Zinc finger CCHC-type protein related with seed size in model legume species Medicago truncatula

Abstract

Legumes are one of the world's leading sources of nutrition, providing sustainable agriculture. They require minimal amounts of soil improvers (fertilizers) due to the ability to absorb nitrogen through symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing soil microorganisms. The trend for human population growth requires an adequate growth in crop production. This directly depends on the seed size and number as well as on the leaf biomass. In turn, seed size has been the subject of selection programmers for all crops. In this study, we explored the relation between the function of the gene coding Zinc finger CCHC-type protein and flower morphology and seed size in the model legume species Medicago truncatula. M. truncatula lines with modified level of Zinc finger CCHC transcript and transcriptional reporters were developed and analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and expression of the GUS (b-glucuronidase) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter genes. A tissue-specific GFP signal was detected in the anthers from overexpessing M. truncatula lines. The M. truncatula lines with knockdown expression showed direct relation between low transcription level of Mt-Zn-CCHC gene and strongly reduced seed size accompanied with short stems length and internodes.

High-Density SNP-Based Association Mapping of Seed Traits in Fenugreek Reveals Homology with Clover

“…In the case of the SNP associated with seed length and width, dDocent_Contig_466_145, it is possible that the identified Znf-C2HC domain, downstream of the GAG domain of the TE is playing a role in gene transcription and thus affecting seed size. This would be similar to what has been reported for the ZnF-C2H2 domain encoding gene that was identified in M. truncatula and which was found to affect seed size [ 55 ]. Our further investigation of the protein sequence suggests that it is a truncated form of a similar multi-domain homolog that is present in Trifolium pretense (PNX92211.1) which, similar to our SNP-related ORF, contains additional TE-related domains downstream of the Znf-C2HC domain.…”

Genome-Wide Association Studies for Sex Determination and Cross-Compatibility in Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.)

“…Four gene/protein families were found on chromosomic regions associated with ACR: Homeobox domain (WOX genes); Helix-turn-helix motif (LEAFY (LFY) protein); NAC domain (NAC TFs, MtNAM); and Zinc finger CCHC-type protein (Mt-Zn-CCHC gene). Previous reports have demonstrated the role of these families in either floral morphology, flowering initiation, differentiation of egg cells and zygotes, seed pod formation, translocation toward fruit under stress conditions, regulation of floral organ identity or seed size in Monotropa hypopitys [ 36 ], Arabidopsis thaliana [ 37 ], Citrullus lanatus [ 38 ] or Medicago truncatula [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Comprehensive genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression analysis of CCHC zinc finger gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

“…Zinc finger protein transcription factors play a vital role in plant growth and development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses [23]. Some previous studies showed that TaCCHC-ZF genes regulated plant growth and stress responses, such as AtRZ-1a, Mt-Zn-CCHC, and NTT [24][25][26][27]. Thus, the comprehensive bioinformatic analyses of TaCCHC-ZF gene family were performed to better understand the gene functions of TaCCHC-ZF genes due to the limited work on TaCCHC-ZF gene family.…”