scholarly journals Maize glossy6 is involved in cuticular wax deposition and drought tolerance

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 3089-3099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
Yicong Du ◽  
Cheng He ◽  
Charles R Dietrich ◽  
Jiankun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Wax Deposition ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Extracellular Transport ◽  
Wax Load

Abstract Cuticular waxes, long-chain hydrocarbon compounds, form the outermost layer of plant surfaces in most terrestrial plants. The presence of cuticular waxes protects plants from water loss and other environmental stresses. Cloning and characterization of genes involved in the regulation, biosynthesis, and extracellular transport of cuticular waxes onto the surface of epidermal cells have revealed the molecular basis of cuticular wax accumulation. However, intracellular trafficking of synthesized waxes to the plasma membrane for cellular secretion is poorly understood. Here, we characterized a maize glossy (gl6) mutant that exhibited decreased epicuticular wax load, increased cuticle permeability, and reduced seedling drought tolerance relative to wild-type. We combined an RNA-sequencing-based mapping approach (BSR-Seq) and chromosome walking to identify the gl6 candidate gene, which was confirmed via the analysis of multiple independent mutant alleles. The gl6 gene represents a novel maize glossy gene containing a conserved, but uncharacterized, DUF538 domain. This study suggests that the GL6 protein may be involved in the intracellular trafficking of cuticular waxes, opening the door to elucidating the poorly understood process by which cuticular wax is transported from its site of biosynthesis to the plasma membrane.

scholarly journals A novel maize gene, glossy6 involved in epicuticular wax deposition and drought tolerance

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
LI Li ◽  
Yicong Du ◽  
Cheng He ◽  
Charles R. Dietrich ◽  
Jiankun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Epicuticular Wax ◽  
Epicuticular Waxes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Surface Waxes ◽  
Extracellular Transport ◽  
Plant Surfaces ◽  
Wax Load

SUMMARYEpicuticular waxes, long-chain hydrocarbon compounds, form the outermost layer of plant surfaces in most terrestrial plants. The presence of epicuticular waxes protects plants from water loss and other environmental stresses. Cloning and characterization of genes involved in the regulation, biosynthesis, and extracellular transport of epicuticular waxes on to the surface of epidermal cells have revealed the molecular basis of epicuticular wax accumulation. However, intracellular trafficking of synthesized waxes to the plasma membrane for cellular secretion is poorly understood. Here, we characterized a maize glossy (gl6) mutant that exhibited decreased epicuticular wax load, increased cuticle permeability, and reduced seedling drought tolerance relative to wild type. We combined an RNA-sequencing based mapping approach (BSR-Seq) and chromosome walking to identify the gl6 candidate gene, which was confirmed via the analysis of multiple independent mutant alleles. The gl6 gene represents a novel maize glossy gene containing a conserved, but uncharacterized domain. Functional characterization suggests that the GL6 protein may be involved in the intracellular trafficking of epicuticular waxes, opening a door to elucidating the poorly understood process by which epicuticular wax is transported from its site of biosynthesis to the plasma membrane.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPlant surface waxes provide an essential protective barrier for terrestrial plants. Understanding the composition and physiological functions of surface waxes, as well as the molecular basis underlying wax accumulation on plant surfaces provides opportunities for the genetic optimization of this protective layer. Genetic studies have identified genes involved in wax biosynthesis, extracellular transport, as well as spatial and temporal regulation of wax accumulation. In this study, a maize mutant, gl6 was characterized that exhibited reduced wax load on plant surfaces, increased water losses, and reduced seedling drought tolerance compared to wild type controls. The gl6 gene is a novel gene harboring a conserved domain with an unknown function. Quantification and microscopic observation of wax accumulation as well as subcellular localization of the GL6 protein provided evidence that gl6 may be involved in the intracellular trafficking of waxes, opening a door for studying this necessary yet poorly understood process for wax loading on plant surfaces.

scholarly journals Dissecting the Roles of Cuticular Wax in Plant Resistance to Shoot Dehydration and Low-Temperature Stress in Arabidopsis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1554
Author(s):  
Tawhidur Rahman ◽  
Mingxuan Shao ◽  
Shankar Pahari ◽  
Prakash Venglat ◽  
Raju Soolanayakanahally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Dehydration Stress ◽  
Wax Deposition ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy

Cuticular waxes are a mixture of hydrophobic very-long-chain fatty acids and their derivatives accumulated in the plant cuticle. Most studies define the role of cuticular wax largely based on reducing nonstomatal water loss. The present study investigated the role of cuticular wax in reducing both low-temperature and dehydration stress in plants using Arabidopsis thaliana mutants and transgenic genotypes altered in the formation of cuticular wax. cer3-6, a known Arabidopsis wax-deficient mutant (with distinct reduction in aldehydes, n-alkanes, secondary n-alcohols, and ketones compared to wild type (WT)), was most sensitive to water loss, while dewax, a known wax overproducer (greater alkanes and ketones compared to WT), was more resistant to dehydration compared to WT. Furthermore, cold-acclimated cer3-6 froze at warmer temperatures, while cold-acclimated dewax displayed freezing exotherms at colder temperatures compared to WT. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis identified a characteristic decrease in the accumulation of certain waxes (e.g., alkanes, alcohols) in Arabidopsis cuticles under cold acclimation, which was additionally reduced in cer3-6. Conversely, the dewax mutant showed a greater ability to accumulate waxes under cold acclimation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) also supported observations in cuticular wax deposition under cold acclimation. Our data indicate cuticular alkane waxes along with alcohols and fatty acids can facilitate avoidance of both ice formation and leaf water loss under dehydration stress and are promising genetic targets of interest.

scholarly journals Genetic mapping and candidate gene identification of BoGL5, a gene essential for cuticular wax biosynthesis in broccoli

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengqing Han ◽  
Jingjing Huang ◽  
Qi Xie ◽  
Yumei Liu ◽  
Zhiyuan Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Recessive Gene ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Defective Mutant ◽  
Interval Sequence

Abstract Background The aerial organs of most terrestrial plants are covered by cuticular waxes, which impart plants a glaucous appearance and play important roles in protecting against various biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite many glossy green (wax-defective) mutants being well characterized in model plants, little is known about the genetic basis of glossy green mutant in broccoli. Results B156 is a spontaneous broccoli mutant showing a glossy green phenotype. Detection by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that B156 is a cuticular wax-defective mutant, lacking waxes mostly longer than C28. Inheritance analysis revealed that this trait was controlled by a single recessive gene, BoGL5. Whole-genome InDel markers were developed, and a segregating F2 population was constructed to map BoGL5. Ultimately, BoGL5 was mapped to a 94.1 kb interval on C01. The BoCER2 gene, which is homologous to the Arabidopsis CER2 gene, was identified as a candidate of BoGL5 from the target interval. Sequence analyses revealed that Bocer2 in B156 harbored a G-to-T SNP mutation at the 485th nucleotide of the CDS, resulting in a W-to-L transition at the 162nd amino acid, a conserved site adjacent to an HXXXD motif of the deduced protein sequence. Expression analysis revealed that BoCER2 was significantly down-regulated in the leaves, stems, and siliques of B156 mutant than that of B3. Last, ectopic expression of BoCER2 in A. thaliana could, whereas Bocer2 could not, rescue the phenotype of cer2 mutant. Conclusions Overall, this study mapped the locus determining glossy phenotype of B156 and proved BoCER2 is functional gene involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis which would promotes the utilization of BoCER2 to enhance plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and breeding of B. oleracea cultivars with glossy traits.

scholarly journals Dissecting the Roles of Cuticular Wax in Plant Resistance to Shoot Dehydration and Low-Temperature Stress in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawhidur Rahman ◽  
Mingxuan Shao ◽  
Shankar Pahari ◽  
Prakash Venglat ◽  
Raju Soolanayakanahally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Cold Acclimation ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Dehydration Stress ◽  
Wax Deposition ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Leaf Water Loss

Cuticular waxes are a mixture of hydrophobic very-long-chain fatty acids and their derivatives accumulated in the plant cuticle. Most studies define the role of cuticular wax largely based on reducing non-stomatal water loss. The present study investigated the role of cuticular wax in reducing both low-temperature and dehydration stress in plants using Arabidopsis thaliana mutants and transgenic genotypes altered in the formation of cuticular wax. cer3-6, a known Arabidopsis wax-deficient mutant (with distinct reduction in aldehydes, n-alkanes, secondary n-alcohols, and ketones compared to wild type (WT)), was most sensitive to water loss; while dewax, a known wax overproducer (greater alkanes and ketones compared to WT), was more resistant to dehydration compared to WT. Furthermore, cold-acclimated cer3-6 froze at warmer temperatures, while cold-acclimated dewax displayed freezing exotherms at colder temperatures compared to WT. GC-MS analysis identified a characteristic decrease in the accumulation of certain waxes (e.g. alkanes, alcohols) in Arabidopsis cuticles under cold acclimation, which was additionally reduced in cer3-6. Conversely, the dewax mutant showed a greater ability to accumulate waxes under cold acclimation. FTIR spectroscopy also supported observations in cuticular wax deposition under cold acclimation. Our data indicate cuticular alkane waxes along with alcohols and fatty acids can facilitate avoidance of both ice formation and leaf water loss under dehydration stress, and are promising genetic targets of interest.

scholarly journals Increased cuticular wax accumulation and enhanced drought tolerance in transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa) by overexpression of a transcription factor gene

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 145-150
Author(s):  
J.I.-Yi Zhang ◽  
Mary Sledge ◽  
Joseph Bouton ◽  
Zeng-Y.U. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Cuticular Wax ◽  
Transcription Factor Gene ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Model Legume ◽  
Factor Gene ◽  
Transgenic Alfalfa ◽  
Ap2 Domain

Plant cuticular waxes play an important role in protecting aerial organs from damage caused by multiple environmental stresses such as drought, cold, UV radiation, pathogen infection, and insect attack. We characterized a novel AP2 domain-containing transcription factor gene, designated WXP1, from the model legume plant Medicago truncatula. The gene is able to activate wax production and confer drought tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The predicted protein of WXP1 has 371 aa; it is one of the longest peptides of all the single AP2 domain proteins in M. truncatula. Transcript level of WXP1 is inducible by cold, ABA and drought treatment in shoot tissues. Overexpression of WXP1 under the control of CaMV35S promoter led to a significant increase in cuticular wax loading on leaves of transgenic alfalfa. Transgenic leaves showed reduced water loss and chlorophyll leaching. Transgenic alfalfa plants with increased cuticular waxes showed enhanced drought tolerance demonstrated by delayed wilting after watering was ceased and quicker and better recovery when the dehydrated plants were re-watered.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of ZosmaNRT2, the Putative Sodium Dependent High-Affinity Nitrate Transporter of Zostera marina L.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Rubio ◽  
Jordi Díaz-García ◽  
Vítor Amorim-Silva ◽  
Alberto P. Macho ◽  
Miguel A. Botella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Nitrate Transporter ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
Sodium Dependent

One of the most important adaptations of seagrasses during sea colonization was the capacity to grow at the low micromolar nitrate concentrations present in the sea. In contrast to terrestrial plants that use H+ symporters for high-affinity NO3− uptake, seagrasses such as Zostera marina L. use a Na+-dependent high-affinity nitrate transporter. Interestingly, in the Z. marina genome, only one gene (Zosma70g00300.1; NRT2.1) is annotated to this function. Analysis of this sequence predicts the presence of 12 transmembrane domains, including the MFS domains of the NNP transporter family and the “nitrate signature” that appears in all members of the NNP family. Phylogenetic analysis shows that this sequence is more related to NRT2.5 than to NRT2.1, sharing a common ancestor with both monocot and dicot plants. Heterologous expression of ZosmaNRT2-GFP together with the high-affinity nitrate transporter accessory protein ZosmaNAR2 (Zosma63g00220.1) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves displayed four-fold higher fluorescence intensity than single expression of ZosmaNRT2-GFP suggesting the stabilization of NRT2 by NAR2. ZosmaNRT2-GFP signal was present on the Hechtian-strands in the plasmolyzed cells, pointing that ZosmaNRT2 is localized on the plasma membrane and that would be stabilized by ZosmaNAR2. Taken together, these results suggest that Zosma70g00300.1 would encode a high-affinity nitrate transporter located at the plasma membrane, equivalent to NRT2.5 transporters. These molecular data, together with our previous electrophysiological results support that ZosmaNRT2 would have evolved to use Na+ as a driving ion, which might be an essential adaptation of seagrasses to colonize marine environments.

Intracellular trafficking and cytoplasmic streaming under abiotic stress conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
JESHIMA KHAN YASIN ◽  
ANIL KUMAR SINGH
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Cytoplasmic Streaming ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
Vesicle Formation ◽  
External Stimuli

Cytoplasmic streaming is one among the vital activities of the living cells. In plants cytolplasmic streaming could clearly be seen in hypocotyls of growing seedlings. To observe cytoplsmic streaming and its correlated intracellular trafficking an investigation was conducted in legumes in comparison with GFP-AtRab75 and 35S::GFP:δTIP tonoplast fusion protein expressing arabidopsis lines. These seedlings were observed under confocal microscopy with different buffer incubation treatments and under different stress conditions. GFP expressing 35S::GFP:δTIP tonoplast lines were looking similar to the control lines and differ under stress conditions. Movement of cytoplasmic invaginations within the tonoplast and cytoplasmic sub vesicle or bulb budding during cytoplasmic streaming was observed in hypocotyls of At-GFP tonoplast plants. We found the cytoplasmic bulbs/ vesicles or sub vesicle formation from the plasma membrane. The streaming speed also depends on the incubation medium in which the specimen was incubated, indicating that the external stimuli as well as internal stimuli can alter the speed of streaming

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