Maize transcription factor ZmEREB167 negatively regulates starch accumulation and kernel size

Xiangyu Qing; Jianrui Li; Zhen Lin; Wei Wang; Fei Yi; Jian Chen; Qiujie Liu; Weibin Song; Jinsheng Lai; Baojian Chen; Haiming Zhao; Zhijia Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.011

Volume 52 Issue 3

Mar. 2025

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Maize transcription factor ZmEREB167 negatively regulates starch accumulation and kernel size

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.011

a. State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, Key Laboratory of Genome Editing Research and Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
b. State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding/Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
c. Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
d. Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Beijing 100193, China;
e. Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, Hainan 572024, China

Funds:

This research was supported by STI 2030-Major Project (2023ZD04069), National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD1202900), The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (32425041), The “Breakthrough” Science and Technology Project of Tongliao (TL2024TW001), Science and Technology Demonstration Project of Shandong Province (2024SFGC0402), Pinduoduo - China Agricultural University Research Fund (PC2023A01004).

Received Date: 2024-12-12
Accepted Date: 2025-01-18
Rev Recd Date: 2025-01-17

Available Online: 2025-07-11

Publish Date: 2025-01-25

Abstract

Abstract

Transcription factors play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression during maize kernel development. The maize endosperm, a large storage organ, accounting for nearly 90% of the dry weight of mature kernels, serves as the primary site for starch storage. In this study, we identify an endosperm-specific EREB gene, ZmEREB167, which encodes a nucleus-localized EREB protein. Knockout of ZmEREB167 significantly increases kernel size and weight, as well as starch and protein content, compared with the wild type. In situ hybridization experiments show that ZmEREB167 is highly expressed in the BETL as well as PED regions of maize kernels. Dual-luciferase assays show that ZmEREB167 exhibits transcriptionally repressor activity in maize protoplasts. Transcriptome analysis reveals that a large number of genes are up-regulated in the Zmereb167-C1 mutant compared with the wild type, including key genetic factors such as ZmMRP-1 and ZmMN1, as well as multiple transporters involved in maize endosperm development. Integration of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq results identify 68 target genes modulated by ZmEREB167. We find that ZmEREB167 directly targets OPAQUE2, ZmNRT1.1, ZmIAA12, ZmIAA19, and ZmbZIP20, repressing their expressions. Our study demonstrates that ZmEREB167 functions as a negative regulator in maize endosperm development and affects starch accumulation and kernel size.
- Maize,
- EREB protein,
- BETL,
- Starch,
- Kernel development

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References(48)

References

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