title: HbMADS4, a MADS-box Transcription Factor fromHevea brasiliensis, Negatively RegulatesHbSRPP.
abstract: In plants MADS-box transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in growth and development. However, no plant MADS-box gene has been identified to have a function related to secondary metabolites regulation. Here, a MADS-box TF gene, designated asHbMADS4, was isolated fromHevea brasiliensisby the yeast one-hybrid experiment to screen the latex cDNA library using the promoter of the gene encodingH. brasiliensissmall rubber particle protein (HbSRPP) as bait.HbMADS4was 984-bp containing 633-bp open reading frame encoding a deduced protein of 230 amino acid residues with a typical conserved MADS-box motif at the N terminus.HbMADS4was preferentially expressed in the latex, but little expression was detected in the leaves, flowers, and roots. Its expression was inducible by methyl jasmonate and ethylene. Furthermore, transient over-expression and over-expression of HbMADS4 in transgenic tobacco plants significantly suppressed the activity of theHbSRPpromoter. Altogether, it is proposed that HbMADS4 is a negative regulator ofHbSRPPwhich participates in the biosynthesis of natural rubber.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ran
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Xiong-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences Haikou, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Peng
keywords: Hevea brasiliensis; MADS-box transcription factor; natural rubber; negative regulator; promoter; small rubber particle protein