Open AccessIdentification and functional analysis of two alternatively spliced transcripts of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) in linseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
Author(s) -
Yanyan Wang,
Tianbao Zhang,
Xiaxia Song,
Jianping Zhang,
Dang ZhanHai,
Xinwu Pei,
Yan Long
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0191910
Subject(s) - linum , biology , abscisic acid , alternative splicing , intron , rna splicing , gene isoform , gossypium , exon , genetics , gene , rna , botany
Alternative splicing is a popular phenomenon in different types of plants. It can produce alternative spliced transcripts that encode proteins with altered functions. Previous studies have shown that one transcription factor, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 ( ABI3 ), which encodes an important component in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, is subjected to alternative splicing in both mono- and dicotyledons. In the current study, we identified two homologs of ABI3 in the genome of linseed flax. We screened two alternatively spliced flax LuABI3 transcripts, LuABI3-2 and LuABI3-3 , and one normal flax LuABI3 transcript, LuABI3-1 . Sequence analysis revealed that one of the alternatively spliced transcripts, LuABI3-3 , retained a 6 bp intron. RNA accumulation analysis showed that all three transcripts were expressed during seed development, while subcellular localization and transgene experiments showed that LuABI3-3 had no biological function. The two normal transcripts, LuABI3-1 and LuABI3-2 , are the important functional isoforms in flax and play significant roles in the ABA regulatory pathway during seed development, germination, and maturation.