Involvement of an R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene AtMYB118 in embryogenesis in Arabidopsis

Abstract

MYB transcription factors play important roles in various developmental processes in plants. Here we report the characterization of AtMYB118, a gene encoding a putative R2R3-type MYB transcription factor, which expresses predominantly in siliques. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis and in situ hybridization showed that the transcripts of AtMYB118 were mainly detected in developing embryos. Constitutive over-expression of AtMYB118 resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes, including dwarfism, compact rosettes, backward curly-leaves, smaller flowers and siliques, and premature seed dehydration at the tip of siliques. Microarray analysis showed that many genes encoding proteins accumulated during embryogenesis were remarkably up-regulated in AtMYB118-over-expressed transgenic plants, including late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA proteins), storage proteins, seed maturation proteins, and proteins related with seed dehydration, desiccation and ABA signaling pathway. These results suggest that AtMYB118 may play an important role during embryogenesis and seed maturation.

High-throughput sequencing of small RNAs and analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs associated with pistil development in Japanese apricot

“…Consequently, the expression of ARF2 was repressed by these miRNAs and thus regulated pistil development. Moreover, TCP2 ( TEOSINTE BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA/PCF ) transcription factor genes and MYB33, which belong to a GAMYB-like family of transcription factors, are also targets of miR319/miR319a/miR319e in our prediction, which agrees with previous reports [10,66]. Therefore, it is conceivable that the over-expression of miR319/miR319a/miR319e may contribute to an increase in imperfect flower ratios in pistil development.…”

Group 3 late embryogenesis abundant protein in Arabidopsis: structure, regulation, and function

“…Recent microarray analyses showed that many genes encoding proteins that accumulate during embryogenesis (e.g., AtLEA3-1-4) are remarkably upregulated in AtMYB118-overexpressed transgenic plants. These results suggest that AtMYB118 plays an important role during embryogenesis and seed maturation (Zhang et al 2009). …”

Simultaneous Expression of Spinacia oleracea Chloroplast Choline Monooxygenase (CMO) and Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (BADH) Genes Contribute to Dwarfism in Transgenic Lolium perenne

“…Dwarfism is an aberrant plant phenotype that could be induced by over-expression of MYB transcription factors (Zhang et al 2009), single virulence factor (Hoshi et al 2009), brassinosteroid receptor gene (Morinaka et al 2006), extremely hydrophobic peptides (Dresselhaus et al 2005), glutamate decarboxylase (Akama and Takaiwa 2007), fungal pectin methylesterase (Hasunuma et al 2004), regulator of gene expression (Mussig et al 2000), phytochrome A (Stockhaus et al 1992), and the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline transferred DNA iaaH gene (Sitbon et al 1992). Dwarfism was also observed in transgenic rice plant expressing an antisense cDNA for the alpha subunit of rice heterotrimeric G protein (Fujisawa et al 1999).…”