Nuclear factor-Y-polycomb repressive complex2 dynamically orchestrates starch and seed storage protein biosynthesis
Jinchao Chen1,2, Long Zhao1,2, Haoran Li1
1Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
The Plant Cell
|September 18, 2024
Summary
Researchers identified a wheat nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) complex that regulates endosperm development. This complex, interacting with Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), controls starch and protein levels, offering potential for improving grain yield and quality.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Cereal Crop Science
Background:
- Endosperm development in cereal grains is crucial for yield and quality, primarily through starch and seed storage protein (SSP) production.
- Nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) complexes are known transcriptional regulators, but their specific roles in wheat endosperm development and epigenetic control are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a specific NF-Y trimeric complex involved in wheat endosperm development.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which this NF-Y complex regulates starch and SSP biosynthesis.
- To investigate the interaction between the NF-Y complex, Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), and epigenetic modifications in controlling gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Identification of a wheat NF-Y trimeric complex (TaNF-YA3-D, TaNF-YB7-B, TaNF-YC6-B) with high expression in the endosperm during grain filling.
- Gene knockdown experiments to assess the impact of TaNF-YA3 and TaNF-YC6 on starch and protein content.
- Analysis of gene expression related to starch biosynthesis and protein accumulation.
- Investigation of interactions between NF-Y components, TaSWN (PRC2 subunit), and histone modifications (H3K27me3).
- Analysis of sequence variations in TaNF-YB7-B and their correlation with grain composition.
Main Results:
- Knockdown of TaNF-YA3 or TaNF-YC6 reduced starch but increased gluten protein levels.
- TaNF-Y represses starch biosynthesis genes (e.g., TacAGPS1a, TaSuS2) indirectly by inhibiting TaNAC019, and directly inhibits gliadin and LMW-GS genes.
- The TaNF-Y complex interacts with TaSWN (PRC2) to mediate H3K27me3-based epigenetic repression of target genes.
- Mutations in TaFIE (PRC2 subunit) and variations in TaNF-YB7-B haplotypes affect starch and SSP content by altering TaSWN interaction and target gene repression.
Conclusions:
- A wheat NF-Y-PRC2 complex plays a critical role in epigenetic regulation of endosperm development, balancing starch and protein accumulation.
- Understanding these intricate molecular mechanisms provides insights into optimizing grain yield and quality in wheat.
- Targeting the TaNF-Y complex offers a potential strategy for crop improvement.
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