Exon junction complex (EJC) core genes play multiple developmental roles in Physalis floridana

Abstract

Key messageMolecular and functional characterization of four gene families of the Physalis exon junction complex (EJC) core improved our understanding of the evolution and function of EJC core genes in plants.AbstractThe exon junction complex (EJC) plays significant roles in posttranscriptional regulation of genes in eukaryotes. However, its developmental roles in plants are poorly known. We characterized four EJC core genes from Physalis floridana that were named PFMAGO, PFY14, PFeIF4AIII and PFBTZ. They shared a similar phylogenetic topology and were expressed in all examined organs. PFMAGO, PFY14 and PFeIF4AIII were localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm while PFBTZ was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. No protein homodimerization was observed, but they could form heterodimers excluding the PFY14-PFBTZ heterodimerization. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of PFMAGO or PFY14 aborted pollen development and resulted in low plant survival due to a leaf-blight-like phenotype in the shoot apex. Carpel functionality was also impaired in the PFY14 knockdowns, whereas pollen maturation was uniquely affected in PFBTZ-VIGS plants. Once PFeIF4AIII was strongly downregulated, plant survival was reduced via a decomposing root collar after flowering and Chinese lantern morphology was distorted. The expression of Physalis orthologous genes in the DYT1-TDF1-AMS-bHLH91 regulatory cascade that is associated with pollen maturation was significantly downregulated in PFMAGO-, PFY14- and PFBTZ-VIGS flowers. Intron-retention in the transcripts of P. floridana dysfunctional tapetum1 (PFDYT1) occurred in these mutated flowers. Additionally, the expression level of WRKY genes in defense-related pathways in the shoot apex of PFMAGO- or PFY14-VIGS plants and in the root collar of PFeIF4AIII-VIGS plants was significantly downregulated. Taken together, the Physalis EJC core genes play multiple roles including a conserved role in male fertility and newly discovered roles in Chinese lantern development, carpel functionality and defense-related processes. These data increase our understanding of the evolution and functions of EJC core genes in plants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11103-018-0795-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Supergene evolution via stepwise duplications and neofunctionalization of a floral-organ identity gene

“…However, this concern is allayed by two arguments. First, while initial reports suggested only a low silencing activity with tobacco-rattle virus (TRV)-mediated VIGS in pollen, recent experiments using TRV-VIGS have found strong effects on pollen development, either by affecting genes that appear to act directly in the pollen (33) or genes indirectly required for pollen development in the tapetal cells of the anthers (34,35). Second, the genetics of heterostyly in Primula suggests that the P gene acts in diploid sporophytic cells rather than in the haploid pollen, because S-morph flowers generate uniform pollen, both regarding its size and male incompatibility type, rather than the 1:1 segregation expected if the P gene acted in the haploid pollen itself.…”

Advances in Physalis molecular research: applications in authentication, genetic diversity, phylogenetics, functional genes, and omics

“…Additionally, four core exon junction complex core genes in P. floridana —namely, PFMAGO , PFY14 , PFeIF4AIII , and PFBTZ —have been found to play diverse developmental roles in carpel functionality and environmental stress responses. Furthermore, an intron retention in the transcript of DYT1 was detected in the mutated flowers of P. floridana indicating its significance in floral development ( Gong et al., 2018 ). These works provide us with candidate genes for studying the growth and development of Physalis plants.…”

Genome-wide association study and genomic selection for tolerance of soybean biomass to soybean cyst nematode infestation

“…Our results also indicated a mago nashi family protein to be a good candidate for SCN tolerance. Mago nashi protein is a key component of the exon junction complex (EJC) [38]. The involvement of mago nashi protein in plant defense pathways against pathogens remains poorly understood.…”

“…The involvement of mago nashi protein in plant defense pathways against pathogens remains poorly understood. However, Gong et al [38] reported that one of the genes found in the EJC complex is involved in plant growth and development. In this study, we reported loci affecting tolerance index based on biomass reduction under SCN infestation in soybean.…”