Transcription factor ZmNAC126 plays an important role in transcriptional regulation of maize starch synthesis-related genes
Qianlin Xiao,
Yayun Wang,
Hui Li,
Chunxia Zhang,
Bin Wei,
Yongbin Wang,
Huanhuan Huang,
Yangping Li,
Guowu Yu,
Hanmei Liu,
Junjie Zhang,
Yinghong Liu,
Yufeng Hu,
Yubi Huang
Affiliations
Qianlin Xiao
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China; College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
Yayun Wang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Hui Li
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Chunxia Zhang
College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China; Sichuan Seed Station, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
Bin Wei
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yongbin Wang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Huanhuan Huang
College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yangping Li
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Guowu Yu
College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Hanmei Liu
College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, Sichuan, China
Junjie Zhang
College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, Sichuan, China
Yinghong Liu
Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yufeng Hu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
Yubi Huang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China; Corresponding author.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world, and starch is the main component of its endosperm. Transcriptional regulation plays a vital role in starch biosynthesis. However, it is not well understood in maize. We report the identification of the transcription factor ZmNAC126 and its role in regulation of starch synthesis in maize. Transcriptional expression of ZmNAC126 was higher in maize endosperm and kernels than in roots or stems. ZmNAC126 shared a similar expression pattern with starch synthesis genes during seed development, and its expression pattern was also consistent with the accumulation of starch. ZmNAC126 is a typical transcription factor with a transactivation domain between positions 201 and 227 of the amino acid sequence, is located in the nucleus, and binds to CACG repeats in vitro. Yeast one-hybrid assay revealed that ZmNAC126 bound the promoters of ZmGBSSI, ZmSSIIa, ZmSSIV, ZmISA1, and ZmISA2. Transient overexpression of ZmNAC126 in maize endosperm increased the activities of promoters pZmSh2, pZmBt2, pZmGBSSI, pZmSSIIIa, and pZmBT1 but inhibited the activities of pZmISA1 and pZmISA2. ZmNAC126 thus acts in starch synthesis by transcriptionally regulating targeted starch synthesis-related genes in maize kernels.