RNAi-mediated down-regulation of the endogenous GhAIP10.1 and GhAIP10.2 genes in transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) enhances the earliness and yield of flower buds

Author(s)

Basso, Marcos Fernando ; Ribeiro, Thuanne Pires ; Lourenco-Tessutti, Isabela Tristan ; Oliveira, Nelson Geraldo ; Mendes, Reneida Aparecida Godinho ; Fernandes, Niday Alline Nunes ; Arraes, Fabricio Barbosa Monteiro ; Morgante, Carolina Vianna ; Hemerly, Adriana Silva ; Grossi-de-Sa, Maria Fatima

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry; v. 225, p. 15-pg., 2025-05-09.

Abstract

Armadillo BTB Arabidopsis protein 1 (AtABAP1) plays a central role in the cell cycle. ABAP1-interacting protein 10 (AtAIP10, a Snf1 kinase interactor-like protein) is a protein that interacts with AtABAP1. Down-regulation of the AtAIP10 gene in A. thaliana resulted in an altered cell cycle and increased photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, metabolites, plant growth, root system, seed yield, and drought tolerance. Herein, aimed to test whether the down-regulation of GhAIP10 genes can stimulate the cotton plants in a manner similar to those observed in A. thaliana. Cotton transgenic events containing transgenes carrying RNA interfering (RNAi) or artificial miRNA (amiRNA) strategies were successfully generated to down-regulate the endogenous GhAIP10.1 and GhAIP10.2 genes. From these 15 transgenic events, five RNAi-based transgenic lines and five amiRNA-based transgenic events were selected for further analyses. The down-regulation of the GhAIP10.1 and GhAIP10.2 genes was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. Phenotypic and physiological analyses revealed that these transgenic lines exhibited earlier production and opening of flower buds, increased vegetative growth over time and root biomass, no reduction in susceptibility to root-knot nematodes, and improved drought tolerance indicated by a higher photosynthetic rate and better intrinsic water-use efficiency. Based on the high identity of amino acid sequences, motifs, domains, subcellular localization, tertiary structure, down-regulation of GhABAP1 (partner of GhAIP10), up-regulation of GhCdt1 (a marker of the ABAP1 network), up-regulation of GhCyclinB1 (a marker of the cell cycle), up-regulation of GhAP3 (involved in vegetative to reproductive transition), and the up-regulation of CAB3, NDA1, DJC22, and DNAJ11 genes (involved in plant resilience) suggested that GhAIP10.1 and GhAIP10.2 proteins may act in cotton similarly to the AtAIP10 protein in A. thaliana. Furthermore, GhAIP10.1 and GhAIP10.2 genes are suggested as biotechnological targets for cotton genetic engineering based on genome editing. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 24/12315-0 - Strategy of vector construction for modifying candidate genes from the GCCRC pipeline
• Grantee: Marcos Fernando Basso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training