Publications by authors named "Da-Gang Hu"

High carbohydrate availability promotes malic acid accumulation in fleshy fruits, but the underlying mechanism is not known. Here, we show that antisense repression of ALDOSE-6-PHOSPHATE REDUCTASE in apple (Malus domestica) decreases the concentrations of sorbitol and malate and the transcript levels of several genes involved in vacuolar malate transport, including the aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT) gene MdALMT9 (Ma1), the P-ATPase gene MdPH5, the MYB transcription factor gene MdMYB73, and the cold-induced basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor gene MdCIbHLH1, in fruit and leaves. We identified a linker histone H1 variant, MdH1.

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Unlabelled: The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily is involved in numerous complex biological processes. However, the understanding of ABCs in plant pathogen defense, particularly against , remains limited. In this study, we identified that plays a positive role in apple resistance to .

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Softening in fruit adversely impacts their edible quality and commercial value, leading to substantial economic losses during fruit ripening, long-term storage, long-distance transportation, and marketing. As the apple fruit demonstrates climacteric respiration, its firmness decreases with increasing ethylene release rate during fruit ripening and postharvest storage. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ethylene-mediated regulation of fruit softening in apple remain poorly understood.

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As the most prominent proton pumps in plants, vacuolar H-ATPases (VHAs) comprise multiple subunits that are important for physiological processes and stress tolerance in plants. However, few studies on the roles of subunit genes of VHAs in chrysanthemum have been reported to date. In this study, the gene of A subunit of V-ATPase in chrysanthemum (CmVHA-A) was cloned and identified.

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Drought stress is one of the dominating challenges to the growth and productivity in crop plants. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of plants responses to drought stress is fundamental to improve fruit quality. However, such molecular mechanisms are poorly understood in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.

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MdPRX34L enhanced resistance to Botryosphaeria dothidea by increasing salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) content as well as the expression of related defense genes. The class III peroxidase (PRX) multigene family is involved in complex biological processes. However, the molecular mechanism of PRXs in the pathogen defense of plants against Botryosphaeria dothidea (B.

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Roots are fundamental for plants to adapt to variable environmental conditions. The development of a robust root system is orchestrated by numerous genetic determinants and, among them, the MADS-box gene ANR1 has garnered substantial attention. Prior research has demonstrated that, in chrysanthemum, CmANR1 positively regulates root system development.

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Unlabelled: As the main organic acid in fruits, malate is produced in the cytoplasm and is then transported into the vacuole. It accumulates by vacuolar proton pumps, transporters, and channels, affecting the taste and flavor of fruits. Among the three types of proton pumps (V-ATPases, V-PPases, and P-ATPases), the P-ATPases play an important role in the transport of malate into vacuoles.

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For fleshy fruits, the content and ratio of organic acids and soluble sugars are key factors for their flavor. Therefore, a better understanding of soluble sugar and organic acid accumulation in vacuoles is essential to the improvement of fruit quality. Vacuolar-type inorganic pyrophosphatase (V-PPase) has been found in various plants with crucial functions based on the hydrolysis of PPi.

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Apples are rich in many nutrients and functional components. However, the mechanism of the effect of fresh apple consumption on rats remains unclear. In the present study, fresh apples (10 g kg) were added to the diet of Wistar rats, and changes in the microbiota and metabolite content of the cecum were analyzed after 28 days of feeding, and changes in the 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12()-HETE) content and indicators related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were detected.

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In order to evaluate the effect of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) feeding on intestinal microorganisms and protection against infection by Vibrio alginolyticus (V. alginolyticus) in Penaeus vannamei (P.

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Malic acid accumulation in the vacuole largely determines acidity and perception of sweetness of apple. It has long been observed that reduction in malate level is associated with increase in ethylene production during the ripening process of climacteric fruits, but the molecular mechanism linking ethylene to malate reduction is unclear. Here, we show that ethylene-modulated WRKY transcription factor 31 (WRKY31)-Ethylene Response Factor 72 (ERF72)-ALUMINUM ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER 9 (Ma1) network regulates malate accumulation in apple fruit.

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Ethylene-mediated leaf senescence and the compromise of photosynthesis are closely associated but the underlying molecular mechanism is a mystery. Here we reported that apple DEHYDRATASE-ENOLASE-PHOSPHATASE-COMPLEX1 (MdDEP1), initially characterized to its enzymatic function in the recycling of the ethylene precursor SAM, plays a role in the regulation of photosystem I (PSI) activity, activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, and negatively regulating the leaf senescence. A series of Y2H, Pull-down, CO-IP and Cell-free degradation biochemical assays showed that MdDEP1 directly interacts with and dephosphorylates the nucleus-encoded thylakoid protein MdY3IP1, leading to the destabilization of MdY3IP1, reduction of the PSI activity, and the overproduction of ROS in plant cells.

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Sugars are involved in plant growth, fruit quality, and signaling perception. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms involved in soluble sugar accumulation is essential to understand fruit development. Here, we report that MdPFPβ, a pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase gene, regulates soluble sugar accumulation by enhancing the photosynthetic performance and sugar-metabolizing enzyme activities in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.

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Anthocyanins have essential biological functions, affecting the development of horticultural production. They are synthesized in the cytoplasm through flavonoid metabolic pathways and finally transported into vacuoles for storage. Plant glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes involved in anthocyanin transportation.

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Sugars are essential regulatory molecules involved in plant growth and development and defense response. Although the relationship between sugars and disease resistance has been widely discussed, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Ring rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea (B.

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In fleshy fruits, organic acids are the main source of fruit acidity and play an important role in regulating osmotic pressure, pH homeostasis, stress resistance, and fruit quality. The transport of organic acids from the cytosol to the vacuole and their storage are complex processes. A large number of transporters carry organic acids from the cytosol to the vacuole with the assistance of various proton pumps and enzymes.

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Anthocyanins, a flavonoid group of polyphenolic compounds, have evolved in plants since the land was colonized by plants. These bioactive compounds play critical roles in diverse physiological processes. They are synthesized in the cytosol and transported into the vacuole for storage or to other destinations, where they function as bioactive molecules.

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Although taste is an important aspect of fruit quality, an understanding of its genetic control remains elusive in apple and other fruit crops. In this study, we conducted genomic sequence analysis of 497 Malus accessions and revealed erosion of genetic diversity caused by apple breeding and possible independent domestication events of dessert and cider apples. Signatures of selection for fruit acidity and size, but not for fruit sugar content, were detected during the processes of both domestication and improvement.

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Background: MADS-box transcription factors (TFs) are the key regulators of multiple developmental processes in plants; among them, a chrysanthemum MADS-box TF CmANR1 has been isolated and described as functioning in root development in response to high nitrate concentration signals. However, how CmANR1 affects root and shoot development remains unclear.

Results: We report that CmANR1 plays a positive role in root system development in chrysanthemum throughout the developmental stages of in vitro tissue cultures.

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MYB transcription factors (TFs) participate in many biological processes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MYB TFs affect plant resistance to apple ring rot remain poorly understood. Here, the R2R3-MYB gene was cloned from "" apples and functionally characterized as a positive regulator of the defense response to .

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Auxin plays an important role in plant growth and development; for example, it regulates the elongation and division of plant cells, the formation of plantlet's geotropism and phototropism, and the growth of main lateral roots and hypocotyl. IAA gene is associated with auxin and can response to biotic and abiotic stress in plants. However, the regulatory effect of auxin on anthocyanin accumulation has been rarely reported.

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As an important primary metabolite, malate plays a key role in regulating osmotic pressure, pH homeostasis, stress tolerance, and fruit quality of apple. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) MdMYB73 was identified as a protein that plays a critical role in determining malate accumulation and vacuolar acidification by directly regulating the transcription of aluminum-activated malate transporter 9 (), vacuolar ATPase subunit A (), and vacuolar pyrophosphatase 1 () in apple. In addition, the bHLH TF MdCIbHLH1 interacts with MdMYB73 and enhances the transcriptional activity of .

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