Trihelix Transcription Factor <i>ZmThx20</i> Is Required for Kernel Development in Maize
Maize kernels are the harvested portion of the plant and are related to the yield and quality of maize. The endosperm of maize is a large storage organ that constitutes 80–90% of the dry weight of mature kernels. Maize kernels have long been the study of cereal grain development to increase yield. I...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/d6594db0a8a3405eb035038fa0baff67 |
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| Sumario: | Maize kernels are the harvested portion of the plant and are related to the yield and quality of maize. The endosperm of maize is a large storage organ that constitutes 80–90% of the dry weight of mature kernels. Maize kernels have long been the study of cereal grain development to increase yield. In this study, a natural mutation that causes abnormal kernel development, and displays a shrunken kernel phenotype, was identified and named “<i>shrunken 2008</i> (<i>sh2008</i>)”. The starch grains in <i>sh2008</i> are loose and have a less proteinaceous matrix surrounding them. The total storage protein and the major storage protein zeins are ~70% of that in the wild-type control (WT); in particular, the 19 kDa and 22 kDa α-zeins. Map-based cloning revealed that <i>sh2008</i> encodes a GT-2 trihelix transcription factor, <i>ZmThx20</i>. Using CRISPR/Cas9, two other alleles with mutated <i>ZmThx20</i> were found to have the same abnormal kernel. Shrunken kernels can be rescued by overexpressing normal <i>ZmThx20</i>. Comparative transcriptome analysis of the kernels from <i>sh2008</i> and WT showed that the GO terms of translation, ribosome, and nutrient reservoir activity were enriched in the down-regulated genes (<i>sh2008</i>/WT). In short, these changes can lead to defects in endosperm development and storage reserve filling in seeds. |
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