Transcriptomic Analysis Suggests Auxin Regulation in Dorsal-Ventral Petal Asymmetry of Wild Progenitor Sinningia speciosa

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-02, Vol.23 (4), p.2073
• Main Authors: Pan, Zhao-Jun, Nien, Ya-Chi, Shih, Yu-An, Chen, Tsun-Ying, Lin, Wen-Dar, Kuo, Wen-Hsi, Hsu, Hao-Chun, Tu, Shih-Long, Chen, Jen-Chih, Wang, Chun-Neng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthocyanins; Asymmetry; auxin; Auxins; Biosynthesis; Cell division; Cell growth; Cell size; floral symmetry; Flowers & plants; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - metabolism; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - genetics; Genes; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; Lamiales - genetics; Lamiales - metabolism; Morphology; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - metabolism; Overexpression; petal pigmentation; petal size; Petals; Plant nectar; Plant reproduction; Regulation; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Symmetry; Transcriptome - genetics; Transcriptomics
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042073

The establishment of dorsal-ventral (DV) petal asymmetry is accompanied by differential growth of DV petal size, shape, and color differences, which enhance ornamental values. Genes involved in flower symmetry in have been identified as ( ), but which gene regulatory network (GRN) is associated with to establish DV petal asymmetry is still unknown. To uncover the GRN of DV petal asymmetry, we identified 630 DV differentially expressed genes (DV-DEGs) from the RNA-Seq of dorsal and ventral petals in the wild progenitor, 'ES'. Validated by qRT-PCR, genes in the auxin signaling transduction pathway, , and a major regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis were upregulated in dorsal petals. These genes correlated with a higher endogenous auxin level in dorsal petals, with longer tube length growth through cell expansion and a purple dorsal color. Over-expression of in reduced petal size by regulating cell growth, suggesting that also controls cell expansion. This suggests that auxin and both regulate DV petal asymmetry. Transiently over-expressed , however, could not activate most major auxin signaling genes, suggesting that may not trigger auxin regulation. Whether auxin can activate or whether they act independently to regulate DV petal asymmetry remains to be explored in the future.