Identification and functional analysis of two alternatively spliced transcripts of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) in linseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 30;13(1):e0191910. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191910. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Alternative splicing is a popular phenomenon in different types of plants. It can produce alternative spliced transcripts that encode proteins with altered functions. Previous studies have shown that one transcription factor, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), which encodes an important component in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, is subjected to alternative splicing in both mono- and dicotyledons. In the current study, we identified two homologs of ABI3 in the genome of linseed flax. We screened two alternatively spliced flax LuABI3 transcripts, LuABI3-2 and LuABI3-3, and one normal flax LuABI3 transcript, LuABI3-1. Sequence analysis revealed that one of the alternatively spliced transcripts, LuABI3-3, retained a 6 bp intron. RNA accumulation analysis showed that all three transcripts were expressed during seed development, while subcellular localization and transgene experiments showed that LuABI3-3 had no biological function. The two normal transcripts, LuABI3-1 and LuABI3-2, are the important functional isoforms in flax and play significant roles in the ABA regulatory pathway during seed development, germination, and maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Flax / genetics*
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Germination / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China No.31371657) and the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program in China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.