Functional conservation of an AP2/ERF transcription factor in cuticle formation suggests an important role in the terrestrialization of early land plants

Abstract

The formation of a hydrophobic cuticle layer on aerial plant parts was a critical innovation for protection from the terrestrial environment during the evolution of land plants. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying cuticle biogenesis in early terrestrial plants. Here, we report an APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor (AP2/ERF) transcriptional activator, PpWIN1, involved in cutin and cuticular wax biosynthesis in Physcomitrium patens and Arabidopsis. The transcript levels of PpWIN1 were 2.5–fold higher in gametophores than in the protonema, and increased by approximately 3– to 4.7–fold in the protonema and gametophores under salt and osmotic stresses. PpWIN1 harbouring transcriptional activation activity is localized in the nucleus of tobacco leaf epidermal cells. Δppwin1 knockout mutants displayed a permeable cuticle, increased water loss, and cutin- and wax-deficient phenotypes. In contrast, increased total cutin and wax loads, and decreased water loss rates were observed in PpWIN1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants. The transcript levels of genes involved in cutin or wax biosynthesis were significantly up-regulated in PpWIN1-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines, indicating that PpWIN1 acts as a transcriptional activator in cuticle biosynthesis. This study suggests that Arabidopsis WIN1/SHN1 orthologs may be functionally conserved from early to vascular land plants.

Transcription Factor TaMYB30 Activates Wheat Wax Biosynthesis

“…The SHINE (SHN) clade of the AP2 domain transcription factors AtSHN1, AtSHN2, and AtSHN3 were first identified as transcriptional activators of cuticle lipid biosynthesis in the dicot model plant Arabidopsis thaliana [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Orthologs of AtSHN1, AtSHN2, and AtSHN3 have been characterized as key regulators of wax biosynthesis in other plant species such as Hordeum vulgare , T. aestivum , and Physcomitrium patens [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. In addition, myeloblastosis (MYB)-type transcription factors AtMYB16, AtMYB30, AtMYB41, AtMYB94, AtMYB96, and AtMYB106 are revealed to become widely involved in the transcriptional regulation of wax biosynthesis in A. thaliana [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”

Cell-type aware regulatory landscapes governing monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in the medicinal plantCatharanthus roseus

“…7B). Homeodomain (e.g., ANTHOCYANINLESS2/ANL2 30 ), AP2/ERF (e.g., WAX INDUCER1 31 ), and MYB TFs (e.g., WEREWOLF 32 ) have been reported to control metabolic and developmental processes such as anthocyanin biosynthesis, cuticle development, and trichome development, respectively. Enrichment of these motifs suggests that additional TFs in the homeodomain, ERF, or MYB families may play a role in the regulation of MIA biosynthesis in the epidermis.…”

Divergent evolution of the alcohol‐forming pathway of wax biosynthesis among bryophytes

“…(2020) and Kim et al . (2022) with slight modifications. Detailed information is given in Methods S5.…”

“…20:0 FA/21:0 FA, 23:0 PA, 24:0 ALK/28:0 ALK, and 34:0 WE/36:0 WE were added as internal standards to the tissue extracts. Wax analyses were performed as previously described by Lee et al (2020) and Kim et al (2022) with slight modifications. Detailed information is given in Methods S5.…”