title: Cotton PRP5 gene encoding a proline-rich protein is involved in fiber development.
abstract: Proline-rich proteins contribute to cell wall structure of specific cell types and are involved in plant growth and development. In this study, a fiber-specific gene, GhPRP5, encoding a proline-rich protein was functionally characterized in cotton. GhPRP5 promoter directed GUS expression only in trichomes of both transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants with overexpressing GhPRP5 displayed reduced cell growth, resulting in smaller cell size and consequently plant dwarfs, in comparison with wild type plants. In contrast, knock-down of GhPRP5 expression by RNA interference in cotton enhanced fiber development. The fiber length of transgenic cotton plants was longer than that of wild type. In addition, some genes involved in fiber elongation and wall biosynthesis of cotton were up-regulated or down-regulated in the transgenic cotton plants owing to suppression of GhPRP5. Collectively, these data suggested that GhPRP5 protein as a negative regulator participates in modulating fiber development of cotton.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: De-Jing
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Geng-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue-Bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D011392:Proline