title: A dsRNA-binding protein MdDRB1 associated with miRNA biogenesis modifies adventitious rooting and tree architecture in apple.
abstract: Although numerous miRNAs have been already isolated from fruit trees, knowledge about miRNA biogenesis is largely unknown in fruit trees. Double-strand RNA-binding (DRB) protein plays an important role in miRNA processing and maturation; however, its role in the regulation of economically important traits is not clear yet in fruit trees. EST blast and RACE amplification were performed to isolate apple MdDRB1 gene. Following expression analysis, RNA binding and protein interaction assays, MdDRB1 was transformed into apple callus and in vitro tissue cultures to characterize the functions of MdDRB1 in miRNA biogenesis, adventitious rooting, leaf development and tree growth habit. MdDRB1 contained two highly conserved DRB domains. Its transcripts existed in all tissues tested and are induced by hormones. It bound to double-strand RNAs and interacted with AtDCL1 (Dicer-Like 1) and MdDCL1. Chip assay indicated its role in miRNA biogenesis. Transgenic analysis showed that MdDRB1 controls adventitious rooting, leaf curvature and tree architecture by modulating the accumulation of miRNAs and the transcript levels of miRNA target genes. Our results demonstrated that MdDRB1 functions in the miRNA biogenesis in a conserved way and that it is a master regulator in the formation of economically important traits in fruit trees.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Xiang
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xing-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Huai-Rui
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Yu-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D027845:Malus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014197:Trees; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
keywords: adventitious rooting; apple; double-strand RNA-binding protein; leaf curvature; miRNAs; tree architecture