J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2016, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (8): 749-758.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12467

• Molecular Physiology • Previous Articles    

Identification and functional characterization of the AGO1 ortholog in maize

Dongdong Xu, Hailong Yang, Cheng Zou, Wen-Xue Li, Yunbi Xu and Chuanxiao Xie*   

  1. Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2015-11-21 Accepted:2016-02-01 Published:2016-02-05
  • About author:*Correspondence: E-mail: xiechuanxiao@caas.cn

Abstract:

Eukaryotic Argonaute proteins play primary roles in miRNA and siRNA pathways that are essential for numerous developmental and biological processes. However, the functional roles of the four ZmAGO1 genes have not yet been characterized in maize (Zea mays L.). In the present study, ZmAGO1a was identified from four putative ZmAGO1 genes for further characterization. Complementation of the Arabidopsis ago1-27 mutant with ZmAGO1a indicated that constitutive overexpression of ZmAGO1a could restore the smaller rosette, serrated leaves, later flowering and maturation, lower seed set, and darker green leaves at late stages of the mutant to the wild-type phenotype. The expression profiles of ZmAGO1a under five different abiotic stresses indicated that ZmAGO1a shares expression patterns similar to those of Argonaute genes in rice, Arabidopsis, and wheat. Further, variation in ZmAGO1a alleles among diverse maize germplasm that resulted in several amino acid changes revealed genetic diversity at this locus. The present data suggest that ZmAGO1a might be an important AGO1 ortholog in maize. The results presented provide further insight into the function of ZmAGO1a.

Key words: AGO1, functional complementation, maize, ZmAGO1a

Editorial Office, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, Institute of Botany, CAS
No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
Tel: +86 10 6283 6133 Fax: +86 10 8259 2636 E-mail: jipb@ibcas.ac.cn
Copyright © 2022 by the Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Online ISSN: 1744-7909 Print ISSN: 1672-9072 CN: 11-5067/Q
备案号:京ICP备16067583号-22