Reciprocal cross-regulation of VND and SND multigene TF families for wood formation in <i>Populus trichocarpa</i>.

Abstract

Secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis is the biological process that generates wood, an important renewable feedstock for materials and energy. NAC domain transcription factors, particularly Vascular-Related NAC-Domain (VND) and Secondary Wall-Associated NAC Domain (SND) proteins, are known to regulate SCW differentiation. The regulation of VND and SND is important to maintain homeostasis for plants to avoid abnormal growth and development. We previously identified a splice variant, <i>PtrSND1-A2</i>^<i>IR</i> , derived from <i>PtrSND1-A2</i> as a dominant-negative regulator, which suppresses the transactivation of all <i>PtrSND1</i> family members. PtrSND1-A2^IR also suppresses the self-activation of the PtrSND1 family members except for its cognate transcription factor, PtrSND1-A2, suggesting the existence of an unknown factor needed to regulate <i>PtrSND1-A2</i> Here, a splice variant, <i>PtrVND6-C1</i>^<i>IR</i> , derived from <i>PtrVND6-C1</i> was discovered that suppresses the protein functions of all <i>PtrVND6</i> family members. PtrVND6-C1^IR also suppresses the expression of all <i>PtrSND1</i> members, including <i>PtrSND1-A2</i>, demonstrating that PtrVND6-C1^IR is the previously unidentified regulator of <i>PtrSND1-A2</i> We also found that PtrVND6-C1^IR cannot suppress the expression of its cognate transcription factor, <i>PtrVND6-C1</i><i>PtrVND6-C1</i> is suppressed by PtrSND1-A2^IR Both PtrVND6-C1^IR and PtrSND1-A2^IR cannot suppress their cognate transcription factors but can suppress all members of the other family. The results indicate that the splice variants from the <i>PtrVND6</i> and <i>PtrSND1</i> family may exert reciprocal cross-regulation for complete transcriptional regulation of these two families in wood formation. This reciprocal cross-regulation between families suggests a general mechanism among NAC domain proteins and likely other transcription factors, where intron-retained splice variants provide an additional level of regulation.