Comprehensive Analysis of Five Phyllostachys edulis SQUA-like Genes and Their Potential Functions in Flower Development

Bamboo is one of the most important non-timber forest resources worldwide. It has considerable economic value and unique flowering characteristics. The long juvenile phase in bamboo and unpredictable flowering time limit breeding and genetic improvement and seriously affect the productivity and application of bamboo forests. Members of SQUA-like subfamily genes play an essential role in controlling flowering time and floral organ identity. A comprehensive study was conducted to explain the functions of five SQUA-like subfamily genes in Phyllostachys edulis. Expression analysis revealed that all PeSQUAs have higher transcript levels in the reproductive period than in the juvenile phase. However, PeSQUAs showed divergent expression patterns during inflorescence development. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) patterns among PeSQUAs and other MADS-box members were analyzed by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) experiments. Consistent with amino acid sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis, the PPI patterns clustered into two groups. PeMADS2, 13, and 41 interacted with multiple PeMADS proteins, whereas PeMADS3 and 28 hardly interacted with other proteins. Based on our results, PeSQUA might possess different functions by forming protein complexes with other MADS-box proteins at different flowering stages. Furthermore, we chose PeMADS2 for functional analysis. Ectopic expression of PeMADS2 in Arabidopsis and rice caused early flowering, and abnormal phenotype was observed in transgenic Arabidopsis lines. RNA-seq analysis indicated that PeMADS2 integrated multiple pathways regulating floral transition to trigger early flowering time in rice. This function might be due to the interaction between PeMADS2 and homologous in rice. Therefore, we concluded that the five SQUA-like genes showed functional conservation and divergence based on sequence differences and were involved in floral transitions by forming protein complexes in P. edulis. The MADS-box protein complex model obtained in the current study will provide crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms of bamboo’s unique flowering characteristics.

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Transcriptome-Wide Analyses Provide Insights into Development of the Hedychium Coronarium Flower, Revealing Potential Roles of PTL

10.21203/rs.3.rs-75413/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tong Zhao ◽

Alma Piñeyro-Nelson ◽

Qianxia Yu ◽

Xiaoying Hu ◽

Huanfang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Situ Hybridization ◽

Flower Development ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Floral Organ ◽

Mrna In Situ Hybridization ◽

Hedychium Coronarium ◽

Organ Identity

Abstract Background:The flower of Hedychium coronarium possesses highly specialized floral organs: a synsepalous calyx, petaloid staminodes and a labellum. The formation of these organs is controlled by two gene categories: floral organ identity genes and organ boundary genes, which may function individually or jointly during flower development. Although the floral organogenesis of H. coronarium has been studied at the morphological level, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in its floral development still remain poorly understood. In addition, previous works analyzing the role of MADS-box genes in controlling floral organ specification in some Zingiberaceae did not address the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of particular organ morphologies that emerge later in flower development, such as the synsepalous calyx formed through intercalary growth of adjacent sepals. Results:Here, we used comparative transcriptomics combined with Real-time quantitative PCR and mRNA in situ hybridization to investigate gene expression patterns of ABC-class genes in H. coronarium flowers, as well as the homolog of the organ boundary gene PETAL LOSS (HcPTL). qRT-PCR detection showed that HcAP3 and HcAG were expressed in both the petaloid staminode and the fertile stamen. mRNA in situ hybridization showed that HcPTL was expressed in developing meristems, including cincinnus primordia, floral primordia, common primordia and almost all new initiating floral organ primordia.Conclusions:Our studies found that stamen/petal identity or stamen fertility in H. coronarium was not necessarily correlated with the differential expression of HcAP3 and HcAG. We also found a novel spatio-temporal expression pattern for HcPTL mRNA, suggesting it may have evolved a lineage-specific role in the morphogenesis of the Hedychium flower. Our study provides a new transcriptome reference and a functional hypothesis regarding the role of a boundary gene in organ fusion that should be further addressed through phylogenetic analyzes of this gene, as well as functional studies.

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Overexpression of AGAMOUS-like gene PfAG5 promote early flowering in Polypogon fugax

10.21203/rs.3.rs-24143/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fengyan Zhou ◽

Qin Yu ◽

Yong Zhang ◽

Chuan-Chun Yao ◽

Yun-Jing Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flowering Time ◽

Herbicide Resistance ◽

Weed Management ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Regulation Mechanism ◽

Mads Box ◽

Weed Species ◽

Floral Organogenesis ◽

Seed Loss ◽

Large Populations

Abstract Background: Herbicides are the major tool for controlling large populations of yield depleting weeds. However, overreliance on herbicides has resulted in weed adaptation and herbicide resistance. In recent years, early flowering weed species related to herbicide resistance is emerging, which may cause seed loss before crop harvest, creating a new problem for non-chemical weed management. However, mechanisms regulating early flowering in weedy species is rarely investigated. Results: The MADS-box gene family plays an important role in flowering time regulation and floral organogenesis. In this study, a homolog gene of AGAMOUS sub-family (referred to as PfAG5) of the MADS-box family was cloned from plants of an early flowering Polypogon fugax population resistant to the ACCase inhibitor herbicide (clodinafop-propargyl). The PfAG5 gene was functionally characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. Over-expression of the PfAG5 gene in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering with abnormal flowers (e.g. small petals, short plants and reduced seed set) compared to the wild type. The expression of the PfAG5 gene was high in leaves and flowers, but low in pods in transgenic Arabidopsis. The PfAG5 gene was earlier and higher expressed in the resistant (R) than the susceptible (S) P. fugax plants. Furthermore, one protein (FRIGIDA-like protein) interacting with PfAG5 in R P. fugax was identified by the yeast two-hybrid system with relevance to flowering time regulation. Conclusions: These results suggest that the PfAG5 gene is prominently involved in modulating early flowering in P. fugax. This study provides the first evidence for the regulation mechanism of early flowering in an herbicide resistant weed species.

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Overexpression of AGAMOUS-like gene PfAG5 promotes early flowering in Polypogon fugax

10.21203/rs.3.rs-24143/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fengyan Zhou ◽

Qin Yu ◽

Yong Zhang ◽

Chuan-Chun Yao ◽

Yun-Jing Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flowering Time ◽

Herbicide Resistance ◽

Weed Management ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Regulation Mechanism ◽

Mads Box ◽

Weed Species ◽

Floral Organogenesis ◽

Seed Loss ◽

Large Populations

Abstract Background: Herbicides are the major tool for controlling large populations of yield depleting weeds. However, overreliance on herbicides has resulted in weed adaptation and herbicide resistance. In recent years, early flowering weed species related to herbicide resistance is emerging, which may cause seed loss before crop harvest, creating a new problem for non-chemical weed management. However, mechanisms regulating early flowering in weedy species is rarely investigated. Results: The MADS-box gene family plays an important role in flowering time regulation and floral organogenesis. In this study, a homolog gene of AGAMOUS sub-family (referred to as PfAG5) of the MADS-box family was cloned from plants of an early flowering Polypogon fugax population resistant to the ACCase inhibitor herbicide (clodinafop-propargyl). The PfAG5 gene was functionally characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. Over-expression of the PfAG5 gene in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering with abnormal flowers (e.g. small petals, short plants and reduced seed set) compared to the wild type. The expression of the PfAG5 gene was high in leaves and flowers, but low in pods in transgenic Arabidopsis. The PfAG5 gene was earlier and higher expressed in the resistant (R) than the susceptible (S) P. fugax plants. Furthermore, one protein (FRIGIDA-like protein) interacting with PfAG5 in R P. fugax was identified by the yeast two-hybrid system with relevance to flowering time regulation. Conclusions: These results suggest that the PfAG5 gene is involved in modulating early flowering in P. fugax. This study provides the first evidence for the regulation mechanism of early flowering in an herbicide resistant weed species.

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Ectopic expression ofJatropha curcas APETALA1(JcAP1) caused early flowering in Arabidopsis, but not in Jatropha

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1969 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1969 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Mingyong Tang ◽

Yan-Bin Tao ◽

Zeng-Fu Xu

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Cauliflower Mosaic Virus ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Early Developmental Stage ◽

35S Promoter ◽

Flower Buds ◽

Organ Identity

Jatropha curcasis a promising feedstock for biofuel production because Jatropha oil is highly suitable for the production of biodiesel and bio-jet fuels. However, Jatropha exhibits a low seed yield as a result of unreliable and poor flowering.APETALA1(AP1) is a floral meristem and organ identity gene in higher plants. The flower meristem identity genes of Jatropha have not yet been identified or characterized. To better understand the genetic control of flowering in Jatropha, anAP1homolog (JcAP1) was isolated from Jatropha. An amino acid sequence analysis of JcAP1 revealed a high similarity to the AP1 proteins of other perennial plants.JcAP1was expressed in inflorescence buds, flower buds, sepals and petals. The highest expression level was observed during the early developmental stage of the flower buds. The overexpression ofJcAP1using the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter resulted in extremely early flowering and abnormal flowers in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Several flowering genes downstream ofAP1were up-regulated in theJcAP1-overexpressing transgenic plant lines. Furthermore,JcAP1overexpression rescued the phenotype caused by the Arabidopsis AP1 loss-of-function mutantap1-11. Therefore,JcAP1is an ortholog ofAtAP1,which plays a similar role in the regulation of flowering in Arabidopsis. However, the overexpression ofJcAP1in Jatropha using the same promoter resulted in little variation in the flowering time and floral organs, indicating thatJcAP1may be insufficient to regulate flowering by itself in Jatropha. This study helps to elucidate the function ofJcAP1and contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of flower development in Jatropha.

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Overexpression of a Brassica rapa MADS-box gene, BrAGL20, induces early flowering time phenotypes in Brassica napus

Plant Biotechnology Reports ◽

10.1007/s11816-012-0254-z ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 231-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Joon Ki Hong ◽

Soo-Yun Kim ◽

Kwang-Soo Kim ◽

Soo-Jin Kwon ◽

Jung Sun Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brassica Napus ◽

Flowering Time ◽

Brassica Rapa ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Mads Box ◽

Mads Box Gene

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Identification and Characterization of MIKCc-Type MADS-Box Genes in the Flower Organs of Adonis amurensis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22179362 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (17) ◽

pp. 9362

Author(s):

Lulu Ren ◽

Hongwei Sun ◽

Shengyue Dai ◽

Shuang Feng ◽

Kun Qiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flowering Time ◽

Early Spring ◽

Full Length ◽

Mads Box ◽

Mads Box Genes ◽

Motif Analysis ◽

Floral Organogenesis ◽

Abcde Model ◽

Organ Identity ◽

Flower Organs

Adonis amurensis is a perennial herbaceous flower that blooms in early spring in northeast China, where the night temperature can drop to −15 °C. To understand flowering time regulation and floral organogenesis of A. amurensis, the MIKCc-type MADS (Mcm1/Agamous/ Deficiens/Srf)-box genes were identified and characterized from the transcriptomes of the flower organs. In this study, 43 non-redundant MADS-box genes (38 MIKCc, 3 MIKC*, and 2 Mα) were identified. Phylogenetic and conserved motif analysis divided the 38 MIKCc-type genes into three major classes: ABCDE model (including AP1/FUL, AP3/PI, AG, STK, and SEPs/AGL6), suppressor of overexpression of constans1 (SOC1), and short vegetative phase (SVP). qPCR analysis showed that the ABCDE model genes were highly expressed mainly in flowers and differentially expressed in the different tissues of flower organs, suggesting that they may be involved in the flower organ identity of A. amurensis. Subcellular localization revealed that 17 full-length MADSs were mainly localized in the nucleus: in Arabidopsis, the heterologous expression of three full-length SOC1-type genes caused early flowering and altered the expression of endogenous flowering time genes. Our analyses provide an overall insight into MIKCc genes in A. amurensis and their potential roles in floral organogenesis and flowering time regulation.

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Class B Gene Expression and the Modified ABC Model in Nongrass Monocots

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2007.86 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 268-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Akira Kanno ◽

Mutsumi Nakada ◽

Yusuke Akita ◽

Masayo Hirai

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Floral Morphology ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Abc Model ◽

Mads Box ◽

Class B ◽

Mads Box Gene ◽

Class B Gene ◽

Modified Abc Model

The discovery of the MADS-box genes and the study of model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus have greatly improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving the diversity in floral development. The class B genes, which belong to the MADS-box gene family, are important regulators of the development of petals and stamens in flowering plants. Many nongrass monocot flowers have two whorls of petaloid organs, which are called tepals. To explain this floral morphology, the modified ABC model was proposed. This model was exemplified by the tulip, in which expansion and restriction of class B gene expression is linked to the transition of floral morphologies in whorl 1. The expression patterns of class B genes from many monocot species nicely fit this model; however, those from some species, such as asparagus, do not. In this review, we summarize the relationship between class B gene expression and floral morphology in nongrass monocots, such as Liliales (Liliaceae) and Asparagales species, and discuss the applicability of the modified ABC model to monocot flowers.

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VvMADS9, a class B MADS-box gene involved in grapevine flowering, shows different expression patterns in mutants with abnormal petal and stamen structures

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp06016 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 33 (9) ◽

pp. 877 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Lekha Sreekantan ◽

Laurent Torregrosa ◽

Lucie Fernandez ◽

Mark R. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Expression Pattern ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

In Situ Hybridisation ◽

Vitis Vinifera L ◽

Cabernet Sauvignon ◽

Mads Box ◽

Wild Type ◽

Organ Identity ◽

Class B ◽

Mads Box Gene

VvMADS9, a MADS-box gene, from grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon has been isolated and its expression pattern studied in wild type Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, and Bouchalès cultivars and mutants of the latter two genotypes showing abnormal petal / stamen structures. Sequence analysis showed that VvMADS9 was highly similar to PISTILLATA (PI), the class B gene that specifies the identity of petals and stamens in Arabidopsis. The temporal expression pattern of VvMADS9 studied through real-time PCR revealed that its expression was specific to flower development. The low levels of expression in the Mourvèdre mutant and the skewed expression pattern in the Bouchalès mutant as compared to their wild type counterparts suggested that VvMADS9 is involved in normal formation of petals and stamens. Through in situ hybridisation, expression of VvMADS9 was detected in stamens and weak expression on the basal regions of the petals. This suggested a possible role for VvMADS9 in specifying stamen and petal organ identity in grapevine similar to Class B genes in other species. All evidence thus pointed to the conclusion that VvMADS9 is an orthologue of PISTILLATA in grapevine.

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Genome-wide identification and transcriptomic analysis of microRNAs across various amphioxus organs using deep sequencing

10.1101/736371 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Qi-Lin Zhang ◽

Hong Wang ◽

Qian-Hua Zhu ◽

Xiao-Xue Wang ◽

Yi-Min Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Deep Sequencing ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Gonad Development ◽

Functional Enrichment ◽

Functional Specification ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Organ Identity ◽

Organ Specific

ABSTRACTAmphioxus is the closest living invertebrate proxy of the vertebrate ancestor. Systematic gene identification and expression profile analysis of amphioxus organs is thus important for clarifying the molecular mechanisms of organ function formation and further understanding the evolutionary origin of organs and genes in vertebrates. The precise regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is crucial for the functional specification and differentiation of organs. In particular, those miRNAs that are expressed specifically in organs (OSMs) play key roles in organ identity, differentiation, and function. In this study, the genome-wide miRNA transcriptome was analyzed in eight organs of adult amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri using deep sequencing. A total of 167 known miRNAs and 23 novel miRNAs (named novel_mir), including 139 conserved miRNAs, were discovered, and 79 of these were identified as OSMs. Additionally, analyses of the expression patterns of eight randomly selected known miRNAs demonstrated the accuracy of the miRNA deep sequencing that was used in this study. Furthermore, potentially OSM-regulated genes were predicted for each organ type. Functional enrichment of these predicted targets, as well as further functional analyses of known OSMs, was conducted. We found that the OSMs were potentially to be involved in organ specific functions, such as epidermis development, gonad development, muscle cell development, proteolysis, lipid metabolism and generation of neurons. Moreover, OSMs with non-organ specific functions were detected, and primarily include those related to innate immunity and response to stimuli. These findings provide insights into the regulatory roles of OSMs in various amphioxus organs.

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Isolation and Functional Characterization of SOC1-like Genes in Prunus mume

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.141.4.315 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 141 (4) ◽

pp. 315-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yushu Li ◽

Zongda Xu ◽

Weiru Yang ◽

Tangren Cheng ◽

Jia Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flower Development ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Reproductive Development ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Prunus Mume ◽

Mads Box ◽

Vegetative Organs ◽

Expression Levels ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mads Box Gene

The MADS-box gene SOC1/TM3 (suppressor of overexpression of constans 1/tomato MADS-box gene 3) integrates multiple flowering signals to regulate the transition from vegetative to reproductive development in arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Although SOC1-like genes have been isolated from a wide range of plant species, their orthologs are not well characterized in mei (Prunus mume), an important ornamental and fruit plant in east Asia. To better understand the molecular regulation of flower development in mei, we isolated and characterized three putative orthologs of arabidopsis SOC1, including PmSOC1-1, PmSOC1-2, and PmSOC1-3. The phylogenetic tree revealed that these genes fall into different subgroups within the SOC1-like gene group, suggesting distinct functions. PmSOC1-1 and PmSOC1-3 were mainly expressed in vegetative organs and at low expression levels in floral parts of the plants, whereas PmSOC1-2 was expressed only in vegetative organs. Furthermore, the expression level decreased significantly during flower bud differentiation development, suggesting a role for these genes in the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. Overexpression of PmSOC1-1, PmSOC1-2, and PmSOC1-3 in arabidopsis caused early flowering. Early flowering also increased expression levels of four other flowering promoters, agamous-like 24 (AGL24), leafy (LFY), apetala 1 (AP1), and fruitfull (FUL). Moreover, the overexpression of PmSOC1-1 and PmSOC1-2 resulted in a range of floral phenotype changes such as sepals into leaf-like structures, petal color into green, and petal into filament-like structures. These results suggested that the genes PmSOC1-1, PmSOC1-2, and PmSOC1-3 play an evolutionarily conserved role in promoting flowering in mei, and may have distinct roles during flower development. Our findings will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the transition from vegetative to reproductive development in mei.

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