CtDREB52 transcription factor regulates UV-B-induced flavonoid biosynthesis by transactivating CtMYB and CtF3′H in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)
Wang Yufei,
Naveed Ahmad,
Chi Jiaxin,
Yu Lili,
Hou Yuying,
Wang Nan,
Zhang Min,
Jin Libo,
Yao Na,
Liu Xiuming
Affiliations
Wang Yufei
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Naveed Ahmad
Joint Center for Single Cell Biology, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Agri-Seeds, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Chi Jiaxin
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Yu Lili
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Hou Yuying
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Wang Nan
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Zhang Min
Ginseng and Antler Products Testing Center of the Ministry of Agriculture PRC Jilin Agricultural University Changchun, 130118, PR China
Jin Libo
Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, PR China; Corresponding authors.
Yao Na
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Corresponding authors.
Liu Xiuming
College of Life Sciences, Engineering Research Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education for Bioreactor and Pharmaceutical Development, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Corresponding authors.
The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding protein (AP2/ERF) is a highly conserved transcription factors family, involved in plant growth, development, and response to diverse stress conditions. Until recently, the AP2/ERF family has not been functionally characterized in safflower. In total, 187 AP2/ERF genes were identified from safflower genome. Phylogenetic analysis divided these CtAP2/ERFs into four distinct groups: DREB, ERFs, AP2s, and RAV genes. Furthermore, conserved protein motifs, gene structure, and cis-regulatory elements suggested important evolutionary insights into the potential role of these CtAP2/ERFs. Moreover, a comprehensive gene expression analysis conducted across various flowering stages demonstrated a consistent expression pattern of CtDREB52, which exhibited a significant correlation with alterations in the total flavonoid content. Importantly, CtDREB52 was found to be responsive to UV-B stress, and its overexpression in safflower not only promoted flavonoid accumulation but also induced an early flowering phenotype and up-regulated key genes of flavonoid pathway, while its silencing showed the opposite effect. Further, the interaction between CtDREB52 and CtDFR and CtMYB enzymes was confirmed through yeast two-hybrid and BiFC analysis. These findings provide important insights into CtDREB52-mediated regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis under UV-B stress by interacting with CtDFR and CtMYB in safflower.
