Identification of JAZ-interacting MYC transcription factors involved in latex drainage in Hevea brasiliensis

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 17;8(1):909. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19206-3.

Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg. is one of the most frequently wounded plants worldwide. Expelling latex upon mechanical injury is a wound response of rubber trees. However, JA-mediated wound responses in rubber trees are not well documented. In this work, three JAZ-interacting MYC transcription factors of H. brasiliensis (termed HbMYC2/3/4) were identified by yeast two-hybrid screening. HbMYC2/3/4 each showed specific interaction profiles with HbJAZs. HbMYC2/3/4 each localized in the nucleus and exhibited strong transcriptional activity. To identify the target genes potentially regulated by HbMYC2/3/4, cis-elements interacting with HbMYC2/3/4 were first screened by yeast one-hybrid assays; the results indicated that HbMYC2/3/4 each could bind G-box elements. Additional analysis confirmed that HbMYC2/3/4 bound the HbPIP2;1 promoter, which contains five G-box cis-elements, and regulated the expression of reporter genes in yeast cells and in planta. HbMYC2/3/4 were induced by exogenous JA treatment but suppressed by ethylene (ET) treatment; in contrast, HbPIP2;1 was positively regulated by ET but negatively regulated by JA treatment. Given that HbPIP2;1 is involved in latex drainage, it could be proposed that HbMYC2/3/4 are involved in the regulation of HbPIP2;1 expression as well as latex drainage, both of which are coordinated by the JA and ET signalling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drainage / methods
  • Ethylenes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics
  • Genes, Plant / genetics
  • Hevea / genetics*
  • Latex / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Ethylenes
  • Latex
  • Plant Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ethylene