Overexpression of the Liriodendron tulipifera BOP2 Gene (LtuBOP2) Affects Leaf Margin Development in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

BLADE-ON-PETIOLE 2 (BOP2) plays a pivotal role in leaf morphogenesis. Liriodendron tulipifera is a suitable model for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf serration formation, which are largely unknown. Here, we isolated the full-length LtuBOP2 gene and its promoter from L. tulipifera and characterized its function in leaf morphogenesis through multidimensional approaches. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of LtuBOP2 indicated the high expression of LtuBOP2 in stems and leaf buds. We constructed LtuBOP2 promoter, fused the promoter sequences to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene, and then transformed them into Arabidopsis thaliana. Histochemical GUS staining results indicated that GUS activity was higher in petioles and the main vein. LtuBOP2 overexpression in A. thaliana caused moderate serration in the leaf tip, owing to the increased number of abnormal lamina epidermal cells and defective vascular tissue, thus indicating a novel role of BOP2. The ectopic expression of LtuBOP2 in A. thaliana promoted the expression of the lateral organ boundary gene ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) and inhibited JAGGED (JAG) and CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON2 (CUC2) expression to establish leaf proximal-distal polarity. Moreover, LtuBOP2 participated in leaf serration formation by promoting the antagonistic relationship between KNOX I and hormones during leaf margin development. Our findings revealed the role of LtuBOP2 in the proximal-distal polarity formation and development of leaf margin morphology, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the leaf formation development of L. tulipifera.

Automated summary

In this study, the researchers investigated the role of the BOP2 gene in leaf morphogenesis in Liriodendron tulipifera. They found that LtuBOP2 was highly expressed in stems and leaf buds, and it participated in leaf serration formation by promoting the expression of boundary genes and regulating the antagonistic relationship between hormones and KNOX I. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of leaf formation in L. tulipifera.