StHY5 activates StSP6A to control photoperiod-induced tuberization in potato
Meiqi Shi1, Lijie Xuan1, Yunke Zhu1
1Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds/Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Plant Physiology
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Short days trigger potato tuber growth by activating the StSP6A gene. Researchers found ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (StHY5) acts upstream, directly controlling StSP6A to boost tuber formation and yield.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Photoperiod is a crucial environmental cue regulating potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber development.
- Short days (SD) induce the expression of SELF PRUNING 6A (StSP6A), a key signal for tuberization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify upstream regulators of StSP6A gene expression under short-day conditions.
- To elucidate the role of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (StHY5) in photoperiodic regulation of potato tuberization.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome analysis of potato leaves under short-day conditions.
- Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to analyze gene expression dynamics.
- Promoter analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) to confirm StHY5 binding to StSP6A promoter.
- Overexpression studies in potato to assess the functional impact of StHY5.
Main Results:
- Transcriptome analysis identified StHY5 as a strongly upregulated gene in response to short days.
- StHY5 expression is rapidly modulated by photoperiod changes and directly activates StSP6A transcription.
- StHY5 binds to ACGT-containing element (ACE) motifs in the StSP6A promoter.
- Overexpression of StHY5 significantly enhances potato tuber formation and yield.
Conclusions:
- StHY5 acts as a critical photoperiodic signal transducer in potato.
- StHY5 functions upstream of StSP6A, initiating and enhancing tuber formation under short days.
- The StHY5-StSP6A pathway offers a potential target for improving potato yield through breeding.
Related Concept Videos
02:04Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.
01:24Protein Transport to the Stroma
Chloroplasts are triple membrane structures with an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a thylakoid membrane, each containing distinct metabolite transporters, membrane translocons, and enzymes. Appropriate sorting and translocating these proteins to their correct membrane systems is essential for chloroplast function.
Protein complexes called the translocon of the outer chloroplast membrane or TOC complex, and the translocon of the inner chloroplast membrane or TIC complex mediate the...
Protein complexes called the translocon of the outer chloroplast membrane or TOC complex, and the translocon of the inner chloroplast membrane or TIC complex mediate the...
01:17Gene Regulation During Sporulation
Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...