title: The cotton β-galactosyltransferase 1 (GalT1) that galactosylates arabinogalactan proteins participates in controlling fiber development.
abstract: Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated proteins that play pivotal roles in diverse developmental processes in plants. Type-II AG glycans, mostly O-linked to the hydroxyproline residues of the protein backbone, account for up to 95% w/w of the AGP, but their functions are still largely unclear. Cotton fibers are extremely elongated single-cell trichomes on the seed epidermis; however, little is known of the molecular basis governing the regulation of fiber cell development. Here, we characterized the role of a CAZy glycosyltransferase 31 (GT31) family member, GhGalT1, in cotton fiber development. The fiber length of the transgenic cotton overexpressing GhGalT1 was shorter than that of the wild type, whereas in the GhGalT1-silenced lines there was a notable increase in fiber length compared with wild type. The carbohydrate moieties of AGPs were altered in fibers of GhGalT1 transgenic cotton. The galactose: arabinose ratio of AG glycans was higher in GhGalT1 overexpression fibers, but was lower in GhGalT1-silenced lines, compared with that in the wild type. Overexpression of GhGalT1 upregulates transcript levels of a broad range of cell wall-related genes, especially the fasciclin-like AGP (FLA) backbone genes. An enzyme activity assay demonstrated that GhGalT1 is a β-1,3-galactosyltransferase (β-1,3-GalT) involved in biosynthesis of the β-1,3-galactan backbone of the type-II AG glycans of AGPs. We also show that GhGalT1 can form homo- and heterodimers with other cotton GT31 family members to facilitate AG glycan assembly of AGPs. Thus, our data demonstrate that GhGalT1 influences cotton fiber development via controlling the glycosylation of AGPs, especially FLAs.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Deng-Di
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Antony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacic
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003368:Gossypium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009088:Mucoproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C006619:arabinogalactan proteins; D005700:Galactosyltransferases
keywords: arabinogalactan-protein (AGP); cell wall; cotton (Gossypium hirsutum); fiber development; glycosylation; β-galactosyltransferase (GalT)