Transcriptional activation of the orphan gene QQS by a MYB–NAC–GARP triad modulates starch and protein accumulation in Arabidopsis

Clicks: 14
ID: 328491
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #564 of 650 articles by views in Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 650 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
The Arabidopsis-specific orphan gene Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) regulates starch and protein accumulation, yet the upstream mechanisms controlling its transcription remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated transcription regulators that modulate QQS expression and associated metabolic traits. Using yeast one-hybrid screening, luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, we identified three transcription factors, AtMYR1, AtANAC87, and AtATS, that bind distinct cis-elements within the QQS promoter and activate its transcription. AtMYR1 physically interacted with both AtANAC87 and AtATS through domain-specific interactions, and combinatorial reporter assays indicated that AtANAC87 or AtATS enhances AtMYR1-mediated activation of the QQS promoter. Overexpression of each transcription factor increased QQS transcript levels and was associated with reduced starch accumulation and increased soluble protein content in leaves, whereas loss-of-function mutants showed the opposite pattern. Double-mutant and QQS rescue analyses further support a genetic relationship in which QQS acts downstream of these transcription factors in modulating leaf starch and soluble protein accumulation. Together, these findings define a MYB-NAC-GARP regulatory module upstream of QQS and provide insight into how transcriptional regulation of an orphan gene contributes to metabolic trait variation in Arabidopsis.
Reference Key
openalex_W7212226122 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Guanghui Xiao, Ronggui Yu, Xin Zhou, Yarou Lin, Shiyan Cui, Shuangshuang Weng, Li Zhang, Lei Wang, Ling Li
Are you one of these authors? Claim your profile
Journal Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/plphys/kiag682
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiag682
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.