Abstract:
【Objective】 This study aimed to clone the promoter of R2R3-MYB transcription factor
MYB15 gene from
Lilium regale (
LrMYB15) and to detect its transcriptional activity,thereby providing reference for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of
LrMYB15 gene in flower color formation and environmental responses in
Lilium regale.【Method】 Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from the outer tepals of
Lilium regale on the day of flowering. The promoter of
LrMYB15 gene was cloned using chromosome walking method. Cis-acting elements in the promoter sequence were predicted using PlantCARE database. A pBI121-
LrMYB15-pro:GUS fusion expression vector was constructed and transiently transformed into leaves of
Nicotiana benthamiana via
Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101. Promoter activity was assessed under different light conditions and exogenous hormones auxin (IAA),abscisic acid (ABA),and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) using GUS histochemical staining,and activity of the promoter was further examined through real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. A promoter vector with deleted light-responsive elements,pBI121-Δ
LrMYB15-pro:GUS,was constructed to verify the function of light-responsive elements in the
LrMYB15 gene promoter sequence. Expression levels of
LrMYB15 gene in
Lilium regale tepals under the three exogenous hormone and light treatments were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,and anthocyanin content was measured.【Result】 A 2269-bp promoter of
LrMYB15 gene was successfully cloned. The promoter region contained a total of 97 cis-acting elements. In addition to core cis-acting promoter elements such as TATA-box and CAAT-box,it included three categories of cis-acting elements associated with distinct biological functions:growth and development-related elements,hormone-responsive elements,and abiotic stress-responsive elements. GUS histochemical staining demonstrated that the
LrMYB15 gene promoter exhibited obvious transcriptional activity,driving expression of downstream
GUS gene. Its activity was extremely low under dark conditions. Promoter activity of
LrMYB15 gene was induced by light and enhanced by exogenous application of the three plant hormones (IAA, ABA, and MeJA). Following infiltration with the pBI121-Δ
LrMYB15-pro:GUS vector lacking light-responsive elements, only extremely weak and sparse blue spots were observed in tobacco leaves under continuous dark treatment, indicating that deletion of light-responsive elements greatly reduced the light-induced activity of
LrMYB15 gene promoter. The
GUS gene relative expression levels in transiently transformed tobacco leaves detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were consistent with the GUS histochemical staining results. The relative expression of
LrMYB15 gene in
Lilium regale tepals was consistent with the GUS staining results, and changes in anthocyanin content in the tepals showed a consistent trend with the relative expression of
LrMYB15 gene.【Conclusion】 This study has successfully cloned and identified the promoter of
LrMYB15 gene from
Lilium regale, confirming that it is synergistically regulated by light and hormones, with light-responsive elements playing a critical role in its light-induced activity.
LrMYB15 gene positively regulates anthocyanin synthesis in
Lilium regale tepals. The promoter of
LrMYB15 gene can be utilized to drive expression of target genes in plants.