in addition to the ovary. Transverse sections of spikelets and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed an indeterminate number of interior floral organs and abnormal early spikelet development for the difo1 mutant. Instead of the linear-shaped surface of wild-type stamens, difo1 displayed a glossy stamen surface resulting in immature stamens and complete sterility. In addition, the difo1 mutant exhibited delayed anthesis, rapid anthesis and non-extended stamens compared with wild type. Genetic analysis and gene mapping revealed that difo1 was controlled by a single recessive gene, which was fine-mapped to a 54-kb interval on the short arm of chromosome 4 between markers S22 and RM16439 harboring nine ORFs. Sequence analysis revealed that the mutant carried a single nucleotide deletion in its promoter region, which likely corresponded to the phenotype, in a C₂H₂-type zinc finger protein gene (LOC_Os04g08600). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed a significantly down-regulated expression pattern for DIFO1 and many floral organ identity genes in the interior floral organs of difo1. DIFO1 is therefore an important floral organ development gene in rice, particularly with regard to interior organ meristem identity and floret primordium differentiation.     

Overexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ThGSTZ1</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix hispida</Emphasis> improves tolerance to exogenous ABA and methyl viologen

Key message

Molecular analysis of a zeta subfamily GST gene from T. hispida involved in ABA and methyl viologen tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis and Tamarix.

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes are important for the improvement of plant abiotic stress tolerance, and our previous study demonstrated that the ThGSTZ1 gene from Tamarix hispida improves plant salt and drought tolerance. To further understand the role of ThGSTZ1 in the response of plants to abscisic acid (ABA) and oxidative stress, three ThGSTZ1-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines were analyzed in the current study. The results showed that the transgenic lines exhibited higher biomass accumulation, higher activities of GST and other protective enzymes, and less reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell damage than wild-type (WT) plants under ABA and methyl viologen (MV) stress. In addition, the analysis of a transgenic T. hispida line transiently expressing ThGSTZ1 confirmed these results. The activities of GST, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were markedly higher in the ThGSTZ1-overexpressing lines compared with the control lines under both ABA and MV treatments, and the transgenic lines also exhibited a lower degree of electrolyte leakage (EL) and a decreased H₂O₂ content. All these results suggested that ThGSTZ1 can also improve plant ABA and oxidation tolerance by regulating ROS metabolism and that ThGSTZ1 represents an excellent candidate gene for molecular breeding to increase plant stress tolerance.

     

Floral meristem size and organ number correlation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucryphia</Emphasis> (Cunoniaceae)

We present a comparative flower ontogenetic study in five species of the genus Eucryphia with the aim of testing whether differences in the organ number observed can be explained by changes in the meristematic size of floral meristem and floral organs. Species native to Oceania, viz. E. milliganii, E. lucida and E. moorei, have the smallest gynoecia with ca. 6 carpels, while the Chilean E. glutinosa and E. cordifolia present more than ten carpels. E. milliganii has the smallest flower with the lowest stamen number (ca. 50), while the other species produce around 200 stamens and more. Standardized measurements of meristematic sectors were taken in 49 developing flowers that were classified into three well-defined ontogenetic stages. Sizes of meristems varied significantly among species within each developmental stage as revealed by ANOVA analyses. Significant regressions between organ number and corresponding meristem size were consistent with the premise that a larger meristem size prior to organ initiation could be determining for a higher organ number. Flower organogenesis in Eucryphia also involves relevant meristem expansion while the organs are initiated, which results in a particular androecium patterning with a chaotic stamen arrangement. Meristem expansion also appears to be slower but more extensive in species with larger initial meristematic size, suggesting that flower phenotype can be determined in ontogeny by this heterochronic interplay of space and time.