WRKY13 acts in stem development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant Sci. 2015 Jul:236:205-13. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.04.004. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Abstract

Stems are important for plants to grow erectly. In stems, sclerenchyma cells must develop secondary cell walls to provide plants with physical support. The secondary cell walls are mainly composed of lignin, xylan and cellulose. Deficiency of overall stem development could cause weakened stems. Here we prove that WRKY13 acts in stem development. The wrky13 mutants take on a weaker stem phenotype. The number of sclerenchyma cells, stem diameter and the number of vascular bundles were reduced in wrky13 mutants. Lignin-synthesis-related genes were repressed in wrky13 mutants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays proved that WRKY13 could directly bind to the promoter of NST2. Taken together, we proposed that WRKY13 affected the overall development of stem. Identification of the role of WRKY13 may help to resolve agricultural problems caused by weaker stems.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Lignin; Sclerenchyma; WRKY13; Weaker stems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Lignin / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Plant Stems / genetics
  • Plant Stems / growth & development*
  • Plant Stems / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • NST2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors
  • WRKY13 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Lignin