Identification and characterization of homeobox genes in Eucalyptus

Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 20 transcription factor genes of MADS, ARF, HAP2, MBF and HB families in moisture stressed shoot and root tissues of sorghum

Transcription factors (TFs) are an important target in understanding the regulation of plant responses to environmental stress including moisture stress. Members of the same TF family may differ in their response to moisture stress. The expression pattern could vary between shoot and root tissues depending on level of moisture stress. A set of five rarely studied TF families viz., MADS-box (MCM1, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS and SRF), Auxin Responsive Factor (ARF), Heme Activator Protein 2 (HAP2), Multiprotein Bridging Factor (MBF) and Homeobox (HB) together having 20 members in sorghum, were expression analyzed through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in well watered and moisture stressed shoot and root tissues of sorghum using SYBR Green® to quantify dsDNA synthesis. Fluorescence values were used to calculate PCR efficiency by using LinRegPCR. The PTSb00029.1 and PTSb00033.1 of ARF family and PTSb00174.1 and PTSb00175.1 of HB family recorded 2 to 5, PTSb00221.1 and PTSb00208.1 of MADS family and PTSb00128.1 of HAP2 family recorded 5 to 10 fold up-regulation under moisture stress regimes. The PTSb00128.1, a HAP2 family member, recorded 15 fold up-regulation in mild moisture stressed root tissues. TF genes such as PTSb00218.1, PTSb00220.1, PTSb00031.1, PTSb00032.1, PTSb00034.1 and PTSb00223.1 were found down regulating in both tissues types under moisture stress condition. However, the PTSb00128.1, PTSb00221.1, PTSb00029.1, PTSb00033.1 and PTSb00174.1 TFs were found up-regulating to varied levels in mild and severe moisture stressed root tissues only. Verification of qRT-PCR results was done by in situ hybridization (ISH) of randomly selected two TF genes in shoot and root tissues of sorghum. Taken together, moisture stress triggered up-regulation of more genes in root tissue compared to shoot tissue in sorghum.

Arabidopsis as a model for wood formation

Wood (secondary xylem) is one of the most important sustainable energy sources for humans. Arabidopsis, despite its herbaceous nature, has become an excellent model to study wood formation. Recent progress has shown that conserved molecular mechanisms may exist in herbaceous plants and trees during vascular development and wood formation. Several transcription factor families and plant hormone species as well as other factors contribute to the regulation of xylem development in both Arabidopsis and woody plants. In this review, we highlight how information gained from the analysis of vascular development in Arabidopsis has improved our understanding of wood formation in trees.

Transcriptional regulation in wood formation

Wood (i.e. xylem tissue) in trees is mainly composed of two types of cells, fibres and tracheary elements. Recent molecular studies of various trees, as well as the non-tree species Arabidopsis thaliana and Zinnia elegans, have revealed coordinated gene expression during differentiation of these cells in wood and the presence of several transcription factors that might govern the complex networks of transcriptional regulation. This article reviews recent findings concerning the regulation of genes by transcription factors involved in wood formation such as AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF), CLASS III HOMEODOMAIN-LEUCINE ZIPPER (HD-ZIPIII), KANADI (KAN), MYB and NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC).