Identification and expression analysis of twenty ARF genes in Populus.
The auxin response factor (ARF) family of transcription factors is a crucial component of auxin signaling and plays important roles regulating numerous growth and developmental processes in plants. We isolated and characterized 20 ARF genes involved in adventitious root development of Populus. Multiple protein sequence alignments revealed that the PeARF proteins contained a highly conserved region in their N-terminal portion corresponding to the DNA-binding domain of the Arabidopsis ARF family. Except for PeARF3.1, PeARF3.2, PeARF17.1 and PeARF17.2, the PeARF proteins contained a carboxyl-terminal domain related to the Arabidopsis domains III and IV, which are involved in homo- and heterodimerization. The exon-intron structures of the PeARF genes were determined by aligning cDNA and genomic sequences. As expected, most PeARF genes had a similar distribution of exon-intron structures. Temporal expression patterns of these genes were profiled during adventitious root development. All 20 PeARF genes were expressed in root, stem and leaf in a dynamic manner. Transient expression assays with Populus protoplasts demonstrated that these PeARFs were localized to the nucleus. These results suggest that PeARFs may play diverse regulatory roles in adventitious root development of Populus and contribute to improving our understanding of conserved and divergent aspects of auxin signaling in various species.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Poplar Germplasm Enhancement and Variety Improvement, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330013, China.
Chunxia
C
Yang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Poplar Germplasm Enhancement and Variety Improvement, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: xum@njfu.edu.cn.
Meng
M
Xu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Poplar Germplasm Enhancement and Variety Improvement, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
Lei
L
Xuan
Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Nanchang 330013, China.
Xiangmei
X
Jiang
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Poplar Germplasm Enhancement and Variety Improvement, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: njmrhuang@njfu.edu.cn.
Minren
M
Huang
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
Adventitious root; Exon–intron organization; Expression pattern; PeARF; Subcellular localization