title: Silencing of the potato StNAC103 gene enhances the accumulation of suberin polyester and associated wax in tuber skin.
abstract: Suberin and wax deposited in the cork (phellem) layer of the periderm form the lipophilic barrier that protects mature plant organs. Periderm lipids have been widely studied for their protective function with regards to dehydration and for how they respond to environmental stresses and wounding. However, despite advances in the biosynthetic pathways of suberin and associated wax, little is known about the regulation of their deposition. Here, we report on a potato NAC transcription factor gene, StNAC103, induced in the tuber phellem (skin). The StNAC103 promoter is active in cells undergoing suberization such as in the basal layer of the phellem, but also in the root apical meristem. Gene silencing in potato periderm correlates with an increase in the suberin and wax load, and specifically in alkanes, ω-hydroxyacids, diacids, ferulic acid, and primary alcohols. Concomitantly, silenced lines also showed up-regulation of key genes related to the biosynthesis and transport of suberin and wax in the tuber periderm. Taken together, our results suggest that StNAC103 has a role in the tight regulation of the formation of apoplastic barriers and is, to the best of our knowledge, the first candidate gene to be identified as being involved in the repression of suberin and wax deposition.
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Roger
authors: 0000-0003-4592-1906
authors: R
authors: Verdaguer
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, UMR5546, Université Toulouse III/CNRS, BP 42617, Auzeville, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France.
authors: Marçal
authors: 0000-0002-9138-9394
authors: M
authors: Soler
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Olga
authors: 0000-0002-1678-0932
authors: O
authors: Serra
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Aïda
authors: 0000-0003-2746-1520
authors: A
authors: Garrote
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Sandra
authors: 0000-0002-4300-0778
authors: S
authors: Fernández
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Dolors
authors: 0000-0001-7739-3736
authors: D
authors: Company-Arumí
authors: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Enriqueta
authors: 0000-0003-0053-0119
authors: E
authors: Anticó
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Marisa
authors: 0000-0002-5623-5066
authors: M
authors: Molinas
authors: Laboratori del Suro, Biology Department, Campus Montilivi, E-17071 Girona, Catalonia, Spain merce.figueras@udg.edu.
authors: Mercè
authors: 0000-0002-6288-1830
authors: M
authors: Figueras
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014885:Waxes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014885:Waxes; C065875:suberin
keywords: Apoplastic barriers; NAC transcription factor; StNAC103; periderm; phellem; regulation; suberin; suberin-associated wax; tuber.