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TaNF-YB3 is involved in the regulation of photosynthesis genes in Triticum aestivum

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Abstract

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factor is a heterotrimer comprised of three subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. Each of the three subunits in plants is encoded by multiple genes with differential expression profiles, implying the functional specialisation of NF-Y subunit members in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of NF-YB members in the light-mediated regulation of photosynthesis genes. We identified two NF-YB members from Triticum aestivum (TaNF-YB3 & 7) which were markedly upregulated by light in the leaves and seedling shoots using quantitative RT-PCR. A genome-wide coexpression analysis of multiple Affymetrix Wheat Genome Array datasets revealed that TaNF-YB3-coexpressed transcripts were highly enriched with the Gene Ontology term photosynthesis. Transgenic wheat lines constitutively overexpressing TaNF-YB3 had a significant increase in the leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate and early growth rate. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of a number of TaNF-YB3-coexpressed transcripts were elevated in the transgenic wheat lines. The mRNA level of TaGluTR encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase, which catalyses the rate-limiting step of the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway, was significantly increased in the leaves of the transgenic wheat. Significant increases in the expression level in the transgenic plant leaves were also observed for four photosynthetic apparatus genes encoding chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (Lhca4 and Lhcb4) and photosystem I reaction centre subunits (subunit K and subunit N), as well as for a gene coding for chloroplast ATP synthase γ subunit. These results indicate that TaNF-YB3 is involved in the positive regulation of a number of photosynthesis genes in wheat.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Grains Research & Development Corporation. We would like to thank Dr. Maryse Bourgault for her help in the measurement of photosynthetic rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Plant Industry, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia

    Troy J. Stephenson, C. Lynne McIntyre & Gang-Ping Xue

  2. Cell and Molecular Biosciences Discipline, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

    Troy J. Stephenson & Christopher Collet

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  1. Troy J. Stephenson
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  2. C. Lynne McIntyre
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  4. Gang-Ping Xue
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Correspondence to Gang-Ping Xue.

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Stephenson, T.J., McIntyre, C.L., Collet, C. et al. TaNF-YB3 is involved in the regulation of photosynthesis genes in Triticum aestivum. Funct Integr Genomics 11, 327–340 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-011-0212-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-011-0212-9

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