GATA transcription factors are involved in the regulation of diverse growth processes and environmental responses in Arabidopsis and rice. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bioinformatic survey of the GATA family in the woody perennial Populus trichocarpa. Thirty-nine Populus GATA genes were classified into four subfamilies based on gene structure and phylogenetic relationships. Predicted cis-elements suggested potential roles of poplar GATA genes in light, phytohormone, development, and stress responses. A poplar GATA gene, PdGATA19/PdGNC (GATA nitrate-inducible carbon-metabolism-involved), was identified from a fast growing poplar clone. PdGNC expression was significantly up-regulated in leaves under both high (50 mM) and low (0.2 mM) nitrate concentrations. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutant crispr-GNC showed severely retarded growth and enhanced secondary xylem differentiation. PdGNC-overexpressing transformants exhibited 25-30% faster growth, 20-28% higher biomass accumulation, and ~25% increase in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and plant height, compared with the wild type. Transcriptomic analysis showed that PdGNC was involved in photosynthetic electron transfer and carbon assimilation in the leaf, cell division and carbohydrate utilization in the stem, and nitrogen uptake in the root. These data indicated that PdGNC plays a crucial role in plant growth and is potentially useful in tree molecular breeding.

中文翻译：

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GATA转录因子GNC在杨树的光合作用和生长中起重要作用。

GATA 转录因子参与调控拟南芥和水稻的多种生长过程和环境反应。在这项研究中，我们对多年生木本毛果杨中的 GATA 家族进行了全面的生物信息学调查。根据基因结构和系统发育关系，将 39 个杨树 GATA 基因分为四个亚科。预测的顺式元素表明杨树 GATA 基因在光、植物激素、发育和应激反应中的潜在作用。从快速生长的杨树克隆中鉴定出杨树 GATA 基因 PdGATA19/PdGNC（涉及 GATA 硝酸盐诱导的碳代谢）。在高 (50 mM) 和低 (0.2 mM) 硝酸盐浓度下，PdGNC 表达在叶片中显着上调。CRISPR/Cas9 介导的突变体crispr-GNC 显示出严重的生长迟缓和增强的次生木质部分化。与野生型相比，过表达 PdGNC 的转化体生长速度加快 25-30%，生物量积累增加 20-28%，叶绿素含量、光合速率和株高增加约 25%。转录组学分析表明，PdGNC 参与叶片的光合电子传递和碳同化、茎中的细胞分裂和碳水化合物利用以及根中的氮吸收。这些数据表明，PdGNC 在植物生长中起着至关重要的作用，并且可能在树木分子育种中有用。与野生型相比，光合速率和株高。转录组学分析表明，PdGNC 参与叶片的光合电子传递和碳同化、茎中的细胞分裂和碳水化合物利用以及根中的氮吸收。这些数据表明，PdGNC 在植物生长中起着至关重要的作用，并且可能在树木分子育种中有用。与野生型相比，光合速率和株高。转录组学分析表明，PdGNC 参与叶片的光合电子传递和碳同化、茎中的细胞分裂和碳水化合物利用以及根中的氮吸收。这些数据表明，PdGNC 在植物生长中起着至关重要的作用，并且可能在树木分子育种中有用。