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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 431-440.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2024.03.012

• Molecular biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Functional Analysis of ANT Transcription Factor of Populus trichocarpa Based on CRISPR-dCas9 Transcription Activation System

Lingtong MENG1, Liwei SU1, Xiangxin LI2, Tiansheng XIONG1, Panpeng CHANG1, Mengzhuo LIU1, Chenguang ZHOU1()   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding,Northeast Forestry University,Harbin 150040
    2.School of Life Science and Technology,Shanghai Tech University,Shanghai 201210
  • Received:2023-11-28 Online:2024-05-20 Published:2024-05-14
  • Contact: Chenguang ZHOU E-mail:zhouchenguang@nefu.edu.cn

Abstract:

The expression of gene transcription activation based on CRISPR-dCas9 might avoid phenotypic interference caused by gene ectopic expression, and made genes expressed efficiently and specifically. In this study, a novel CRISPR-Act3.0 expression system based on CRISPR-dCas9 was used to perform transcriptional activation of the vascular cambium-specific transcription factor ANT(AINTEGUMENTA) in Populus trichocarpa to create genetic materials and function analysis. First, homology analysis was conducted on the PtrANTs transcription factors of P. trichocarpa, and PtrANT-4 was selected for subsequent research. PtrANT-4 gene was cloned and its expression in various tissues was analyzed using fluorescence quantitative PCR. Secondly, three gRNAs were designed on the gene promoter of PtrANT-4, and the transcriptional activation expression vector CRISPR-dCas9/ANTprogRNAs was constructed. The expression of the vector was detected by transient protoplast transformation method. Finally, the expression vector was transformed into P. trichocarpa using Agrobacterium-mediated method, and transcription-activated genetic plants of PtrANT-4 were obtained. The results showed that there were four PtrANTs transcription factors in P. trichocarpa. PtrANT-4 was specifically expressed in vascular cambium of lateral meristem of P. trichocarpa. The transcription activation vector successfully constructed based on the CRISPR-Act3.0 expression system has the transcriptional activation effect of PtrANT-4 after transformation in xylem protoplasts of P. trichocarpa. The expression level of the PtrANT-4 gene in the genetically transformed plants was significantly increased only in the vascular cambium, suggesting that PtrANT-4 might play an important role in the development of stem vascular cambium This study lays a foundation for the functional study of PtrANT, and provides important genetic materials for the study of the mechanism of vascular cambial stem cell development.

Key words: CRISPR-dCas9, transcriptional activation, PtrANT, Populus trichocarpa

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