2025-03-24 中国科学院（CAS）
The Mediator subunit OsJMJ703-OsMED23-OsWOX3A controls grain size and yield in rice. (Image by IGDB)
＜関連情報＞
- https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/life/202503/t20250324_908615.shtml
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419464122
イネにおけるメディエーターサブユニットOsMED23とヒストン脱メチル化酵素OsJMJ703および転写因子OsWOX3Aとの会合が、イネの粒径と収量を制御していることが明らかになった The Mediator subunit OsMED23 associates with the histone demethylase OsJMJ703 and the transcription factor OsWOX3A to control grain size and yield in rice
Luojiang Huang, Na Fang, Limin Zhang
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Published:March 21, 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2419464122
Significance
Grain size is one of key yield determinants, and elucidating the mechanisms that govern grain size is crucial for improving crop yield. In this study, we report that the Mediator subunit OsMED23 associates with histone demethylase OsJMJ703 and transcription factor OsWOX3A to control grain size and weight in rice. OsJMJ703-OsMED23-OsWOX3A associates with the promoter regions of GW2 and OsLAC, and represses their transcriptions by influencing H3K4me3 levels. Overexpression of OsMED23 or OsJMJ703 can significantly increase grain yield. This study reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism that the transcriptional repressor complex OsJMJ703-OsMED23-OsWOX3A determines grain size and weight, suggesting that genetic manipulation of this pathway is a promising strategy for crop yield improvement.
Abstract
Seed size is one of the important yield traits, and size control is also a fundamental developmental question. The knowledge about the genetic and molecular mechanisms that govern seed size is crucial for improving crop yield. Here, we report that the Mediator subunit OsMED23 associates with the histone demethylase OsJMJ703 and the transcription factor OsWOX3A to control grain size and weight in rice. Loss of function of OsMED23 or OsJMJ703 causes narrow and light grains, while overexpression of OsMED23 or OsJMJ703 results in large and heavy grains. OsMED23 physically interacts with OsJMJ703 and the transcription factor OsWOX3A. OsMED23, OsJMJ703, and OsWOX3A associate with the common promoter regions of two key grain size genes GW2 and OsLAC and repress their transcription by influencing H3K4me3 levels. Field trials demonstrate that overexpression of OsMED23 or OsJMJ703 can significantly increase grain yield. Therefore, our findings identify a mechanism by which the transcriptional repressor complex OsJMJ703-OsMED23-OsWOX3A determines grain size and weight by regulating gene expression and influencing H3K4me3 levels in rice, suggesting that this pathway has a great potential for improving grain yield in key crops.
