Ectopic expression of a Brassica rapa AINTEGUMENTA gene (BrANT-1) increases organ size and stomatal density in Arabidopsis

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 12;8(1):10528. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28606-4.

Abstract

The AINTEGUMENTA-like (AIL) family plays a central role in regulating the growth and development of organs in many plants. However, little is known about the characteristics and functions of the AIL family in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis). In this study, a genome-wide analysis was performed to identify the members of the AIL family in Chinese cabbage. We identified three ANT genes and six ANT-like genes of Chinese cabbage, most of which were differentially expressed in different organs or tissues. Furthermore, compared with the wild-type line, the size of different organs in the 35S-BrANT-1 line was significantly increased by promoting cell proliferation. Meanwhile, over-expression of BrANT-1 also increases the stomatal number and delays the leaf senescence. Transcriptome analyses revealed that a set of cell proliferation and stoma development genes were up-regulated, while the senescence-associated genes were down-regulated, suggesting these genes may be involved in BrANT-1 regulated processes for controlling organ size, stomatal density and leaf senescence. In summary, this study offers important insights into the characteristics and functions of the ANT genes in Chinese cabbage, and provides a promising strategy to improve yield or head size in Chinese cabbage breeding programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Brassica rapa / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics
  • Computational Biology
  • Crop Production
  • Ectopic Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genome, Plant / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plant Stomata / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Synteny
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • AINTEGUMENTA protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors