Three TaFAR genes function in the biosynthesis of primary alcohols and the response to abiotic stresses in Triticum aestivum.
Cuticular waxes play crucial roles in protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. They are complex mixtures of very-long-chain fatty acids and their derivatives, including C20-C32 fatty alcohols. Here, we report the identification of 32 FAR-like genes and the detailed characterization of TaFAR2, TaFAR3 and TaFAR4, wax biosynthetic genes encoding fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase (FAR) in wheat leaf cuticle. Heterologous expression of the three TaFARs in wild-type yeast and mutated yeast showed that TaFAR2, TaFAR3 and TaFAR4 were predominantly responsible for the accumulation of C18:0, C28:0 and C24:0 primary alcohols, respectively. Transgenic expression of the three TaFARs in tomato fruit and Arabidopsis cer4 mutant led to increased production of C22:0-C30:0 primary alcohols. GFP-fusion protein injection assay showed that the three encoded TaFAR proteins were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the site of wax biosynthesis. The transcriptional expression of the three TaFAR genes was induced by cold, salt, drought and ABA. Low air humidity led to increased expression of TaFAR genes and elevated wax accumulation in wheat leaves. Collectively, these data suggest that TaFAR2, TaFAR3 and TaFAR4 encode active alcohol-forming FARs involved in the synthesis of primary alcohol in wheat leaf and the response to environmental stresses.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Meiling
M
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Yong
Y
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Hongqi
H
Wu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Jing
J
Xu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Tingting
T
Li
Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Daniela
D
Hegebarth
Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.|Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Reinhard
R
Jetter
State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Letian
L
Chen
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Zhonghua
Z
Wang
D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C021351:hexadecanal dehydrogenase (acylating)