Guo Meimei, Wu Fengxia, Ye Ke, Jiang Cheng, An Yi, Chen Ningning, Huang Lichao, Lu Mengzhu, Zhang Jin
National Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Breeding, International Research Center for Plant Cell Wall, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China.
National Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Breeding, International Research Center for Plant Cell Wall, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China.
Plant Sci. 2025 Oct;359:112661. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112661. Epub 2025 Jul 14.
The 14-3-3 protein family, also known as general regulatory factor (GRF) or G-box factor 14-3-3 (GF14), comprises highly conserved phosphorylated serine-binding proteins that are integral to plant signaling pathways. They specifically interact with phosphorylated targets such as kinases, phosphatases, and transcription factors, thereby modulating various biochemical processes, plant growth, and responses to abiotic/biotic stresses. This study investigates the 14-3-3/GRF family in Populus trichocarpa and the hybrid poplar '84 K' (Populus alba × P. glandulosa). Through bioinformatics analyses, 26 GRF genes were identified in '84 K' poplar, which are unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Structural characterization revealed that these genes contain 10 conserved motifs and 1-6 exons, exhibiting remarkable structural diversity that implies functional differentiation. Promoter analysis revealed numerous cis-acting elements associated with stress responses, hormone signaling, and developmental regulation, suggesting that 14-3-3/GRFs are involved in complex regulatory networks. Expression profiling demonstrated that PagGRF12a is predominantly expressed in above-ground tissues, indicating a role in early tissue development. Functional studies showed that overexpression of PagGRF12a leads to notable phenotypic changes, including increased leaf size and altered leaf shape, mainly due to enlarged cell size. Collectively, this research enhances our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory and functional roles of 14-3-3/GRF genes in poplar, highlighting PagGRF12a as a key regulator of leaf development. These findings provide valuable insights for future efforts aimed at improving growth and environmental adaptability in poplar through targeted gene manipulation.
14-3-3蛋白家族，也被称为通用调控因子（GRF）或G-box因子14-3-3（GF14），由高度保守的磷酸化丝氨酸结合蛋白组成，这些蛋白是植物信号通路不可或缺的一部分。它们特异性地与磷酸化靶点相互作用，如激酶、磷酸酶和转录因子，从而调节各种生化过程、植物生长以及对非生物/生物胁迫的响应。本研究调查了毛果杨和杂交杨树‘84K’（银白杨×腺毛杨）中的14-3-3/GRF家族。通过生物信息学分析，在‘84K’杨树中鉴定出26个GRF基因，它们不均匀地分布在8条染色体上。结构表征显示这些基因包含10个保守基序和1至6个外显子，表现出显著的结构多样性，这意味着功能分化。启动子分析揭示了许多与胁迫响应、激素信号传导和发育调控相关的顺式作用元件，表明14-3-3/GRFs参与了复杂的调控网络。表达谱分析表明，PagGRF12a主要在地上组织中表达，表明其在早期组织发育中发挥作用。功能研究表明，PagGRF12a的过表达导致显著的表型变化，包括叶片大小增加和叶片形状改变，主要是由于细胞大小增大。总的来说，这项研究增进了我们对杨树中14-3-3/GRF基因的进化轨迹和功能作用的理解，突出了PagGRF12a作为叶片发育的关键调节因子。这些发现为未来旨在通过靶向基因操作改善杨树生长和环境适应性的努力提供了有价值的见解。
