Repositorium
Role of heterotrimeric Gα proteins in maize development and enhancement of agronomic traits
365
Journal Article / 2018
Wu, Qingyu; Regan, Michael; Furukawa, Hiro; Jackson, David
Plant shoot systems derive from the shoot apical meristems (SAMs), pools of stems cells that are regulated by a feedback between the WUSCHEL (WUS) homeobox protein and CLAVATA (CLV) peptides and receptors. The maize heterotrimeric G protein α subunit COMPACT PLANT2 (CT2) functions with CLV receptors to regulate meristem development. In addition to the sole canonical Gα CT2, maize also contains three eXtra Large GTP-binding proteins (XLGs), which have a domain with homology to Gα as well as additional domains. By either forcing CT2 to be constitutively active, or by depleting XLGs using CRISPR-Cas9, here we show that both CT2 and XLGs play important roles in maize meristem regulation, and their manipulation improved agronomic traits. For example, we show that expression of a constitutively active CT2 resulted in higher spikelet density and kernel row number, larger ear inflorescence meristems (IMs) and more upright leaves, all beneficial traits selected during maize improvement. Our findings suggest that both the canonical Gα, CT2 and the non-canonical XLGs play important roles in maize meristem regulation and further demonstrate that weak alleles of plant stem cell regulatory genes have the capacity to improve agronomic traits.
Techniques
ID | Corresponding Author Country |
Plant Species | GE Technique Sequence Identifier |
Trait Type of Alteration |
Progress in Research Key Topic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
849 |
Jackson, David USA |
Zea mays |
CRISPR/Cas9 XLG1 |
Lethality at the seedling stage SDN1 |
Basic research Basic research |
850 |
Jackson, David USA |
Zea mays |
CRISPR/Cas9 XLG3a |
Lethality at the seedling stage SDN1 |
Basic research Basic research |
851 |
Jackson, David USA |
Zea mays |
CRISPR/Cas9 XLG3b |
Lethality at the seedling stage SDN1 |
Basic research Basic research |