Molecular regulation of oil gland development and biosynthesis of essential oils in <i>Citrus</i> spp.

2024/02/08 by H T Wang, Jie Ren, Shiyun Zhou +14 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Plant Molecular Biology Research #Plant Reproductive Biology #Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis

paper · doi:10.1126/science.adl2953

openalex publication_date 2024/02/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

Secretory structures in terrestrial plants serve as reservoirs for a variety of secondary metabolites. Among these, the secretory cavity of the Rutaceae family is notable for containing essential oils with a wide range of applications. However, the molecular basis underlying secretory cavity development is unknown. Here, we reveal a molecular framework for Citrus oil gland formation. Using genetic mapping and genome editing, we demonstrated that this process requires LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 (LMI1), a key regulator of leaf serration. A conserved GCC box element of the LMI1 promoter recruits DORNROSCHEN-like (DRNL) for transcriptional activation. This DRNL-LMI1 cascade triggers MYC5 activation, facilitating the development of oil glands and the biosynthesis of essential oils. Our findings spotlight cis -regulatory divergence within leaf shape genes, propelling novel functional tissue formation.

Citations

• MAFFT Multiple Sequence Alignment Software Version 7: Improvements in Performance and Usability
• TBtools: An Integrative Toolkit Developed for Interactive Analyses of Big Biological Data
• Pangenome analysis provides insight into the evolution of the orange subfamily and a key gene for citric acid accumulation in citrus fruits

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Discussions

• A regulator of leaf serration also regulates oil gland formation in Citrus species Paper: doi.org/10.1126/science.adl2953 (7/34) [bsky, 3 points, 1 comments]

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