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  • A fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein, GhFLA1, is involved in fiber initiation and elongation of cotton.

A fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein, GhFLA1, is involved in fiber initiation and elongation of cotton.

Plant physiology (2013-01-26)
Geng-Qing Huang, Si-Ying Gong, Wen-Liang Xu, Wen Li, Peng Li, Chao-Jun Zhang, Deng-Di Li, Yong Zheng, Fu-Guang Li, Xue-Bao Li
ABSTRACT

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are involved in many aspects of plant development. In this study, biochemical and genetic approaches demonstrated that AGPs are abundant in developing fibers and may be involved in fiber initiation and elongation. To further investigate the role of AGPs during fiber development, a fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein gene (GhFLA1) was identified in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Overexpression of GhFLA1 in cotton promoted fiber elongation, leading to an increase in fiber length. In contrast, suppression of GhFLA1 expression in cotton slowed down fiber initiation and elongation. As a result, the mature fibers of the transgenic plants were significantly shorter than those of the wild type. In addition, expression levels of GhFLAs and the genes related to primary cell wall biosynthesis were remarkably enhanced in the GhFLA1 overexpression transgenic fibers, whereas the transcripts of these genes were dramatically reduced in the fibers of GhFLA1 RNA interference plants. An immunostaining assay indicated that both AGP composition and primary cell wall composition were changed in the transgenic fibers. The levels of glucose, arabinose, and galactose were also altered in the primary cell wall of the transgenic fibers compared with those of the wild type. Together, our results suggested that GhFLA1 may function in fiber initiation and elongation by affecting AGP composition and the integrity of the primary cell wall matrix.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Phloroglucinol, ≥99.0% (HPLC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Phloroglucinol, suitable for plant cell culture, BioReagent
Sigma-Aldrich
Phloroglucinol, Used to detect the presence of wood fiber.