Overexpression of constitutively active Arabidopsis RabG3b promotes xylem development in transgenic poplars

Soon Il Kwon, Hong Joo Cho, Jae Soon Lee, Hyunjung Jin, Soo Jeong Shin, Mi Kwon, Eun Woon Noh, Ohkmae K. Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An Arabidopsis small GTPase, RabG3b, was previously characterized as a component of autophagy and as a positive regulator for xylem development in Arabidopsis. In this work, we assessed whether RabG3b modulates xylem-associated traits in poplar in a similar way as in Arabidopsis. We generated transgenic poplars (Populus alba×Populus tremula var. glandulosa) overexpressing a constitutively active form of RabG3b (RabG3bCA) and performed a range of morphological, histochemical and molecular analyses to examine xylogenesis. RabG3bCA transgenic poplars showed increased stem growth due to enhanced xylem development. Autophagic structures were observed in differentiating xyelm cells undergoing programmed cell death (PCD) in wild-type poplar, and were more abundant in RabG3bCA transgenic poplar plants and cultured cells. Xylogenic activation was also accompanied by the expression of secondary wall-, PCD- and autophagy-related genes. Collectively, our results suggest that Arabidopsis RabG3b functions to regulate xylem growth through the activation of autophagy during wood formation in Populus, as does the same in Arabidopsis. An Arabidopsis small GTPase, RabG3b, was previously characterized as a component of autophagy and as a positive regulator for xylem development in Arabidopsis. In this work, we assessed whether RabG3b modulates xylem-associated traits in poplar in a similar way as in Arabidopsis. We generated transgenic poplars overexpressing a constitutively active form of RabG3b and performed a range of morphological, histochemical, and molecular analyses to examine xylogenesis. Our results suggest that Arabidopsis RabG3b functions to regulate xylem growth through the activation of autophagy during wood formation in Populus, as does the same in Arabidopsis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2212-2224
Number of pages13
JournalPlant, Cell and Environment
Volume34
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Dec

Keywords

  • Autophagy
  • Small GTP binding protein
  • Wood

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Plant Science

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