ZmEREB46, a maize ortholog of Arabidopsis WAX INDUCER1/SHINE1, is involved in the biosynthesis of leaf epicuticular very-long-chain waxes and drought tolerance. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yue; Shi, Jianxin; Chen, Limei; Xiao, Wenhan; Yu, Jingjuan
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 321(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: EREBP ethylene-responsive element-binding protein -- VLCFA very-long-chain fatty acid -- WIN1/SHN1 WAX INDUCER 1/SHINE 1 -- TF transcription factor; AP2/EREBP -- Epicuticular wax -- Drought tolerance -- Cuticle -- Maize (Zea mays L.); Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Abstract: The aerial surfaces of plants are covered by a layer of cuticular wax that is composed of long-chain hydrocarbon compounds for protection against adverse environmental conditions. The current study identified a maize ( Zea mays L.) APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element-binding protein (AP2/EREBP)-type transcription factor, ZmEREB46. Ectopic expression of ZmEREB46 in Arabidopsis increased the accumulation of epicuticular wax on the leaves and enhanced the drought tolerance of plants. The amounts of C24/C32 fatty acids, C32/C34 aldehydes, C32/C34 1-alcohols and C31 alkanes in zmereb46 (ZmEREB46 knockout mutant) leaves were reduced. The amount of leaf total epicuticular wax decreased approximately 50% in zmereb46 . Compared to wild-type LH244 leaves, the cuticle permeability of zmereb46 leaves was increased, which resulted from decreased epicuticular wax load and a thinner cuticle layer. ZmEREB46 had transcriptional activation activity and directly bound to promoter regions of ZmCER2, ZmCER3.2 and ZmKCS1 . The zmereb46 seedlings also exhibited reduced drought tolerance . These results, and the observations in ZmEREB46 -overexpressing lines, suggest that ZmEREB46 is involved in cuticular metabolism by influencing the biosynthesis of very-long-chain waxes and participates in the cutin biosynthesis pathway. These results are helpful to further analyze the regulatory network of wax accumulation in maize. Highlights: ZmEREB46 is a member of the AP2/EREBP transcription factor family. ZmEREB46 affects wax deposition and drought tolerance in maize and Arabidopsis . ZmEREB46 regulates very-long-chain wax biosynthesis-related genes. A regulatory network of wax biosynthesis optimizes the plant drought response