ZmNST3 and ZmNST4 are master switches for secondary wall deposition in maize (Zea mays L.). (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiao, Wenhan; Yang, Yue; Yu, Jingjuan
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 266(2018)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Maize (Zea mays) -- Secondary wall -- NAC -- Transcriptional regulation; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.03.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: ZmNST3 and ZmNST4 were secondary wall related NAC transcriptional factors of maize. ZmNST3 and ZmNST4 are master switches in maize internode secondary wall development process. ZmNST3 and ZmNST4 play roles via regulation secondary wall related MYBs, such as ZmMYB109, ZmMYB128 and ZmMYB149 . Abstract: Secondary walls are the most abundant biomass produced by plants, and they consist mainly of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. Understanding how secondary wall biosynthesis is regulated could potentially provide genetic tools for engineering biomass components, especially in maize and Sorghum bicolor . Although many works have focused on secondary wall biosynthesis in dicotyledons, little has been reported for these monocotyledons. In this study, we cloned two NAC transcriptional factor genes, ZmNST3 and ZmNST4, and analyzed their functions in maize secondary wall formation process. ZmNST3 and ZmNST4 were expressed specifically in secondary wall-forming cells, expression of ZmNST3/4 can restore the pendent phenotype of Arabidopsis nst1nst3 double mutant. ZmNST3/4-overexpressing Arabidopsis and maize displayed a thickened secondary wall in the stem, and knockdown maize showed defective secondary wall deposition. ZmNST3/4 could regulate the expression of ZmMYB109/128/149 . Our results revealed that ZmNST3/4 are master switches of the maize secondary wall biosynthesis process and provides new evidence that the secondary wall regulatory pathway is conserved in different plant species.