LcERF19, an AP2/ERF transcription factor from Litsea cubeba, positively regulates geranial and neral biosynthesis

Minyan Wang; Ming Gao; Yunxiao Zhao; Yicun Chen; Liwen Wu; Hengfu Yin; Shifa Xiong; Siqi Wang; Jue Wang; Yang Yang; Jia Wang; Yangdong Wang

doi:10.1093/hr/uhac093

LcERF19, an AP2/ERF transcription factor from Litsea cubeba, positively regulates geranial and neral biosynthesis

Hortic Res. 2022 Apr 22:9:uhac093. doi: 10.1093/hr/uhac093. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Minyan Wang¹, Ming Gao¹, Yunxiao Zhao¹, Yicun Chen¹, Liwen Wu¹, Hengfu Yin¹, Shifa Xiong¹, Siqi Wang¹, Jue Wang¹, Yang Yang¹, Jia Wang¹, Yangdong Wang¹

Affiliation

¹ State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China.

Abstract

The APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of specialized terpenoid biosynthesis. However, the AP2/ERF TFs in Litsea cubeba have not been characterized and their role in the biosynthesis of terpenoids is unknown. Here, 174 LcAP2/ERF TFs were identified in L. cubeba and categorized into four subfamilies: 27 AP2, 7 RAV, 1 Soloist, and 139 ERF. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR assays both showed that the expression levels of LcERF19 were similar to that of terpene synthase LcTPS42 in the pericarp, which is related to the synthesis of geranial and neral in L. cubeba. LcERF19 was further shown to encode a nuclear-localized protein and its expression was strongly induced by jasmonate. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays showed that LcERF19 associated with GCC box elements of the LcTPS42 promoter and promoted its activity. Transient overexpression of LcERF19 in L. cubeba and overexpression of LcERF19 in tomato resulted in a significant increase in geranial and neral. Our findings show that LcERF19 enhances geranial and neral biosynthesis through activation of LcTPS42 expression, which provides a strategy to improve the flavor of tomato and other fruits.