GhCaM7-like, a calcium sensor gene, influences cotton fiber elongation and biomass production.
Calcium signaling regulates many developmental processes in plants. Calmodulin (CaM) is one of the most conserved calcium sensors and has a flexible conformation in eukaryotes. The molecular functions of CaM are unknown in cotton, which is a major source of natural fiber. In this study, a Gossypium hirsutum L.CaM7-like gene was isolated from upland cotton. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the GhCaM7-like gene was highly conserved as compared with Arabidopsis AtCaM7. The GhCaM7-like gene showed a high expression level in elongating fibers. Expression of β-glucuronidase was observed in trichomes on the stem, leaf and root in transgenic Arabidopsis plants of a PROGhCaM7-like:GUS fusion. Silencing of the GhCaM7-like gene resulted in decreased fiber length, but also caused reduction in stem height, leaf dimensions, seed length and 100-seed weight, in comparison with those of the control. Reduced expression of the GhCaM7-like gene caused decreased Ca2+influx in cells of the leaf hypodermis and stem apex, and down-regulation of GhIQD1 (IQ67-domain containing protein), GhAnn2 (Annexins) and GhEXP2 (Expansin). These results indicate that the GhCaM7-like gene plays a vital role in calcium signaling pathways, and may regulate cotton fiber elongation and biomass production by affecting Ca2+signatures and downstream signaling pathways of CaM.
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China; Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Yuan
Y
Cheng
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Lili
L
Lu
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Zhaoen
Z
Yang
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Zhixia
Z
Wu
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Wenqiang
W
Qin
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Daoqian
D
Yu
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Zhongying
Z
Ren
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Yi
Y
Li
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China.
Lingling
L
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China. Electronic address: aylifug@163.com.
Fuguang
F
Li
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China. Electronic address: yangzuoren4012@163.com.
Zuoren
Z
Yang
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000235:genetics; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C465131:CaM7 protein, Arabidopsis; D002147:Calmodulin; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002118:Calcium
Biomass production; Calmodulin; Fiber elongation; GhCaM7-like