The Role of the Poplar C2H2 Zinc Finger Transcription Factor PtrZAT11 in Wood Formation

doi:10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2026.04.009

Abstract

Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the molecular function of the C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor PtrZAT11 in the process of wood formation in poplar. The expression pattern of PtrZAT11 in the xylem at different stem internodes of Populus trichocarpa was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The subcellular localization of the PtrZAT11-GFP fusion protein was observed using a PEG-mediated protoplast transient transformation system. A double mutant of PtrZAT11 and its homologous gene PtrZAT11h was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Growth parameters and stem anatomical structures of the mutant were subsequently analyzed. The results indicated that PtrZAT11 was significantly highly expressed in stem internodes during the secondary growth stage， and its protein was localized in the nucleus. Compared with the wild type， the ptrzat11 ptrzat11h double mutant exhibited an approximately 31.5% increase in plant height and a significant increase in the number of stem internodes， while no significant differences were observed in ground diameter or internode length. In the 12th internode of the mutant， the width of xylem ring and proportion of xylem cell area were significantly reduced. Additionally， the number of fiber cells per unit area decreased， whereas the number of vessel cells increased. As a nuclear-localized transcription factor， PtrZAT11 participates in wood formation in poplar by influencing the differentiation quantity of xylem cells to regulate xylem tissue organization. It may also coordinate the balance between primary and secondary growth in poplar.

Key words: PtrZAT11 transcription factor, secondary xylem, wood formation, poplar

CLC Number:

S792.11

Wosen LI, Rui ZHAI, Qing ZHAO, Jinfeng ZHAO, Dekai MENG, Yanjie CHEN, Shuang LI, Chenguang ZHOU. The Role of the Poplar C2H2 Zinc Finger Transcription Factor PtrZAT11 in Wood Formation[J]. Bulletin of Botanical Research, 2026, 46(4): 677-687.

Figures/Tables 9

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引物用途 Usage of primers	引物名称 Primer name	引物序列（5′→3′） Primer sequences（5′→3′）
PtrZAT11基因克隆 Cloning of PtrZAT11 gene	PtrZAT11-F	ATGAAGAGAGGTCTGCACGA
PtrZAT11基因克隆 Cloning of PtrZAT11 gene	PtrZAT11-R	CTAAAAGAAACAATTGACCATAG
PtrZAT11基因表达模式检测 Detection of PtrZAT11 gene expression patterns	RT-18S-F	CGAAGACGATCAGATACCGTCCTA
	RT-18S-R	TTTCTCATAAGGTGCTGGCGGAGT
	RT-PtrZAT11-F	GCAATAGGCAATTCCCATCG
	RT-PtrZAT11-R	TCTTCACGACAGGAACTGCT
亚细胞定位载体构建 Construction of subcellular localization vector	pUC19-PtrZAT11-F	CTAGTCTAGAATGAAGAGAGGTCTGCACG
亚细胞定位载体构建 Construction of subcellular localization vector	pUC19-PtrZAT11-R	CTAGCTCGAGAAAGAAACAATTGACCATAGGA
双突变体载体构建 Construction of double mutant vector	gRNA-PtrZAT11-F	GATTGAGAGATTGATAGCATAACCA
双突变体载体构建 Construction of double mutant vector	gRNA-PtrZAT11-R	AAACTGGTTATGCTATCAATCTCTC
转基因鉴定 Transgenic identification	M13-F	GTAAAACGACGGCCAG
基因编辑鉴定 Identification of gene editing	CRISPR-PtrZAT11-F	CGTATCCATCAAGTACAAGGG
	CRISPR-PtrZAT11-R	GGCTTTGCTGGCGATTGAGT
	CRISPR-PtrZAT11h-F	CCATCGAGTCAAGGGCACAA
	CRISPR-PtrZAT11h-R	AGCACTCGTGTGTTTTAGGC