A Cotton BURP Domain Protein Interacts With α-Expansin and Their Co-Expression Promotes Plant Growth and Fruit Production  

作　　者：Bing Xu Jin-Ying Gou Fu-Guang Li Xiao-Xia Shangguan Bo Zhao Chang-Qing Yang Ling-Jian Wang Sheng Yuan Chang-Jun Liu Xiao-Ya-Chen 

机构地区：[1]National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics and National Plant Gene Research Center, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shangha Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China [2]Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA [3]National Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Anyang 455000, China [4]Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China

出　　处：《Molecular Plant》2013年第3期945-958,共14页分子植物（英文版）

基　　金：This research was supported by grants from the State Key Basic Research Program of China （2010CB126004）;the Chinese Academy of Sciences （KSCX2-EW-N-03）; the National Natural Science Foundation of China （31028003）, and the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams.We thank Z. Jeff Chen and C.-H. Li for their helpful discussion. We thank T.-H. Zhang for his help on tractility assay. B.X., J.-Y.G., and X.-Y.C. designed the research; B.X., J.-Y.G., and B.Z. performed most of the experiments; X.-X.S., L.-J.W., and F.-G.L. did the cotton transformation and field trials; S.Y. and C.-Q.Y. compiled the literature data; B.X., X.-Y.C., and C.-J.L. wrote the manuscript. No conflict of interest declared.

摘　　要：Plant growth requires cell wall extension. The cotton AtRD22-Like I gene GhRDL1, predominately expressed in elongating fiber cells, encodes a BURP domain-containing protein. Here, we show that GhRDL1 is localized in cell wall and interacts with GhEXPA1, an α-expansin functioning in wall loosening. Transgenic cotton overexpressing GhRDL1 showed an increase in fiber length and seed mass, and an enlargement of endopleura cells of ovules. Expression of either GhRDL1 or GhEXPA1 alone in Arabidopsis led to a substantial increase in seed size; interestingly, their co-expression resulted in the increased number of siliques, the nearly doubled seed mass, and the enhanced biomass production. Cotton plants overexpressing GhRDL1 and GhEXPA1 proteins produced strikingly more fruits （bolls）, leading to up to 40% higher fiber yield per plant without adverse effects on fiber quality and vegetative growth. We demonstrate that engineering cell wall protein partners has a great potential in promoting plant growth and crop yield.Plant growth requires cell wall extension. The cotton AtRD22-Like I gene GhRDL1, predominately expressed in elongating fiber cells, encodes a BURP domain-containing protein. Here, we show that GhRDL1 is localized in cell wall and interacts with GhEXPA1, an α-expansin functioning in wall loosening. Transgenic cotton overexpressing GhRDL1 showed an increase in fiber length and seed mass, and an enlargement of endopleura cells of ovules. Expression of either GhRDL1 or GhEXPA1 alone in Arabidopsis led to a substantial increase in seed size; interestingly, their co-expression resulted in the increased number of siliques, the nearly doubled seed mass, and the enhanced biomass production. Cotton plants overexpressing GhRDL1 and GhEXPA1 proteins produced strikingly more fruits （bolls）, leading to up to 40% higher fiber yield per plant without adverse effects on fiber quality and vegetative growth. We demonstrate that engineering cell wall protein partners has a great potential in promoting plant growth and crop yield.

关 键 词：BURP protein RD22-1ike α-expansin cell wall crop yield FRUITING cotton fiber biomass. 

分 类 号：S562[农业科学—作物学] Q51[生物学—生物化学]