An updated census of the maize TIFY family

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 23;16(2):e0247271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247271. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The TIFY gene family is a plant-specific gene family encoding a group of proteins characterized by its namesake, the conservative TIFY domain and members can be organized into four subfamilies: ZML, TIFY, PPD and JAZ (Jasmonate ZIM-domain protein) by presence of additional conserved domains. The TIFY gene family is intensively explored in several model and agriculturally important crop species and here, yet the composition of the TIFY family of maize has remained unresolved. This study increases the number of maize TIFY family members known by 40%, bringing the total to 47 including 38 JAZ, 5 TIFY, and 4 ZML genes. The majority of the newly identified genes were belonging to the JAZ subfamily, six of which had aberrant TIFY domains, suggesting loss JAZ-JAZ or JAZ-NINJA interactions. Six JAZ genes were found to have truncated Jas domain or an altered degron motif, suggesting resistance to classical JAZ degradation. In addition, seven membranes were found to have an LxLxL-type EAR motif which allows them to recruit TPL/TPP co-repressors directly without association to NINJA. Expression analysis revealed that ZmJAZ14 was specifically expressed in the seeds and ZmJAZ19 and 22 in the anthers, while the majority of other ZmJAZs were generally highly expressed across diverse tissue types. Additionally, ZmJAZ genes were highly responsive to wounding and JA treatment. This study provides a comprehensive update of the maize TIFY/JAZ gene family paving the way for functional, physiological, and ecological analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyclopentanes / pharmacology*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Oxylipins / pharmacology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Domains
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Zea mays / drug effects
  • Zea mays / genetics
  • Zea mays / growth & development*

Substances

  • Cyclopentanes
  • Oxylipins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • jasmonic acid

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31571580), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (KYTZ201402 and KYRC201404), the Outstanding Scientific Innovation Team Program for Jiangsu Universities (2015), the Agricultural Applied Technology Development Program of Shanghai City (Z20180103), the Technology-Promoting Program Funded by Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (17391900100) and the Youth Talent Career-Development Plan Funded by the commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shanghai Municipality (20180102).