The PagKNAT2/6b-PagBOP1/2a Regulatory Module Controls Leaf Morphogenesis in Populus

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Gerald A. Tuskan¹  Yanqiu Zhao²  Weilin Zhang²  Cheng Jiang²  Yangxin Shi²  Mengzhu Lu²  Yifan Zhang²  Jin Zhang²  Wei Zeng²  Xueqin Song³ 

[1] Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA;State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China;State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;

关键词: Populus;    leaf morphogenesis;    PagKNAT2/6b;    PagBOP1/2a;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23105581

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Leaf morphogenesis requires precise regulation of gene expression to achieve organ separation and flat-leaf form. The poplar KNOTTED-like homeobox gene PagKNAT2/6b could change plant architecture, especially leaf shape, in response to drought stress. However, its regulatory mechanism in leaf development remains unclear. In this work, gene expression analyses of PagKNAT2/6b suggested that PagKNAT2/6b was highly expressed during leaf development. Moreover, the leaf shape changes along the adaxial-abaxial, medial-lateral, and proximal-distal axes caused by the mis-expression of PagKNAT2/6b demonstrated that its overexpression (PagKNAT2/6b OE) and SRDX dominant repression (PagKNAT2/6b SRDX) poplars had an impact on the leaf axial development. The crinkle leaf of PagKNAT2/6b OE was consistent with the differential expression gene PagBOP1/2a (BLADE-ON-PETIOLE), which was the critical gene for regulating leaf development. Further study showed that PagBOP1/2a was directly activated by PagKNAT2/6b through a novel cis-acting element “CTCTT”. Together, the PagKNAT2/6b-PagBOP1/2a module regulates poplar leaf morphology by affecting axial development, which provides insights aimed at leaf shape modification for further improving the drought tolerance of woody plants.

【 授权许可】

Unknown