AUTHOR=Wang Ying , Zhan Di-Feng , Li Hui-Liang , Guo Dong , Zhu Jia-Hong , Peng Shi-Qing 

TITLE=Transcriptome-Wide Identification and Characterization of MYB Transcription Factor Genes in the Laticifer Cells of Hevea brasiliensis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2017.01974

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2017.01974

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>MYB transcription factors hold vital roles in the regulation of plant secondary metabolic pathways. Laticifers in rubber trees (<italic>He</italic>v<italic>ea brasiliensis</italic>) are of primary importance in natural rubber production because natural rubber is formed and stored within these structures. To understand the role of MYB transcription factors in the specialized cells, we identified 44 MYB genes (named <italic>HblMYB1</italic> to <italic>HblMYB44</italic>) by using our previously obtained transcriptome database of rubber tree laticifer cells and the public rubber tree genome database. Expression profiles showed that five MYB genes were highly expressed in the laticifers. <italic>HblMYB19</italic> and <italic>HblMYB44</italic> were selected for further study. HblMYB19 and HblMYB44 bound the promoters of <italic>HbFDPS1</italic>, <italic>HbSRPP</italic>, and <italic>HRT1</italic> in yeast. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of HblMYB19 and HblMYB44 in tobacco plants significantly increased the activity of the promoters of <italic>HbFDPS1</italic>, <italic>HbSRPP</italic>, and <italic>HRT1</italic>. Basing on this information, we proposed that HblMYB19 and HblMYB44 are the regulators of <italic>HbFDPS1</italic>, <italic>HbSRPP</italic>, and <italic>HRT1</italic>, which are involved in the biosynthesis pathway of natural rubber.</p>