Open AccessActivation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis by miR319‐targeted TCP 4 transcription factor
Author(s) -
Sun Xudong,
Wang Chongde,
Xiang Nan,
Li Xiong,
Yang Shihai,
Du JianCan,
Yang Yongping,
Yang Yunqiang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12715
Subject(s) - transcription factor , cell , cell growth , transcription (linguistics) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bioinformatics , gene , biochemistry , philosophy , linguistics
Summary The overexpression of miR319 in plants results in delayed senescence, and high levels of miR319‐targeted TCP 4 transcription factor cause premature onset of this process. However, the underlying mechanisms of this pathway remain elusive. Here, we found that miR319 overexpression results in a decrease in TCP 4 abundance and secondary cell wall formation in the stem. Conversely, constitutive expression of miR319‐resistant TCP 4 promotes secondary cell wall formation, indicating that miR319‐mediated TCP 4 controls secondary cell wall formation during development. Further analysis revealed that TCP 4 might directly bind the promoter of VND 7 to activate its expression, which triggers the expression of a VND 7 transcriptional network associated with secondary cell wall biosynthesis and programmed cell death and accelerates vessel formation. In addition, the development process gradually increased TCP 4 expression. These results suggest that miR319 and its target TCP 4 can act as switches that turn on secondary cell wall synthesis and programmed cell death.