SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

The plant cuticle serves as a critical protective barrier against diverse environmental stresses. In various species, cuticles of sepals and petals display distinct ridge-like structures. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of these cuticular ridges have remain...

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Main Authors: Hui-Xian Zhu, Jia-Fa Huang, Jun-Feng Cao, Ling-Jian Wang, Jin-Quan Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Plant Stress
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X2500140X
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author Hui-Xian Zhu
Jia-Fa Huang
Jun-Feng Cao
Ling-Jian Wang
Jin-Quan Huang
author_facet Hui-Xian Zhu
Jia-Fa Huang
Jun-Feng Cao
Ling-Jian Wang
Jin-Quan Huang
author_sort Hui-Xian Zhu
collection DOAJ
description The plant cuticle serves as a critical protective barrier against diverse environmental stresses. In various species, cuticles of sepals and petals display distinct ridge-like structures. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of these cuticular ridges have remained enigmatic. Here, we elucidate that the production of cuticular ridge wax is regulated by SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors in Arabidopsis. SPL1 and SPL12 double mutants (spl1spl12) exhibit severe defects in cuticular ridge formation, coupled with markedly reduced seed-setting rates and increased organ fusion compared to wild-type plants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SPL1 positively regulate the expression of key enzymes involved in wax biosynthesis, including the alkane-forming enzymes ECERIFERUM1 (CER1), CER1-like (CER1L), and the primary (1-) alcohol-forming enzyme CER4. These enzymes are essential for the synthesis of alkanes and 1-alcohols, which are vital for the accumulation of cuticular ridge wax. Additionally, we identified that HSP70–16 interacts with SPL1, enhancing its transcriptional activity. Together, these results uncover a regulatory network essential for cuticular ridge formation and provide insights into plant developmental processes.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Plant Stress
spelling doaj-art-dfb7c6c01f6a4d49b296b9219d9a7ef12025-08-20T01:55:58ZengElsevierPlant Stress2667-064X2025-06-011610087210.1016/j.stress.2025.100872SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in ArabidopsisHui-Xian Zhu0Jia-Fa Huang1Jun-Feng Cao2Ling-Jian Wang3Jin-Quan Huang4School of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, China; State Key Laboratory of Plant Trait Design, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Trait Design, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Centre for Cell & Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongState Key Laboratory of Plant Trait Design, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plant Trait Design, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Corresponding author.The plant cuticle serves as a critical protective barrier against diverse environmental stresses. In various species, cuticles of sepals and petals display distinct ridge-like structures. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of these cuticular ridges have remained enigmatic. Here, we elucidate that the production of cuticular ridge wax is regulated by SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors in Arabidopsis. SPL1 and SPL12 double mutants (spl1spl12) exhibit severe defects in cuticular ridge formation, coupled with markedly reduced seed-setting rates and increased organ fusion compared to wild-type plants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SPL1 positively regulate the expression of key enzymes involved in wax biosynthesis, including the alkane-forming enzymes ECERIFERUM1 (CER1), CER1-like (CER1L), and the primary (1-) alcohol-forming enzyme CER4. These enzymes are essential for the synthesis of alkanes and 1-alcohols, which are vital for the accumulation of cuticular ridge wax. Additionally, we identified that HSP70–16 interacts with SPL1, enhancing its transcriptional activity. Together, these results uncover a regulatory network essential for cuticular ridge formation and provide insights into plant developmental processes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X2500140XSPL1WaxCuticular ridgeSepal
spellingShingle Hui-Xian Zhu
Jia-Fa Huang
Jun-Feng Cao
Ling-Jian Wang
Jin-Quan Huang
SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
Plant Stress
SPL1
Wax
Cuticular ridge
Sepal
title SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
title_full SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
title_fullStr SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
title_full_unstemmed SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
title_short SPL1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
title_sort spl1 positively regulates cuticular ridge wax biosynthesis in arabidopsis
topic SPL1
Wax
Cuticular ridge
Sepal
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667064X2500140X
work_keys_str_mv AT huixianzhu spl1positivelyregulatescuticularridgewaxbiosynthesisinarabidopsis
AT jiafahuang spl1positivelyregulatescuticularridgewaxbiosynthesisinarabidopsis
AT junfengcao spl1positivelyregulatescuticularridgewaxbiosynthesisinarabidopsis
AT lingjianwang spl1positivelyregulatescuticularridgewaxbiosynthesisinarabidopsis
AT jinquanhuang spl1positivelyregulatescuticularridgewaxbiosynthesisinarabidopsis