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Identification and functional characterization of a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase gene that is involved in regulation of soybean leaf senescence

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Abstract

We report here the cloning and characterization of a soybean receptor-like kinase (RLK) gene, designated GmSARK (Glycine max senescence-associated receptor-like kinase), which is involved in regulating leaf senescence. The conceptual protein product of GmSARK contains typical domains of LRR receptor-like kinases: a cytoplasmic domain with all the 11 kinase subdomains, a transmembrane domain and an extracelullar domain containing 9 Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR) units that may act as a receptor. The expression of GmSARK in soybean leaves was up-regulated in all the three tested senescence systems: senescing cotyledons, dark-induced primary leaf senescence and the natural leaf senescence process after florescence. Furthermore, the RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knocking-down of GmSARK dramatically retarded soybean leaf senescence. A more complex thylakoid membrane system, higher foliar level of chlorophyll content and a very remarkable delay of senescence-induced disintegration of chloroplast structure were observed in GmSARK-RNAi transgenic leaves. A homolog of maize lethal leaf-spot 1 gene, which has been suggested to encode a key enzyme catalyzing chlorophyll breakdown, was isolated and nominated Gmlls1. The expression level of Gmgtr1 gene, which encodes a key enzyme of chlorophyll synthesis, was also analyzed. It was found that Gmlls1 was up-regulated and Gmgtr1 was down-regulated during senescence in wild-type soybean leaves. However, both of the up-regulation of Gmlls1 and down-regulation of Gmgtr1 were retarded during senescence of GmSARK-RNAi transgenic leaves. In addition, over-expression of the GmSARK gene greatly accelerated the senescence progression of CaMV 35S:GmSARK transgenic plants. Taken together, these results strongly suggested the involvement of this LRR-RLK in regulation of soybean leaf senescence, maybe via regulating chloroplast development and chlorophyll accumulation. Multiple functions of GmSARK besides its regulation of leaf senescence were also discussed.

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Abbreviations

RLK:

Receptor-like kinase

SAG:

Senescence-associated gene

RNAi:

RNA interference

LRR:

Leucine-rich repeats

GmSARK:

Glycine max senescence-associated receptor-like kinase

Gmgtr1:

Glycine max glutamyl-tRNA reductase

Gmlls1:

Glycine max lethal leaf-spot 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P.R. China

    Xiao-Ping Li, Rui Gan, Peng-Li Li, Yuan-Yuan Ma, Li-Wen Zhang, Yong Wang & Ning Ning Wang

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

    Ren Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiao-Ping Li
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  2. Rui Gan
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  3. Peng-Li Li
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  4. Yuan-Yuan Ma
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  5. Li-Wen Zhang
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  6. Ren Zhang
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  7. Yong Wang
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  8. Ning Ning Wang
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Correspondence to Ning Ning Wang.

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Rui Gan, Peng-Li Li and Yuan-Yuan Ma contributed equally to this work.

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Li, XP., Gan, R., Li, PL. et al. Identification and functional characterization of a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase gene that is involved in regulation of soybean leaf senescence. Plant Mol Biol 61, 829–844 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-006-0052-5

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