Search

Spatial separation of the photosynthetic reactions is a key feature of C4 metabolism. In most C4 plants, this separation requires compartmentation of photosynthetic enzymes between mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells. The upstream region of the gene encoding the maize PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE CARBOXYLASE 1 (ZmPEPC1) has been shown sufficient to drive M-specific ZmPEPC1 gene expression. Although this region has been well characterized, to date, only few trans -factors involved in the ZmPEPC1 gene regulation were identified. Here, using a yeast one-hybrid approach, we have identified three novel maize transcription factors ZmHB87, ZmCPP8, and ZmOrphan94 as binding to the ZmPEPC1 upstream region. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays in maize M protoplasts unveiled that ZmOrphan94 forms homodimers and interacts with ZmCPP8 and with two other ZmPEPC1 regulators previously reported, ZmbHLH80 and ZmbHLH90. Trans-activation assays in maize M protoplasts unveiled that ZmHB87 does not have a clear transcriptional activity, whereas ZmCPP8 and ZmOrphan94 act as activator and repressor, respectively. Moreover, we observed that ZmOrphan94 reduces the trans-activation activity of both activators ZmCPP8 and ZmbHLH90. Using the electromobility shift assay, we showed that ZmOrphan94 binds to several cis -elements present in the ZmPEPC1 upstream region and one of these cis -elements overlaps with the ZmbHLH90 binding site. Gene expression analysis revealed that ZmOrphan94 is preferentially expressed in the BS cells, suggesting that ZmOrphan94 is part of a transcriptional regulatory network downregulating ZmPEPC1 transcript level in the BS cells. Based on both this and our previous work, we propose a model underpinning the importance of a regulatory mechanism within BS cells that contributes to the M-specific ZmPEPC1 gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Compartmentation of photosynthetic reactions between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells is a key feature of C4 photosynthesis and depends on the cell‐specific accumulation of major C4 enzymes, such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase 1. The ZmPEPC1 upstream region, which drives light‐inducible and mesophyll‐specific gene expression in maize, has been shown to keep the same properties when introduced into rice (C3 plant), indicating that rice has the transcription factors (TFs) needed to confer C4‐like gene expression. Using a yeast one‐hybrid approach, we identified OsbHLH112, a rice basic Helix‐Loop‐Helix (bHLH) TF that interacts with the maize ZmPEPC1 upstream region. Moreover, we found that maize OsbHLH112 homologues, ZmbHLH80, and ZmbHLH90, also interact with the ZmPEPC1 upstream region, suggesting that these C4 regulators were co‐opted from C3 plants. A transactivation assay in maize mesophyll protoplasts revealed that ZmbHLH80 represses, whereas ZmbHLH90 activates, ZmPEPC1 expression. In addition, ZmbHLH80 was shown to impair the ZmPEPC1 promoter activation caused by ZmbHLH90. We showed that ZmbHLH80 and ZmbHLH90 bind to the same cis‐element within the ZmPEPC1 upstream region either as homodimers or heterodimers. The formation of homo‐ and heterodimers with higher oligomeric forms promoted by ZmbHLH80 may explain its negative effect on gene transcription. Gene expression analysis revealed that ZmbHLH80 is preferentially expressed in bundle sheath cells, whereas ZmbHLH90 does not show a clear cell‐specific expression pattern. Altogether, our results led us to propose a model in which ZmbHLH80 contributes to mesophyll‐specific ZmPEPC1 gene expression by impairing ZmbHLH90‐mediated ZmPEPC1 activation in the bundle sheath cells. Significance Statement: Cell‐specific accumulation of major C4 enzymes is a hallmark of C4 photosynthesis. The ZmPEPC1 upstream region is sufficient to drive mesophyll‐specific gene expression in maize (C4 plant) and rice (C3 plant). Here, we report the identification of a rice bHLH TF and its two maize homologues that bind to the ZmPEPC1 upstream region. In addition, we propose a model in which the identified maize TFs contribute to mesophyll‐specific ZmPEPC1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]