Phosphatidic acid interacts with an HD‐ZIP transcription factor GhHOX4 to influence its function in fiber elongation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

• Published in: The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology 2024-04, Vol.118 (2), p.423-436
• Main Authors: Wang, Na‐Na, Ni, Ping, Wei, Ying‐Li, Hu, Rong, Li, Yang, Li, Xue‐Bao, Zheng, Yong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Cell signaling; Cell walls; Cotton; Cotton fibers; Elongation; fiber elongation; Fibers; Gene regulation; Genes; Gossypium hirsutum; HD‐ZIP IV transcription factor; Homeobox; Industrial development; Leucine; Leucine zipper proteins; Localization; nuclear localization; Phase transitions; Phenotypes; Phosphatidic acid; Proteins; Raw materials; Regulatory mechanisms (biology); Seeds; Textile industry; Transcription factors; transcriptional regulation; Trichomes; upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
• ISSN: 0960-7412; 1365-313X
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16616

SUMMARY Upland cotton, the mainly cultivated cotton species in the world, provides over 90% of natural raw materials (fibers) for the textile industry. The development of cotton fibers that are unicellular and highly elongated trichomes on seeds is a delicate and complex process. However, the regulatory mechanism of fiber development is still largely unclear in detail. In this study, we report that a homeodomain‐leucine zipper (HD‐ZIP) IV transcription factor, GhHOX4, plays an important role in fiber elongation. Overexpression of GhHOX4 in cotton resulted in longer fibers, while GhHOX4‐silenced transgenic cotton displayed a “shorter fiber” phenotype compared with wild type. GhHOX4 directly activates two target genes, GhEXLB1D and GhXTH2D, for promoting fiber elongation. On the other hand, phosphatidic acid (PA), which is associated with cell signaling and metabolism, interacts with GhHOX4 to hinder fiber elongation. The basic amino acids KR‐R‐R in START domain of GhHOX4 protein are essential for its binding to PA that could alter the nuclear localization of GhHOX4 protein, thereby suppressing the transcriptional regulation of GhHOX4 to downstream genes in the transition from fiber elongation to secondary cell wall (SCW) thickening during fiber development. Thus, our data revealed that GhHOX4 positively regulates fiber elongation, while PA may function in the phase transition from fiber elongation to SCW formation by negatively modulating GhHOX4 in cotton. Significance Statement GhHOX4 promotes fiber elongation by directly regulating expressions of GhEXLB1D and GhXTH2D genes in cotton, but phosphatidic acid interacts with GhHOX4 to alter the nuclear localization of GhHOX4, thereby suppressing transcriptional regulation of GhHOX4 to downstream genes in the transition from fiber elongation to secondary cell wall (SCW) thickening.