*Corresponding author:
Libo Xing
E-mail: libo_xing@nwsuaf.edu.cn ;
Tel.: +8615129227289;
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8918-7128;
Address: 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling
712100, Shaanxi, P. R. Chin
Run title: MdNup62 interactions
with MdHSFs regulate flowering and heat-stress tolerance
Abstract
Because of global warming, the apple
flowering period is occurring significantly earlier, increasing the
probability and degree of freezing injury.
Moreover, extreme hot weather has
also seriously affected the development of apple industry. Nuclear pore
complexes (NPCs) are main channels controlling nucleocytoplasmic
transport, but their roles in regulating plant development and stress
responses are still unknown. Here, we analysed the components of the
apple NPC and found that MdNup62 interacts with MdNup54, forming the
central NPC channel. MdNup62 was localized to the nuclear pore, and its
expression was significantly up-regulated in ‘Nagafu No. 2’
tissue-cultured seedlings subjected to heat treatments. To determineMdNup62 ’s function, we obtained MdNup62 -overexpressed (OE)
Arabidopsis and tomato lines that showed significantly reduced
high-temperature resistance. Additionally, OE-MdNup62 Arabidopsis
lines showed significantly earlier flowering compared with wild-type.
Furthermore, we identified 62 putative MdNup62 -interacting
proteins and confirmed MdNup62 interactions with multipleMdHSFs . The OE-MdHSFA1d and OE-MdHSFA9b Arabidopsis
lines also showed significantly earlier flowering phenotypes than
wild-type, but had enhanced high-temperature resistance levels. Thus,MdNUP62 interacts with multiple MdHSFs during
nucleocytoplasmic transport to regulate flowering and heat resistance in
apple. The data provide a new theoretical reference for managing the
impact of global warming on the apple industry.