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PbWoxT1 mRNA from pear ( Pyrus betulaefolia ) undergoes long‐distance transport assisted by a polypyrimidine tract binding protein
Author(s) -
Duan Xuwei,
Zhang Wenna,
Huang Jing,
Hao Li,
Wang Shengnan,
Wang Aide,
Meng Dong,
Zhang Qiulei,
Chen Qiuju,
Li Tianzhong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13793
Subject(s) - rootstock , phloem , messenger rna , biology , pear , microbiology and biotechnology , homeobox , gene , gene expression , botany , biochemistry
Summary Little is known about the mechanisms by which mRNA s are transported over long distances in the phloem between the rootstock and the scion in grafted woody plants. We identified an mRNA in the pear variety ‘Du Li’ ( Pyrus betulaefolia ) that was shown to be transportable in the phloem. It contains a WUSCHEL ‐ RELATED HOMEOBOX ( WOX ) domain and was therefore named Wox Transport 1 ( PbWoxT1 ). A 548‐bp fragment of PbWoxT1 is critical in long‐distance transport. PbWoxT1 is rich in CUCU polypyrimidine domains and its mRNA s interact with a polypyrimidine tract binding protein, Pb PTB 3. Furthermore, the expression of PbWoxT1 significantly increased in the stems of wild‐type (WT) tobacco grafted onto the rootstocks of PbWoxT1 or Pb PTB 3 co‐overexpressing lines, but this was not the case in WT plants grafted onto PbWoxT1 overexpressing rootstocks, suggesting that Pb PTB 3 mediates PbWoxT1 mRNA long‐distance transport. We provide novel information that adds a new mechanism with which to explain the noncell‐autonomous manner of WOX gene function, which enriches our understanding of how WOX genes work in fruit trees and other species.