title: Influence of EARLI1-like genes on flowering time and lignin synthesis of Arabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: EARLI1 encodes a 14.7 kDa protein in the cell wall, is a member of the PRP (proline-rich protein) family and has multiple functions, including resistance to low temperature and fungal infection. RNA gel blot analyses in the present work indicated that expression of EARLI1-like genes, EARLI1, At4G12470 and At4G12490, was down-regulated in Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants derived from transformation with Agrobacterium strain ABI, which contains a construct encoding a double-strand RNA targeting 8CM of EARLI1. Phenotype analyses revealed that Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants of EARLI1 flowered earlier than Col-FRI-Sf2 wild-type plants. The average bolting time of Col-FRI-Sf2 and Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants was 39.7 and 19.4 days, respectively, under a long-day photoperiod. In addition, there were significant differences in main stem length, internode number and rosette leaf number between Col-FRI-Sf2 and Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants. RT-PCR showed that EARLI1-like genes might delay flowering time through the autonomous and long-day photoperiod pathways by maintaining the abundance of FLC transcripts. In Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants, transcription of FLC was repressed, while expression of SOC1 and FT was activated. Microscopy observations showed that EARLI1-like genes were also associated with morphogenesis of leaf cells in Arabidopsis. Using histochemical staining, EARLI1-like genes were found to be involved in regulation of lignin synthesis in inflorescence stems, and Col-FRI-Sf2 and Col-FRI-Sf2 RNAi plants had 9.67% and 8.76% dry weight lignin, respectively. Expression analysis revealed that cinnamoyl-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in lignin synthesis, was influenced by EARLI1-like genes. These data all suggest that EARLI1-like genes could control the flowering process and lignin synthesis in Arabidopsis.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z-Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schläppi
authors.forename: Z-Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008031:Lignin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017440:Photoperiod; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C419264:EARLI1 protein, Arabidopsis; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D008031:Lignin; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C019904:cinnamoyl CoA reductase