Genome-wide identification of the AINTEGUMENTA-like gene family and functional characterization of ZmANT1 in regulating leaf length in maize.
TL;DR
This study systematically identifies the maize AIL family and suggests a role for ZmANT1 in restricting leaf elongation and provides a resource for future AIL functional studies and offers insights into the genetic mechanisms of leaf development in maize.
Abstract
Background
AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE (AIL) transcription factors belong to the APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily and play critical roles in plant growth and development. Although their functions have been characterized in several model and crop species, systematic knowledge of the AIL family in maize remains limited.
Results
Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of the maize AIL family and uncovered nine ZmAIL genes. These genes are asymmetrically distributed across six chromosomes and exhibit highly conserved gene and protein structures. Phylogenetic analysis grouped them into two clades: the ZmANT clade (ZmANT1-4) and the ZmAIL clade (ZmAIL1-5). Synteny analysis revealed that ZmAIL genes are more closely related to AIL genes from monocots than to those from dicots. Analysis of promoter cis-acting elements and expression profiles indicated that ZmAIL genes respond to environmental, hormonal, and developmental cues. Their expression patterns fall into two main categories: constitutively expressed and tissue-specific. Phenotypic analysis of a zmant1 mutant showed that ZmANT1 negatively regulates maize leaf length. Further experiments demonstrated that ZmANT1 directly binds to a specific cis-acting element in the promoters of target genes and regulates their expression, including four other ZmAIL members, thereby influencing multiple developmental pathways.
Conclusion
Overall, this study systematically identifies the maize AIL family and suggests a role for ZmANT1 in restricting leaf elongation. Our results provide a resource for future AIL functional studies and offer insights into the genetic mechanisms of leaf development in maize.