Title: Cloning and functional characterization of epidermis-specific promoter MtML1 from Medicago truncatula

Authors: Li Gao, Ye Tian, Meng-Ci Chen, Li Wei, Tian-Ge Gao. Hong-Ju Yin, Jin-Lin Zhang, Tanweer Kumar, Lin-Bo Liu and Suo-Min Wang*

Journal: Journal of Biotechnology

Impact Factor: IF₂₀₁₇ = 2.533 (工程技术三区)

Abstract: Epidermis-specific promoters are necessary for ectopic expression of specific functional genes such as the cuticle-related genes. Previous studies indicated that both ECERIFERUM 6 (AtCER6) and MERISTEM LAYER 1 (ATML1) promoters from Arabidopsis thaliana can drive gene expression specifically in the epidermis of shoot apical meristems (SAMs) and leaves. However, the epidermis-specific promoters from legume plants have not been reported. Here, we cloned a 5′ flanking sequence from the upstream -2150 bp to the translational start ATG codon of MtML1 gene of legume model plant Medicago truncatula. PlantCARE analysis indicated that this sequence matches the characteristics of a promoter, having TATA box and CAAT box, as well as contains some conserved elements of epidermis-specific promoters like AtCER6 and ATML1 promoters. The β-glucuronidase (GUS) histochemical analysis showed that MtML1 promoter can drive GUS gene expression in transiently transformed Nicotiana tabacum leaves under non-inducing condition. Furthermore, it can also control GUS expression in leaves and siliques rather than roots of the stably transformed Arabidopsis. More importantly, the leaf cross-section observations indicated that MtML1 exclusively expressed in the epidermis of leaves. These results suggested that MtML1 promoter performed the epidermis-specific in plant shoot. Our study establishes the foundation for driving the cuticle-related gene to express in epidermis, which may be very useful in genetic engineering of legume plants.

文章链接：https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168165619301592