CcNAC1 by Transcriptome Analysis Is Involved in Sudan Grass Secondary Cell Wall Formation as a Positive Regulator

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Agricultural Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Sudan grass is a vital forage crop, but its digestibility is limited by lignification.
• Lignocellulose, primarily in the secondary cell wall, dictates forage quality, yet its synthesis mechanism in Sudan grass remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing secondary cell wall synthesis in Sudan grass.
• To identify key regulatory genes involved in lignification and their function.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an in vitro system for Sudan grass secondary cell wall induction.
• Performed transcriptome sequencing to identify candidate genes.
• Generated Arabidopsis overexpression lines for CcNAC1 to assess gene function.
• Conducted subcellular localization and yeast two-hybrid assays.
• Performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis.

Main Results:

• Transcriptome analysis revealed the NAC transcription factor CcNAC1 is associated with secondary cell wall synthesis.
• Overexpression of CcNAC1 in Arabidopsis significantly increased lignin content.
• Subcellular localization confirmed CcNAC1 functions in the nucleus.
• Yeast two-hybrid screening identified 26 interacting proteins, and pathway analysis linked CcNAC1 to secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

Conclusions:

• The NAC transcription factor CcNAC1 plays a crucial role in regulating Sudan grass secondary cell wall synthesis.
• Understanding CcNAC1's function provides insights into improving forage quality by modulating lignification.