Publications by authors named "Mengna Zhuo"

Elucidating the mechanisms regulating nitrogen (N) deficiency responses in plants is of great agricultural importance. Previous studies revealed that decreased expression of NITRATE-INDUCIBLE GARP-TYPE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REPRESSOR1 (NIGT1) transcriptional repressor genes upon N deficiency is involved in N deficiency-inducible gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms controlling N deficiency-induced changes in gene expression is still limited.

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In plants, nitrate is the dominant nitrogen (N) source and a critical nutrient signal regulating various physiological and developmental processes. Nitrate-responsive gene regulatory networks are widely believed to control growth, development, and life cycle in addition to N acquisition and utilization, and NIN-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) transcriptional activators have been identified as the master regulators governing the networks. However, it remains to be elucidated how nitrate signaling regulates respective physiological and developmental processes.

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The RWP-RK protein family is a group of transcription factors containing the RWP-RK DNA-binding domain. This domain is an ancient motif that emerged before the establishment of the Viridiplantae-the green plants, consisting of green algae and land plants. The domain is mostly absent in other kingdoms but widely distributed in Viridiplantae.

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DNA binding-with-one-finger (Dof) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors closely associated with a variety of physiological processes. Here, we show that the Dof protein family in Arabidopsis () functions in leaf senescence. Disruption of , a jasmonate (JA)-inducible gene, led to a marked reduction in promotion of leaf senescence and inhibition of root development as well as dark-induced and age-dependent leaf senescence, while overexpression of promoted these processes.

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