Functional Characterization of BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 in Panax Ginseng (PgBZR1) and Brassinosteroid Response during Storage Root Formation

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play crucial roles in the physiology and development of plants. In the model plant Arabidopsis, BR signaling is initiated at the level of membrane receptors, BRASSINOSTEROIDS INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1) complex, thus activating the transcription factors (TFs) BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1/BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BZR1/BES1) to coordinate BR responsive genes. BRASSINOSTEROIDS INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) like-kinase, negatively regulates BZR1/BES1 transcriptional activity through phosphorylation-dependent cytosolic retention and shuttling. However, it is still unknown whether this mechanism is conserved in Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer, a member of the Araliaceae family, which is a shade-tolerant perennial root crop. Despite its pharmacological and agricultural importance, the role of BR signaling in the development of P. ginseng and characterization of BR signaling components are still elusive. In this study, by utilizing the Arabidopsisbri1 mutant, we found that ectopic expression of the gain of function form of PgBZR1 (Pgbzr1-1D) restores BR deficiency. In detail, ectopic expression of Pgbzr1-1D rescues dwarfism, defects of floral organ development, and hypocotyl elongation of bri1-5, implying the functional conservation of PgBZR1 in P. ginseng. Interestingly, brassinolide (BL) and BRs biosynthesis inhibitor treatment in two-year-old P. ginseng storage root interferes with and promotes, respectively, secondary growth in terms of xylem formation. Altogether, our results provide new insight into the functional conservation and potential diversification of BR signaling and response in P. ginseng.

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Identification and Characterization of HAESA-Like Genes Involved in the Fruitlet Abscission in Litchi

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20235945 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (23) ◽

pp. 5945 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fei Wang ◽

Zhihui Zheng ◽

Ye Yuan ◽

Jianguo Li ◽

Minglei Zhao

Keyword(s):

Critical Role ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Floral Organ ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Wild Type ◽

Functional Conservation ◽

Core Components ◽

Identification And Characterization ◽

Fruitlet Abscission

Regulation of abscission is an important agricultural concern since precocious abscission can reduce crop yield. INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) peptide and its receptors the HAESA (HAE) and HAESA-like2 (HSL2) kinases have been revealed to be core components controlling floral organ abscission in the model plant Arabidopsis. However, it is still unclear whether the homologs of IDA-HAE/HSL2 in non-model plants are correlated to abscission. Previously, we found LcIDL1, a homolog of IDA from litchi, has a similar role to AtIDA in control of floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis. Here, we further isolated an HAESA-like homolog, LcHSL2, which is likely involved in the fruitlet abscission in litchi. Ectopic expression of LcHSL2 in wild type Arabidopsis has no effect on the floral organ abscission. However, its presence in the hae hsl2 mutant background completely rescued the floral organ abscission deficiency. LcHSL2 is localized in the cell membrane and the LcHSL2 gene is expressed at the pedicel abscission zone (AZ) of litchi and floral AZ of Arabidopsis. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression level of LcHSL2 was increased during ethephon-induced fruitlet abscission in litchi. Taken together, our findings suggest that HSL2 homologs have functional conservation in Arabidopsis and litchi, and LcHSL2 might play a critical role in regulation of fruitlet abscission in litchi.

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Characterization of Two Ethephon-Induced IDA-Like Genes from Mango, and Elucidation of Their Involvement in Regulating Organ Abscission

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12030439 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 439

Author(s):

Avinash Chandra Rai ◽

Eyal Halon ◽

Hanita Zemach ◽

Tali Zviran ◽

Isaac Sisai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Expression Profiles ◽

Mangifera Indica ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Floral Organ ◽

Cytosolic Ph ◽

Early Increase ◽

Encoding Genes ◽

Fruitlet Abscission

In mango (Mangifera indica L.), fruitlet abscission limits productivity. The INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) peptide acts as a key component controlling abscission events in Arabidopsis. IDA-like peptides may assume similar roles in fruit trees. In this study, we isolated two mango IDA-like encoding-genes, MiIDA1 and MiIDA2. We used mango fruitlet-bearing explants and fruitlet-bearing trees, in which fruitlets abscission was induced using ethephon. We monitored the expression profiles of the two MiIDA-like genes in control and treated fruitlet abscission zones (AZs). In both systems, qRT-PCR showed that, within 24 h, both MiIDA-like genes were induced by ethephon, and that changes in their expression profiles were associated with upregulation of different ethylene signaling-related and cell-wall modifying genes. Furthermore, ectopic expression of both genes in Arabidopsis promoted floral-organ abscission, and was accompanied by an early increase in the cytosolic pH of floral AZ cells—a phenomenon known to be linked with abscission, and by activation of cell separation in vestigial AZs. Finally, overexpression of both genes in an Atida mutant restored its abscission ability. Our results suggest roles for MiIDA1 and MiIDA2 in affecting mango fruitlet abscission. Based on our results, we propose new possible modes of action for IDA-like proteins in regulating organ abscission.

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Functional characterization of a WRKY family gene involved in somatic embryogenesis in Panax ginseng

PROTOPLASMA ◽

10.1007/s00709-019-01455-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 257 (2) ◽

pp. 449-458

Author(s):

Yu Yang ◽

Ni Wang ◽

Shoujing Zhao

Keyword(s):

Somatic Embryogenesis ◽

Panax Ginseng ◽

Functional Characterization ◽

Family Gene

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Molecular Characterization of the Interaction of Borrelia parkeri and Borrelia turicatae with Human Complement Regulators

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00089-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 78 (5) ◽

pp. 2199-2208 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Melanie Schott ◽

Sonja Grosskinsky ◽

Christiane Brenner ◽

Peter Kraiczy ◽

Reinhard Wallich

Keyword(s):

Binding Capacity ◽

Functional Characterization ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Factor H ◽

Human Complement ◽

Related Protein ◽

Relapsing Fever ◽

Extracellular Matrix Components ◽

Complement Regulators

ABSTRACT In North America, tick-borne relapsing fever is caused by the species Borrelia hermsii, B. parkeri, and B. turicatae, which are transmitted to humans through the bite of the respective infected tick vectors. Here we describe the identification and functional characterization of a surface lipoprotein of B. parkeri, designated BpcA, that binds the human complement regulators factor H and factor H-related protein 1 and, simultaneously, the host protease plasminogen. In contrast, the homologous B. turicatae protein failed to bind human factor H and factor H-related protein 1 but retained its plasminogen binding capacity. Factor H bound to BpcA maintains its regulatory capacity to control C3b deposition and C3 convertase activity. Ectopic expression of BpcA in a serum-sensitive B. burgdorferi strain protects transformed cells from complement-mediated killing. Furthermore, bound plasminogen/plasmin endows B. parkeri and B. turicatae with the potential to degrade extracellular matrix components. These findings expand our understanding of the putative recent evolutionary separation of Borrelia parkeri and Borrelia turicatae, provide evidence that B. parkeri differs from B. turicatae in its ability to resist complement attack, and may help in understanding the pathological processes underlying tick-borne relapsing fever.

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Genome-wide identification, phylogeny, and expression profile of the sucrose transporter multigene family in tobacco

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.1139/cjps-2018-0187 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 312-323

Author(s):

Shanshan Wang ◽

Jun Yang ◽

Xiaodong Xie ◽

Feng Li ◽

Mingzhu Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Expression Patterns ◽

Functional Characterization ◽

Nicotiana Sylvestris ◽

Multiple Roles ◽

Functional Conservation ◽

Sucrose Transporters ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Pi Starvation ◽

Profiling Analysis

The transportation and distribution of sucrose in plants is mediated by sucrose transporters (SUTs), which also participate in various plant developmental and resistance processes. However, no such study of the tobacco SUT family has been reported yet. In the present study, 11, 5, and 4 SUT genes were identified from the genomes of Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana sylvestris, and Nicotiana tomentosiformis, respectively. The exon–intron structures of the tobacco SUT genes were highly conserved in the three tobacco species. Gene loss, duplication, and chromosome exchange occurred in the NtSUT family during the formation of allotetraploid common tobacco. Expression profiling analysis revealed that the expression patterns of the NtSUT genes in common tobacco were closer to those in N. sylvestris plants. The NtSUT2s and NtSUT4 genes were ubiquitously expressed in various tobacco tissues, while the NtSUT1s gene was highly expressed in the maturing leaves, indicating their functional conservation and differentiation. The transcriptions of the NtSUT2t, NtSUT3s, NtSUT4, and NtSUT5s genes in tobacco plants were dramatically induced under Pi starvation, drought, and salinity stresses, but their highest expression levels occurred in different tissues, suggesting the multiple roles of NtSUTs in plant resistance to various abiotic stresses. This study provides useful information for the further functional characterization of SUT genes in tobacco.

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