Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Non-Aqueous Isolation and Enrichment of Glandular Capitate Stalked and Sessile Trichomes from Cannabis sativa
Published on: May 12, 2023
A novel HD-ZIP IV/MIXTA complex promotes glandular trichome initiation and cuticle development in Artemisia annua
Tingxiang Yan1, Ling Li1, Lihui Xie1
1Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
Abstract:
Glandular trichomes and cuticles are both specialized structures that cover the epidermis of aerial plant organs. The former are commonly regarded as 'biofactories' for producing valuable natural products. The latter are generally considered as natural barriers for defending plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the regulatory network for their formation and relationship remains largely elusive. Here we identify a homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) IV transcription factor, AaHD8, directly promoting the expression of AaHD1 for glandular trichome initiation in Artemisia annua. We found that AaHD8 positively regulated leaf cuticle development in A. annua via controlling the expression of cuticle-related enzyme genes. Furthermore, AaHD8 interacted with a MIXTA-like protein AaMIXTA1, a positive regulator of trichome initiation and cuticle development, forming a regulatory complex and leading to enhanced transcriptional activity in regulating the expression of AaHD1 and cuticle development genes. Our results reveal a molecular mechanism by which a novel HD-ZIP IV/MIXTA complex plays a significant role in regulating epidermal development, including glandular trichome initiation and cuticle formation.
Related Concept Videos
Anaphase Promoting Complex
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
Initiation of Translation
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
Transcription Initiation
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...

