Molecular cloning and functional analysis of the Populus deltoides remorin gene PdREM.
Remorins play vital roles in signal transduction, energy transformation, ion flow and transport in plants. Upregulation of remorins correlates with dehiscence and cell maturation; however, no studies have been performed to elucidate the function of remorins in tree species. In this study, a Populus deltoides (Marsh.) plasma membrane-binding protein remorin gene (PdREM) was cloned and characterized by investigating its expression pattern and creating transgenic hybrid poplar (P. davidiana Dode × P. bolleana Lauche) lines expressing sense or antisense PdREM. PdREM was specifically expressed in leaf buds, and immature and mature phloem in P. deltoides. Downregulation of PdREM increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, size of the xylem and phloem zones and induced expression of cell wall biosynthesis- and microfibril angle (MFA)-related genes. Overexpression of PdREM retarded vegetative growth. PdREM may negatively regulate vascular growth by inhibiting secondary cell wall expansion in poplar. In addition, antisense PdREM transgenic poplar had a lower MFA, suggesting that PdREM might contribute to sheet strength and wood properties in poplar. This study sheds light on the molecular mechanism of PdREM in P. deltoides growth and development, and lays the foundation for future functional genomics research into wood formation and the genetic engineering of forest trees with improved wood quality traits.
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Forestry Experiment Center of North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100023, P.R. China.
Shaofeng
S
Li
Xiaohua
X
Su
Bingyu
B
Zhang
Qinjun
Q
Huang
Zanmin
Z
Hu
Mengzhu
M
Lu
D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D063245:Plant Development / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014197:Trees / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014934:Wood / Q000254:growth & development*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C103794:remorin
PdREM; Populus deltoides; molecular mechanisms; wood formation