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EgMADS3 directly regulates EgLPAAT to mediate medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) anabolism in the mesocarp of oil palm

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Abstract

Key message

EgMADS3, a pivotal transcription factor, positively regulates MCFA accumulation via binding to the EgLPAAT promoter, advancing lipid content in mesocarp of oil palm.

Abstract

Lipids function as the structural components of cell membranes, which serve as permeable barriers to the external environment of cells. The medium-chain fatty acid in the stored lipids of plants is an important renewable energy. Most research on MCFA production in plant lipid synthesis is based on biochemical methods, and the importance of transcriptional regulation in MCFA synthesis and its incorporation into TAGs needs further research. Oil palm is the most productive oil crop in the world and has the highest productivity among the main oil crops. In this study, the MADS transcription factor (EgMADS3) in the mesocarp of oil palm was characterized. Through the VIGS-virus induced gene silencing, it was determined that the potential target gene of EgMADS3 was related to the biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). Transient transformation in protoplasts and qRT-PCR analysis showed that EgMADS3 positively regulated the expression of EgLPAAT. The results of the yeast one-hybrid assays and EMSA indicated the interaction between EgMADS3 and EgLPAAT promoter. Through genetic transformation and fatty acid analysis, it is concluded that EgMADS3 directly regulates the mid-chain fatty acid synthesis pathway of the potential target gene EgLPAAT, thus promotes the accumulation of MCFA and improves the total lipid content. This study is innovative in the functional analysis of the MADS family transcription factor in the metabolism of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) of oil palm, provides a certain research basis for improving the metabolic pathway of chain fatty acids in oil palm, and improves the synthesis of MCFA in plants. Our results will provide a reference direction for further research on improving the oil quality through biotechnology of oil palm.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the following investigators for helping with the tissue culture and protoplast transformation: Mr. Yuanhang Jin and Ms. Xin Xu at Hainan University.

Funding

This research was supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund (No. ZDYF2022XDNY148), Hainan Natural Science Foundation (322RC579) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. U23A20220 and 32260064).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Hainan, 570228, China

    Yaning Wang, Jinqi Yan, Yusheng Zheng & Dongdong Li

  2. Rubber Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, 571101, China

    Jixin Zou

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  1. Yaning Wang
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  2. Jinqi Yan
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  3. Ming Yang
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  4. Jixin Zou
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Contributions

D.L. conceived and coordinated this project; Y.W. and J.Y. and carried out mainly experiments, drafted the manuscript, comprehensively analyzed data from all experimental results; D.L. and Y.Z. gave substantial suggestions to the paper writing and language organization; M.Y. and J. Z. performed the mainly embryoids culture and transformation; All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dongdong Li.

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Wang, Y., Yan, J., Yang, M. et al. EgMADS3 directly regulates EgLPAAT to mediate medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) anabolism in the mesocarp of oil palm. Plant Cell Rep 43, 107 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-024-03200-3

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