{"title":"The NAC transcription factor MdNAC4 positively regulates nitrogen deficiency-induced leaf senescence by enhancing ABA biosynthesis in apple.","authors":"Binbin Wen, Xuehui Zhao, Xingyao Gong, Wenzhe Zhao, Mingyue Sun, Xiude Chen, Dongmei Li, Ling Li, Wei Xiao","doi":"10.1186/s43897-023-00053-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although it is well established that nitrogen (N) deficiency induces leaf senescence, the molecular mechanism of N deficiency-induced leaf senescence remains largely unknown. Here, we show that an abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive NAC transcription factor (TF) is involved in N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. The overexpression of MdNAC4 led to increased ABA levels in apple calli by directly activating the transcription of the ABA biosynthesis gene MdNCED2. In addition, MdNAC4 overexpression promoted N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. Further investigation showed that MdNAC4 directly bound the promoter of the senescence-associated gene (SAG) MdSAG39 and upregulated its expression. Interestingly, the function of MdNAC4 in promoting N deficiency-induced leaf senescence was enhanced in the presence of ABA. Furthermore, we identified an interaction between the ABA receptor protein MdPYL4 and the MdNAC4 protein. Moreover, MdPYL4 showed a function similar to that of MdNAC4 in ABA-mediated N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. These findings suggest that ABA plays a central role in N deficiency-induced leaf senescence and that MdPYL4 interacts with MdNAC4 to enhance the response of the latter to N deficiency, thus promoting N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. In conclusion, our results provide new insight into how MdNAC4 regulates N deficiency-induced leaf senescence.</p>","PeriodicalId":29970,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Horticulture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":10.6000,"publicationDate":"2023-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10514974/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Molecular Horticulture","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-023-00053-4","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"HORTICULTURE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Although it is well established that nitrogen (N) deficiency induces leaf senescence, the molecular mechanism of N deficiency-induced leaf senescence remains largely unknown. Here, we show that an abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive NAC transcription factor (TF) is involved in N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. The overexpression of MdNAC4 led to increased ABA levels in apple calli by directly activating the transcription of the ABA biosynthesis gene MdNCED2. In addition, MdNAC4 overexpression promoted N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. Further investigation showed that MdNAC4 directly bound the promoter of the senescence-associated gene (SAG) MdSAG39 and upregulated its expression. Interestingly, the function of MdNAC4 in promoting N deficiency-induced leaf senescence was enhanced in the presence of ABA. Furthermore, we identified an interaction between the ABA receptor protein MdPYL4 and the MdNAC4 protein. Moreover, MdPYL4 showed a function similar to that of MdNAC4 in ABA-mediated N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. These findings suggest that ABA plays a central role in N deficiency-induced leaf senescence and that MdPYL4 interacts with MdNAC4 to enhance the response of the latter to N deficiency, thus promoting N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. In conclusion, our results provide new insight into how MdNAC4 regulates N deficiency-induced leaf senescence.
期刊介绍:
Aims
Molecular Horticulture aims to publish research and review articles that significantly advance our knowledge in understanding how the horticultural crops or their parts operate mechanistically. Articles should have profound impacts not only in terms of high citation number or the like, but more importantly on the direction of the horticultural research field.
Scope
Molecular Horticulture publishes original Research Articles, Letters, and Reviews on novel discoveries on the following, but not limited to, aspects of horticultural plants (including medicinal plants):
▪ Developmental and evolutionary biology
▪ Physiology, biochemistry and cell biology
▪ Plant-microbe and plant-environment interactions
▪ Genetics and epigenetics
▪ Molecular breeding and biotechnology
▪ Secondary metabolism and synthetic biology
▪ Multi-omics dealing with data sets of genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, epigenome and/or microbiome.
The journal also welcomes research articles using model plants that reveal mechanisms and/or principles readily applicable to horticultural plants, translational research articles involving application of basic knowledge (including those of model plants) to the horticultural crops, novel Methods and Resources of broad interest.
In addition, the journal publishes Editorial, News and View, and Commentary and Perspective on current, significant events and topics in global horticultural fields with international interests.