Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

Runmiao Tian; Zeyuan Yang; Ruihua Yang; Sihao Wang; Qingwen Shen; Guifeng Wang; Hongqiu Wang; Qingqian Zhou; Jihua Tang; Zhiyuan Fu

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2025.04.008

Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.04.008

State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy/The Shengnong Laboratory, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China

基金项目:

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (242300421028), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372091), the Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Henan Agricultural University (202023CXZX002) to Z-Y.F., the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000304) to Q-W. S., the Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund project of Henan Province (232300421261) to Q-Q.Z., the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2024M750812), and Henan Postdoctoral Foundation.

详细信息

通讯作者:
Jihua Tang,E-mail:tangjihua@henau.edu.cn

Zhiyuan Fu,E-mail:fuzhiyuan@henau.edu.cn

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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2024-11-12
- 录用日期: 2025-04-13
- 修回日期: 2025-04-11
- 刊出日期: 2026-01-31

Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Production of Wheat-Maize Double Cropping/College of Agronomy/The Shengnong Laboratory, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450046, China

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摘要

摘要: α-Zeins, the major maize endosperm storage proteins, are transcriptionally regulated by Opaque2 (O2) and prolamin-box-binding factor 1 (PBF1), with Opaque11 (O11) functioning upstream of them. However, whether O11 directly binds to α-zein genes and its regulatory interactions with O2 and PBF1 remain unclear. Using the small-kernel mutant sw1, which exhibits decreased 19-kDa and increased 22-kDa α-zein, we positionally clone O11 and find it directly binds to G-box/E-box motifs. O11 activates 19-kDa α-zein transcription, stronger than PBF1 but weaker than O2. Notably, PBF1 competitively binds to an overlapping E-box/P-box motif, and represses O11-mediated transactivation. Although O11 does not physically interact with O2, it participates in the O2-centered hierarchical network to enhance α-zein expression. sw1 o2 and sw1 pbf1 double mutants exhibit smaller, more opaque kernels with further reduced 19-kDa and 22-kDa α-zeins compared to the single mutants, suggesting distinct regulatory effects of these transcription factors on 19-kDa and 22-kDa α-zein genes. Promoter motif analysis suggests that O11, PBF1, and O2 directly regulate 19-kDa α-zein genes, while O11 indirectly controls 22-kDa α-zein genes via O2 and PBF1 modulation. These findings identify the unique and coordinated roles of O11, O2, and PBF1 in regulating α-zein genes and kernel development.
- Maize /
- α-Zein /
- Kernel development /
- Endosperm /
- O11 /
- O2 /
- PBF1
Abstract: α-Zeins, the major maize endosperm storage proteins, are transcriptionally regulated by Opaque2 (O2) and prolamin-box-binding factor 1 (PBF1), with Opaque11 (O11) functioning upstream of them. However, whether O11 directly binds to α-zein genes and its regulatory interactions with O2 and PBF1 remain unclear. Using the small-kernel mutant sw1, which exhibits decreased 19-kDa and increased 22-kDa α-zein, we positionally clone O11 and find it directly binds to G-box/E-box motifs. O11 activates 19-kDa α-zein transcription, stronger than PBF1 but weaker than O2. Notably, PBF1 competitively binds to an overlapping E-box/P-box motif, and represses O11-mediated transactivation. Although O11 does not physically interact with O2, it participates in the O2-centered hierarchical network to enhance α-zein expression. sw1 o2 and sw1 pbf1 double mutants exhibit smaller, more opaque kernels with further reduced 19-kDa and 22-kDa α-zeins compared to the single mutants, suggesting distinct regulatory effects of these transcription factors on 19-kDa and 22-kDa α-zein genes. Promoter motif analysis suggests that O11, PBF1, and O2 directly regulate 19-kDa α-zein genes, while O11 indirectly controls 22-kDa α-zein genes via O2 and PBF1 modulation. These findings identify the unique and coordinated roles of O11, O2, and PBF1 in regulating α-zein genes and kernel development.
- Maize /
- α-Zein /
- Kernel development /
- Endosperm /
- O11 /
- O2 /
- PBF1

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参考文献(28)

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Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.04.008

通讯作者:
Jihua Tang,E-mail:tangjihua@henau.edu.cn

Zhiyuan Fu,E-mail:fuzhiyuan@henau.edu.cn

计量

Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

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留言板

Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.04.008

通讯作者: Jihua Tang,E-mail:tangjihua@henau.edu.cn Zhiyuan Fu,E-mail:fuzhiyuan@henau.edu.cn

计量

出版历程

Regulation of maize kernel development via divergent activation of α-zein genes by transcription factors O11, O2, and PBF1

计量

出版历程

目录

通讯作者:
Jihua Tang,E-mail:tangjihua@henau.edu.cn

Zhiyuan Fu,E-mail:fuzhiyuan@henau.edu.cn