Understanding the YABBY Gene Family in Strawberries and Their Relatives

Jenn Hoskins
26th June, 2024

Understanding the YABBY Gene Family in Strawberries and Their Relatives

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Universidad de Talca, Chile, studied the YABBY gene family in six Fragaria species to understand their role in plant development
  • They identified 25 YABBY genes in F. × ananassa and six in each of the other five Fragaria species, revealing new subclades within the YABBY1 clade
  • YABBY genes were found to be predominantly expressed in leaves and flowers, with limited expression during fruit development
  • The study discovered jasmonate-responsive elements in the promoters of FaINO genes, which were upregulated by methyl jasmonate, linking YABBY genes to hormonal signaling and environmental response
The YABBY gene family plays a critical role in the development and formation of leaves, flowers, and fruits in seed plants. A recent study conducted by researchers at the Universidad de Talca, Chile, has provided a comprehensive genome-wide and expression analysis of the YABBY gene family in six species of the Fragaria genus: Fragaria × ananassa, F. daltoniana, F. nilgerrensis, F. pentaphylla, F. viridis, and F. vesca[1]. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the YABBY genes' role in plant development and their response to environmental cues. The YABBY genes encode transcription factors (TFs) that are essential for various developmental processes. These TFs are involved in the regulation of polarity in ovules, leaves, and flowers. Prior studies have shown that the YABBY family, including genes like INNER NO OUTER (INO), plays a vital role in axial patterning and growth of lateral organs in Arabidopsis thaliana[2][3]. The current study expands on this knowledge by exploring the YABBY gene family in multiple species of the Fragaria genus. The researchers identified and characterized 25 YABBY genes in F. × ananassa and six in each of the other five Fragaria species. These genes belong to the previously described clades: FIL/YAB3 (YABBY1), YAB2 (YABBY2), YAB5 (YABBY5), CRC, and INO. Notably, the study reports the division of the YABBY1 clade into YABBY1.1 and YABBY1.2 subclades. The chromosomal location, synteny pattern, gene structure, and phylogenetic analyses were carried out to understand the evolutionary relationships and functional diversification of these genes. To investigate the specific expression patterns of YABBY genes, the researchers combined RNA-seq data and RT-qPCR analysis. They found that some FaYABBYs are predominantly expressed in leaves and flowers, with limited expression during fruit development in F. × ananassa. This differential expression suggests that YABBY TFs are involved in tissue-specific developmental processes. The study also explored the promoter regions of FaYABBYs and observed the presence of jasmonate-responsive cis-acting elements in the promoters of FaINO genes. Jasmonates (JAs) are plant hormones that regulate growth, development, and immunity[3][4]. The researchers applied methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to F. × ananassa fruit and observed an upregulation of FaINOs, indicating that these genes respond to JA signaling. This finding aligns with previous studies that have shown the interaction between JAZ proteins and YABBY TFs in regulating JA-triggered responses[3]. The results of this study suggest that YABBY TFs play a significant role in the development and environmental response of Fragaria species. The identification of jasmonate-responsive elements in FaINO promoters and the upregulation of these genes under MeJA treatment highlight the potential involvement of YABBY genes in integrating hormonal signals with developmental processes. In conclusion, the comprehensive analysis of the YABBY gene family in Fragaria species provides valuable insights into the functional roles of these TFs in plant development and their response to environmental cues. This study not only expands our understanding of YABBY genes in Fragaria but also offers a foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant development and adaptation.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) YABBY transcription factor family in the octoploid Fragaria × ananassa and five diploid Fragaria species.

Published 24th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13656

Related Studies

2) NOZZLE links proximal-distal and adaxial-abaxial pattern formation during ovule development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Journal: Development (Cambridge, England), Issue: Vol 129, Issue 18, Sep 2002

3) FILAMENTOUS FLOWER Is a Direct Target of JAZ3 and Modulates Responses to Jasmonate.

https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.15.00220

4) Redundancy and specificity in jasmonate signalling.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2016.07.005


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙