Sequence and expression analyses of ethylene response factors highly expressed in latex cells from Hevea brasiliensis

The AP2/ERF superfamily encodes transcription factors that play a key role in plant development and responses to abiotic and biotic stress. In Hevea brasiliensis, ERF genes have been identified by RNA sequencing. This study set out to validate the number of HbERF genes, and identify ERF genes involved in the regulation of latex cell metabolism. A comprehensive Hevea transcriptome was improved using additional RNA reads from reproductive tissues. Newly assembled contigs were annotated in the Gene Ontology database and were assigned to 3 main categories. The AP2/ERF superfamily is the third most represented compared with other transcription factor families. A comparison with genomic scaffolds led to an estimation of 114 AP2/ERF genes and 1 soloist in Hevea brasiliensis. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, functions were predicted for 26 HbERF genes. A relative transcript abundance analysis was performed by real-time RT-PCR in various tissues. Transcripts of ERFs from group I and VIII were very abundant in all tissues while those of group VII were highly accumulated in latex cells. Seven of the thirty-five ERF expression marker genes were highly expressed in latex. Subcellular localization and transactivation analyses suggested that HbERF-VII candidate genes encoded functional transcription factors. (Résumé d'auteur

Involvement of Ethylene in the Latex Metabolism and Tapping Panel Dryness of Hevea brasiliensis

Ethephon, an ethylene releaser, is used to stimulate latex production in Hevea brasiliensis. Ethylene induces many functions in latex cells including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The accumulation of ROS is responsible for the coagulation of rubber particles in latex cells, resulting in the partial or complete stoppage of latex flow. This study set out to assess biochemical and histological changes as well as changes in gene expression in latex and phloem tissues from trees grown under various harvesting systems. The Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) susceptibility of Hevea clones was found to be related to some biochemical parameters, such as low sucrose and high inorganic phosphorus contents. A high tapping frequency and ethephon stimulation induced early TPD occurrence in a high latex metabolism clone and late occurrence in a low latex metabolism clone. TPD-affected trees had smaller number of laticifer vessels compared to healthy trees, suggesting a modification of cambial activity. The differential transcript abundance was observed for twenty-seven candidate genes related to TPD occurrence in latex and phloem tissues for ROS-scavenging, ethylene biosynthesis and signalling genes. The predicted function for some Ethylene Response Factor genes suggested that these candidate genes should play an important role in regulating susceptibility to TPD

Characterization of the AP2/ERF genes involved in development of Hevea brasiliensis

Hevea brasiliensis est une culture industrielle majeure pour la production de caoutchouc naturel (CN). La stimulation par l'éthéphon, un libérateur d'éthylène, est utilisée pour augmenter la production de latex en prolongeant son écoulement et en stimulant le métabolisme pour la régénération du latex. Cependant, le mécanisme d'action de l'éthylène n'est pas clairement élucidé chez l'hévéa. L'éthylène est un signal important qui régule le développement des plantes. Les facteurs de transcription AP2/ERF, et plus particulièrement les Ethylene Response Factors, jouent un rôle crucial dans le développement et la réponse aux stress biotiques et abiotiques chez les plantes. La production d'éthylène et sa signalisation sont aussi importantes en embryogenèse somatique et tout spécialement chez les espèces récalcitrantes à la culture in vitro.Dans cette étude, le transcriptome de référence a été amélioré par addition des fragments de séquence d'ARN issus de tissus reproducteurs lors d'un nouvel assemblage. Les 30.342 contigs ont été annotés par la base de données Gene Ontology. L'analyse des facteurs de transcription a permis d'identifier 2.448 contigs qui ont été classés en 58 familles de facteurs de transcription. Six pourcents de ces facteurs de transcription correspondent aux membres de la superfamille des AP2/ERF. L'accumulation de transcrits des gènes AP2/ERF a été analysée au cours du processus d'embryogenèse somatique chez des lignées de cal avec différents potentiels de régénération et dans différents tissus végétatifs et reproducteurs. L'analyse de l'abondance relative de transcrits dans les différents tissus montre que les ERFs des groupes I, VII et VIII sont fortement présents à tous les stades de l'embryogenèse somatique et dans les tissus immatures et matures de fleurs males et femelle, d'embryons zygotiques, de feuilles, d'écorce et de latex. Quarante gènes AP2/ERF représentent des marqueurs d'expression génique pour le potentiel de régénération de plantes de lignées de cal à différents stades du processus d'embryogenèse somatique. Quatorze marqueurs d'expression génique permettent même de prédire la capacité de régénération dès le stade de multiplication du cal. Cinquante-neuf marqueurs d'expression géniques sont spécifiquement exprimés dans les différents tissus de l'hévéa, et plusieurs AP2/ERFs ont les transcrits fortement accumulés dans le latex. La plupart des marqueurs de l'expression génique du latex appartient aux ERF du groupe VII. Les ERFs de ce groupe ont un motif conservé en N-terminal (MCGGAII), lequel est impliqué dans la voie N-end rule. Les analyses de localisation subcellulaire et de transactivation suggèrent que ces gènes HbERF-VII codent pour des facteurs de transcription fonctionnels potentiellement impliqués dans la réponse à l'hypoxie dans le latex.Hevea brasiliensis is the major industrial crop for natural rubber (NR) production. Ethephon stimulation, an ethylene releaser, is used for increasing latex production by prolonging latex flow and stimulating the metabolism required for the latex regeneration. However, the mechanism of ethylene action is not clearly elucidated in this species. Ethylene is an important signal regulating the plant development. AP2/ERF transcription factors, and especially Ethylene-Response Factors, play a crucial role in plant development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ethylene production and signalling are also important to somatic embryogenesis, especially for species that are recalcitrant in in vitro culture.In this study, a comprehensive Hevea transcriptome was improved using additional RNA reads from reproductive tissues in a new assembly. The 30,342 contigs were annotated in the Gene Ontology database. The analysis of transcription factors led to 2,448 contigs being identified, which were classed in 58 transcription factor families. Six percent of the transcription factors corresponded to members from the AP2/ERF superfamily. The transcript accumulation of AP2/ERF genes was analyzed during somatic embryogenesis for callus lines with different regeneration potential and in various vegetative and reproductive tissue of Hevea. The relative transcript abundance were studied and showed that ERFs from group I, VII and VIII were abundant at all stages of the somatic embryogenesis as well as, in both immature and mature male and female flowers, zygotic embryos, leaf, bark and latex. Forty genes were identified as expression marker for callus with different plant regeneration potential regeneration capacity. Interestingly, fourteen expression marker genes were found that be able to predict the regeneration capacity of callus at proliferating calli, the early stage of somatic embryogenesis process. Fifty-nine expression marker genes were found in the various plant tissues. Several AP2/ERF genes were shown highly transcript accumulation in latex and were assigned as latex expression marker genes. Almost of latex expression marker genes belong to the ERF group VII. Base on conserved motif analysis showed this ERF group contained the conserved N-terminal motif (MCGGAII) involved in the N-end rule pathway. Subcellular localization and transactivation analyses suggested that HbERF-VII candidate genes encoded functional transcription factors

Involvement of ethylene in the latex metabolism and Tapping Panel Dryness of Hevea brasiliensis

Ethephon, an ethylene releaser, is used to stimulate latex production in Hevea brasiliensis. Ethylene induces many functions in latex cells including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The accumulation of ROS is responsible for the coagulation of rubber particles in latex cells, resulting in the partial or complete stoppage of latex flow. This study set out to assess biochemical and histological changes as well as changes in gene expression in latex and phloem tissues from trees grown under various harvesting systems. The Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) susceptibility of Hevea clones was found to be related to some biochemical parameters, such as low sucrose and high inorganic phosphorus contents. A high tapping frequency and ethephon stimulation induced early TPD occurrence in a high latex metabolism clone and late occurrence in a low latex metabolism clone. TPD-affected trees had smaller number of laticifer vessels compared to healthy trees, suggesting a modification of cambial activity. The differential transcript abundance was observed for twenty-seven candidate genes related to TPD occurrence in latex and phloem tissues for ROS-scavenging, ethylene biosynthesis and signalling genes. The predicted function for some Ethylene Response Factor genes suggested that these candidate genes should play an important role in regulating susceptibility to TPD

Ethylene Response Factors Are Controlled by Multiple Harvesting Stresses in Hevea brasiliensis.

Tolerance of recurrent mechanical wounding and exogenous ethylene is a feature of the rubber tree. Latex harvesting involves tapping of the tree bark and ethephon is applied to increase latex flow. Ethylene is an essential element in controlling latex production. The ethylene signalling pathway leads to the activation of Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) transcription factors. This family has been identified in Hevea brasiliensis. This study set out to understand the regulation of ERF genes during latex harvesting in relation to abiotic stress and hormonal treatments. Analyses of the relative transcript abundance were carried out for 35 HbERF genes in latex, in bark from mature trees and in leaves from juvenile plants under multiple abiotic stresses. Twenty-one HbERF genes were regulated by harvesting stress in laticifers, revealing an overrepresentation of genes in group IX. Transcripts of three HbERF-IX genes from HbERF-IXc4, HbERF-IXc5 and HbERF-IXc6 were dramatically accumulated by combining wounding, methyl jasmonate and ethylene treatments. When an ethylene inhibitor was used, the transcript accumulation for these three genes was halted, showing ethylene-dependent induction. Subcellular localization and transactivation experiments confirmed that several members of HbERF-IX are activator-type transcription factors. This study suggested that latex harvesting induces mechanisms developed for the response to abiotic stress. These mechanisms probably depend on various hormonal signalling pathways. Several members of HbERF-IX could be essential integrators of complex hormonal signalling pathways in Hevea