Publications by authors named "Mengzhu Lu"

Tension wood (TW), characterized by increased cambium cell proliferation and few vessels, is a classical model for the mechanical analysis of wood formation. In this study, we found higher superoxide anion (O2.-) levels in the cambium zone of poplar (Populus alba × P.

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Phloem fiber is a key component of phloem tissue and is involved in supporting its structural integrity. NAC domain transcription factors are master switches that regulate secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis in xylem fibers, but the mechanism by which NACs regulate phloem fiber development remains unexplored. Here, a NAC2-like gene in poplar, PagNAC2a, was shown to be involved in phloem fiber differentiation.

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Plant organs achieve their specific size and shape through the coordination of cell division and cell expansion, processes that are profoundly influenced by environmental cues. Cytokinesis during cell division depends on the position of the cytokinetic wall, but how this process responses to environment fluctuations remains underexplored. Here, we investigated a regulatory module involving C2H2-type zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) in leaf morphology during drought stress.

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Tension wood is a specialized xylem tissue associated with gravitropism in angiosperm trees. However, few regulators of tension wood formation have been identified. The molecular mechanisms underpinning tension wood formation remain elusive.

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Wood is resulted from the radial growth paced by the division and differentiation of vascular cambium cells in woody plants, and phytohormones play important roles in cambium activity. Here, we identified that PagJAZ5, a key negative regulator of jasmonate (JA) signaling, plays important roles in enhancing cambium cell division and differentiation by mediating cytokinin signaling in poplar 84K (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa). PagJAZ5 is preferentially expressed in developing phloem and cambium, weakly in developing xylem cells.

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Shoot branching from axillary bud (AB) directly determines plant architecture. However, the mechanism through which AB remains dormant or emerges to form branches as plants grow remains largely unknown. Here, the auxin-strigolactone (IAA-SL) pathway was first shown to regulate shoot branching in poplar, and we found that PagKNAT2/6b could modulate this pathway.

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WOX11/12 is a homeobox gene of WOX11 and WOX12 in Arabidopsis that plays important roles in crown root development and growth. It has been reported that WOX11/12 participates in adventitious root (AR) formation and different abiotic stress responses, but the downstream regulatory network of WOX11/12 in poplar remains to be further investigated. In this study, we found that PagWOX11/12a is strongly induced by PEG-simulated drought stress.

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Article Synopsis
  • PXY, a receptor kinase in plants, is essential for proper cell division in vascular tissue, particularly under drought conditions.
  • This study focused on two specific PXY genes in hybrid poplar and found they are primarily expressed in the stem's vascular system and linked to drought responses.
  • Overexpressing these PXY genes resulted in increased cambium cell layers and improved drought tolerance, suggesting they help maintain plant growth and resilience in adverse conditions.
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Due to the extended generation cycle of trees, the breeding process for forest trees tends to be time-consuming. Genetic engineering has emerged as a viable approach to expedite the genetic breeding of forest trees. However, current genetic engineering techniques employed in forest trees often utilize continuous expression promoters such as CaMV 35S, which may result in unintended consequences by introducing genes into non-target tissues.

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Introduction: Hybrid poplars are industrial trees in China. An understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying wood formation in hybrid poplars is necessary for molecular breeding. Although the division and differentiation of vascular cambial cells is important for secondary growth and wood formation, the regulation of this process is largely unclear.

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Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding (PLATZ) proteins are a class of plant-specific transcription factor that play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response. However, the evolutionary relationship of the PLATZ gene family across the Populus genus and the biological functions of the PLATZ protein require further investigation. In this study, we identified 133 PLATZ genes from six Populus species belonging to four Populus sections.

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Eucalyptus is a widely planted hardwood tree species due to its fast growth, superior wood properties and adaptability. However, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling tissue development and stress responses in Eucalyptus remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the gene expression profile and the alternative splicing (AS) landscape of E.

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Cell walls in plants, particularly forest trees, are the major carbon sink of the terrestrial ecosystem. Chemical and biosynthetic features of plant cell walls were revealed early on, focusing mostly on herbaceous model species. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, transgenesis, and associated analytical techniques are enabling novel insights into formation of woody cell walls.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The COBRA-like (COBL) gene family plays a crucial role in plant cell wall formation, affecting cellulose deposition, growth, and response to stress; however, a comprehensive analysis of these genes in poplar is lacking.
  • - Recent advancements in genome re-sequencing have allowed for detailed exploration of Poplar COBRA-like genes (PtrCOBLs), revealing two distinct groups with specific protein structures and evolutionary patterns shaped by gene duplication events.
  • - PtrCOBL genes, predominantly expressed in stems and leaves, are associated with plant development, stress responses, and cellulose biosynthesis, showing a network of regulatory elements and interactions with various phytohormones and microRNAs.
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Plant lignocellulosic biomass, i.e. secondary cell walls of plants, is a vital alternative source for bioenergy.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Research indicates that during wood formation, the decay of the gene PdCPD1, influenced by its 3' UTR, is crucial for fine-tuning BR synthesis; overexpressing this gene increases BR levels but inhibits wood growth.
  • * The protein PdGRP1 binds to a specific region in the 3' UTR of PdCPD1, leading to its mRNA breakdown, highlighting a novel mechanism that could aid in genetically optimizing wood biomass in trees.
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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied a bioluminescence pathway from glowing fungi and found it to have weak luminescence, limiting its practical use.
  • By introducing a specific gene from Brassica napus, they enhanced the bioluminescence, creating "enhanced FBP" (eFBP) plants that emit a significantly brighter light, enough to read in the dark.
  • The enhanced luminescence relies on caffeic acid and its connections to energy production, paving the way for developing stronger glowing plants and innovative biological applications.
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The acquisition of dormancy capabilities has enabled plants to survive in adverse terrestrial environmental conditions. Dormancy accumulation and release is coupled with light signaling, which is well studied in Arabidopsis, but it is unclear in the distant nonvascular relative. We study the characteristics and function on dormancy regulation of a blue light receptor cryptochrome in Marchantia polymorpha (MpCRY).

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Lignin is a major component of plant cell walls and is essential for plant growth and development. Lignin biosynthesis is controlled by a hierarchical regulatory network involving multiple transcription factors. In this study, we showed that the gene encoding an APETALA 2/ethylene-responsive element binding factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor, PagERF81, from poplar 84 K (Populus alba × P.

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The leaf type of a plant determines its photosynthetic efficiency and adaptation to the environment. The normal leaves of modern , which is known as a "living fossil" in gymnosperm, evolved from needle-like to fan-shaped with obvious dichotomous venation. However, a newly discovered variety "SongZhen" have different leaf types on a tree, including needle-, trumpet-, strip-, and deeply split fan-shaped leaves.

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The gaseous ethylene (ET) and the oxylipin-derived jasmonic acid (JA) in plants jointly regulate an arsenal of pathogen responsive genes involved in defending against necrotrophic pathogens. The APETALA2 (AP2)/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) transcription factor ORA59 is a major positive regulator of the ET/JA-mediated defense pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Arabidopsis agmatine coumaroyltransferase (AtACT) catalyzes the formation of hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) which are effective toxic antimicrobial substances known as phytoalexins and play an important role in plant defense response.

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Peroxisomes are a class of simple organelles that play an important role in plant reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Experimental evidence reveals the involvement of ROS in programmed cell death (PCD) in plants. Plant PCD is crucial for the regulation of plant growth, development and environmental stress resistance.

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