Climate-responsive DNA methylation is involved in the biosynthesis of lignin in birch

Bowei Chen; Bowei Chen; Yile Guo; Yile Guo; Xu Zhang; Xu Zhang; Lishan Wang; Lishan Wang; Lesheng Cao; Lesheng Cao; Tianxu Zhang; Tianxu Zhang; Zihui Zhang; Zihui Zhang; Wei Zhou; Wei Zhou; Linan Xie; Linan Xie; Jiang Wang; Jiang Wang; Shanwen Sun; Shanwen Sun; Chuanping Yang; Qingzhu Zhang; Qingzhu Zhang

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1090967

Frontiers in Plant Science (Dec 2022)

Climate-responsive DNA methylation is involved in the biosynthesis of lignin in birch

Bowei Chen,
Bowei Chen,
Yile Guo,
Yile Guo,
Xu Zhang,
Xu Zhang,
Lishan Wang,
Lishan Wang,
Lesheng Cao,
Lesheng Cao,
Tianxu Zhang,
Tianxu Zhang,
Zihui Zhang,
Zihui Zhang,
Wei Zhou,
Wei Zhou,
Linan Xie,
Linan Xie,
Jiang Wang,
Jiang Wang,
Shanwen Sun,
Shanwen Sun,
Chuanping Yang,
Qingzhu Zhang,
Qingzhu Zhang

Affiliations

Bowei Chen: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Bowei Chen: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Yile Guo: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Yile Guo: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Xu Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Xu Zhang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Lishan Wang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Lishan Wang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Lesheng Cao: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Lesheng Cao: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Tianxu Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Tianxu Zhang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Zihui Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Zihui Zhang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Wei Zhou: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Wei Zhou: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Linan Xie: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Linan Xie: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Jiang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Jiang Wang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Shanwen Sun: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Shanwen Sun: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Chuanping Yang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Qingzhu Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
Qingzhu Zhang: College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1090967
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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Lignin is one of the most important secondary metabolites and essential to the formation of cell walls. Changes in lignin biosynthesis have been reported to be associated with environmental variations and can influence plant fitness and their adaptation to abiotic stresses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the relations between the lignin biosynthesis and environmental factors and explored the role of epigenetic modification (DNA methylation) in contributing to these relations if any in natural birch. Significantly negative correlations were observed between the lignin content and temperature ranges. Analyzing the transcriptomes of birches in two habitats with different temperature ranges showed that the expressions of genes and transcription factors (TFs) involving lignin biosynthesis were significantly reduced at higher temperature ranges. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing revealed that promoter DNA methylation of two NAC-domain TFs, BpNST1/2 and BpSND1, may be involved in the inhibition of these gene expressions, and thereby reduced the content of lignin. Based on these results we proposed a DNA methylation-mediated lignin biosynthesis model which responds to environmental factors. Overall, this study suggests the possibility of environmental signals to induce epigenetic variations that result in changes in lignin content, which can aid to develop resilient plants to combat ongoing climate changes or to manipulate secondary metabolite biosynthesis for agricultural, medicinal, or industrial values.

Published in Frontiers in Plant Science

ISSN: 1664-462X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science

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