MIXTA-like transcription factors and WAX INDUCER1/SHINE1 coordinately regulate cuticle development in Arabidopsis and Torenia fournieri

Plant Cell. 2013 May;25(5):1609-24. doi: 10.1105/tpc.113.110783. Epub 2013 May 24.

Abstract

The waxy plant cuticle protects cells from dehydration, repels pathogen attack, and prevents organ fusion during development. The transcription factor WAX INDUCER1/SHINE1 (WIN1/SHN1) regulates the biosynthesis of waxy substances in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we show that the MIXTA-like MYB transcription factors MYB106 and MYB16, which regulate epidermal cell morphology, also regulate cuticle development coordinately with WIN1/SHN1 in Arabidopsis and Torenia fournieri. Expression of a MYB106 chimeric repressor fusion (35S:MYB106-SRDX) and knockout/down of MYB106 and MYB16 induced cuticle deficiencies characterized by organ adhesion and reduction of epicuticular wax crystals and cutin nanoridges. A similar organ fusion phenotype was produced by expression of a WIN1/SHN1 chimeric repressor. Conversely, the dominant active form of MYB106 (35S:MYB106-VP16) induced ectopic production of cutin nanoridges and increased expression of WIN1/SHN1 and wax biosynthetic genes. Microarray experiments revealed that MYB106 and WIN1/SHN1 regulate similar sets of genes, predominantly those involved in wax and cutin biosynthesis. Furthermore, WIN1/SHN1 expression was induced by MYB106-VP16 and repressed by MYB106-SRDX. These results indicate that the regulatory cascade of MIXTA-like proteins and WIN1/SHN1 coordinately regulate cutin biosynthesis and wax accumulation. This study reveals an additional key aspect of MIXTA-like protein function and suggests a unique relationship between cuticle development and epidermal cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Magnoliopsida / genetics*
  • Magnoliopsida / growth & development
  • Magnoliopsida / metabolism
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Epidermis / genetics*
  • Plant Epidermis / growth & development
  • Plant Epidermis / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / classification
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA Interference
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome
  • Waxes / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • MYB16 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Plant Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • WIN1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Waxes
  • cutin

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE31887