Natural variation in the bZIP68 promoter modulates cold tolerance and was targeted during maize domestication

第一作者：Zhuoyang Li

第一单位：中国农业大学

通讯作者：Shuhua Yang

 Abstarct 

背景回顾：Maize (Zea mays) originated in tropical areas and is thus susceptible to low temperatures, which pose a major threat to maize production. Our understanding of the molecular basis of cold tolerance in maize is limited. 

玉米起源于热带地区，因此更易受到低温的胁迫，从而导致玉米生产上的重大损失。目前，对于玉米低温抗性的分子基础还所知甚少。

主要研究：Here, we identified bZIP68, a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, as a negative regulator of cold tolerance in maize. 

本文中，作者鉴定到了一个bZIP转录因子bZIP68，其作为玉米低温抗性的负调控因子发挥作用。

结果1-bZIP68负调控DREB1：Transcriptome analysis revealed that bZIP68 represses the cold-induced expression of DREB1 transcription factor genes. 

转录组分析显示，bZIP68能够抑制低温诱导的DREB1基因的表达。

结果2-bZIP68蛋白磷酸化：The stability and transcriptional activity of bZIP68 are controlled by its phosphorylation at the conserved Ser250 residue under cold stress. 

bZIP68蛋白在低温下的稳定性及其转录活性受到其250号位置上保守的丝氨酸残基磷酸化的控制。

结果3-bZIP68位点的选择与驯化：Furthermore, we demonstrated that the bZIP68 locus was a target of selection during early domestication. A 358-bp insertion/deletion (Indel-972) polymorphism in the bZIP68 promoter has a significant effect on the differential expression of bZIP68 between maize and its wild ancestor teosinte.

此外，作者还发现bZIP68基因位点在早期驯化过程中，受到了选择。玉米及其野生祖先大刍草之间的bZIP68基因存在差异性表达，且这受到该基因启动子上一段358bp的插入/删除多态性的显著影响。

结论：This study thus uncovered an evolutionary cis-regulatory variant that could be used to improve cold tolerance in maize.

因此，本文的研究结果揭示了可以利用顺式调控元件变异改良玉米的低温抗性。

Figure 7 Model of the role of ZmbZIP68 in regulating the maize cold response.

 杨淑华 

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koac137

Journal: The Plant Cell

Published date: May 11, 2022